Viral "Coffee Truck" in Quanzhou, Fujian Urgently Shut Down! Is Operating Modified Coffee Trucks Illegal in China?

The Rise of Coffee Carts and Their Challenges

It's hard to pinpoint exactly when coffee carts started appearing on city streets, but they've become increasingly visible. Searching for "mobile coffee carts" on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) yields over 10,000+ posts. Whether in big cities or small towns, wherever people gather, you'll find the presence of coffee carts.

The emergence of coffee carts might be attributed to their low costs and entry barriers, offering greater freedom in business models. Consequently, converting vehicles into mobile coffee shops has become one of the entrepreneurial choices for many coffee enthusiasts who lack sufficient capital to open a traditional café.

Urban Disturbances and Regulatory Issues

According to Quanzhou Net reports, since March, police in Fengze District, Quanzhou City have received numerous citizen complaints about large groups of high-power motorcycles roaring along Fenghai Road. Some motorcycle drivers enjoy operating modified vehicles that create extremely disturbing "rumbling" noises. During police investigations, it was discovered that these high-power motorcycles gather at motorcycle repair shops, "motorcycle clubs," or popular photo spots at night to socialize and take pictures. During these gatherings, illegal activities such as reckless weaving through traffic and illegal parking frequently occur, accompanied by enormous noise during travel.

The recent surge in high-power motorcycles on Fenghai Road is attributed to five coffee carts parked along the Taihe Plaza section. These carts have attracted numerous cars and high-power motorcycles that illegally park roadside for "check-in" visits, causing noise disturbances and obstructing normal traffic flow.

While impounding seven high-power motorcycles, police also investigated and ordered the removal of five illegally modified "coffee carts" occupying non-motorized vehicle lanes.

Due to overwhelming business, the toolboxes and equipment from these mobile coffee carts occupy pathways, and customers buying coffee or taking photos completely block the roads. As a result, some pedestrians passing through this area have to take detours, significantly impacting urban order and appearance.

Relevant law enforcement officers stated: This business model of selling coffee presents electrical and food safety hazards, while occupying public parking spaces and sidewalks damages the urban order around the shipping center. According to Article 11, Paragraph 2 of the "Measures for Investigating and Dealing with Unlicensed and Unregistered Operations," law enforcement officers seized some business equipment from these suspected unlicensed "internet-famous" coffee carts, requiring operators to undergo further processing.

Limitations and Legal Challenges

Although operating coffee carts appears to cost less than opening a traditional café, mobile coffee carts have inherent limitations. These include extremely limited space for water, electricity, and coffee equipment, inability to operate during inclement weather, and excessive mobility that may make it difficult to recover initial investments.

The biggest challenge in operating coffee carts domestically is that venue rental providers rarely view mobile vehicles as permanent businesses. Therefore, those attempting to obtain permits for mobile stalls often hit dead ends. Meanwhile, government departments impose numerous restrictions on mobile stall operations, and it's difficult for mobile vendors to comply with the health standards required for the catering industry. If all necessary permits and licenses are not properly obtained, people should not rush into mobile coffee cart operations.

Although many coffee carts succeed internationally, domestic entrepreneurs must still conduct business according to Chinese laws. As appealing as they may seem, illegal operations remain illegal regardless of appearance.

Image sources: Internet, Quanzhou Net, Xiaohongshu

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