Shanghai Coffee Shops Reopen for Dine-in Service! Owner: "Customers Arrived Earlier Than We Did!"

Shanghai's Dining Scene Reawakens After Three-Month Wait

After more than three months of anticipation, Shanghai's restaurant scene has finally regained its vitality. Starting from June 29, dining-in services have been gradually reopening in restaurants located in districts without medium-risk areas and where no community infections have been reported in the past week.

The Heartwarming Reconnections

(Ring ring ring)

"Hello, are you open for dine-in service now?"

"Yes, you can come to the store to eat starting from the 29th!"

After the announcement was made, phones in Shanghai's various restaurants rang incessantly, with each caller unable to contain their excitement. A coffee shop owner shared:

"Every time I answered a call, I could hear so many familiar voices. Each caller was an old friend, and in every call, I could hear words of encouragement and 'thank you for your hard work.' On the 29th, I intentionally arrived at the store an hour early to open, but unexpectedly, an old friend was already waiting at the door. When they saw me, they gave me a big hug, hahaha."

- pt向往生活

He said: "I was afraid you would be busy later, so I thought I'd come early to be your first customer and have a chance to chat with you. I've missed your coffee so much these months!" Fortunately, there's a group of loving customers who give me reasons to persevere."

Surviving Against the Odds

"Being able to persist until dine-in service resumed is already a miracle."

Although many coffee shops had resumed operations during this period, due to the inability to offer dine-in service, customer traffic was only 1/4 of what it was when dine-in was available. A coffee shop owner shared:

"The day before the lockdown was announced, I had just finished roasting a new batch of micro-lot coffee beans, planning to offer them as limited products at a sharing price so everyone could experience the charm of these beans. Unexpectedly, I ended up drinking all these beans by myself..."

- Vinkin

"That same evening, I had just received 50 bottles of milk and 2 boxes of fresh cakes. By the time I returned to the shop again, the cakes had wilted in the refrigerator, and the milk had passed its best taste date. Adding rent and other costs during this period, even doing delivery couldn't cover expenses. Being able to persist until dine-in service resumed is already a miracle, and I'm luckier than many."

The Challenges of Resuming Operations

"During the resumption period, I lived the most exhausted life, but I don't regret it."

"Businesses meeting sustainable supply conditions can apply for online delivery." The announcement from food safety authorities led many coffee shop owners to deep contemplation... because it required staying in the store 24 hours a day. However, some coffee shop owners had no other choice and ultimately compromised with reality... But turning a coffee shop into a 24-hour living space is easier said than done. A coffee shop owner shared:

"Because we didn't know how many delivery orders we would get, four people were 'permanently stationed' in the shop. The shop space is only about 20 square meters, but fortunately, there's a bathroom installed in the shop, which can solve basic hygiene problems. As for sleeping, the four of us had to make do with what we had - women slept on chairs, and men slept on the floor."

- 闲不住的ocean

"Due to the limited number of coffee shops that had resumed operations at that time, there were quite a few group buying orders. Being busy all day without proper rest made everyone look exhausted (fortunately, masks and face shields provided some coverage). During this period, I lived the most exhausted life, but I don't regret my decision. Now that dine-in service has resumed, many customers who had our coffee during this time came to our shop on the very first day."

The Gradual Return to Normalcy

Due to time constraints, I can only briefly share some experiences of coffee shop owners during this period. Today, some Shanghai residents also mentioned online that their favorite coffee shops haven't yet resumed dine-in service...

The process of resuming dine-in service is actually not simple. First, it requires approval, and the process is carried out in batches according to the size of the establishment. Among them, large shopping malls and large-scale restaurants can apply and pass the review first, so on the 29th, 800 Starbucks stores in Shanghai were able to resume dine-in service as scheduled.

- 威儿先森0908

However, most small and medium-sized restaurants that apply as individual entities will have a waiting period, and specific timing can only be determined after relevant departments review their applications. Therefore, many coffee shops still haven't opened for dine-in service. This includes the much-anticipated Blue Bottle Yutong store, which also "had to wait in line." It wasn't until yesterday that the official announcement was made on Xiaohongshu that they would resume dine-in service starting from July 1 (today).

- 张小姐逛吃逛

Looking Forward

Everyone has worked hard during this time! Although dine-in service has resumed, we hope everyone can stagger their outings and try to avoid crowded places. Some restaurants and coffee shops will also have relevant crowd control measures. If you're unsure, you can call ahead to check before visiting. Businesses must also implement proper epidemic prevention and disinfection measures!

Although the shadow of the pandemic still lingers, summer has returned. Summer always brings vitality to everyone, and I believe the future will definitely be better!

"Keep going!"

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