Introduction:The Starbucks Liuxiang Maoye store, which has accompanied Taiyuan residents for twelve years, will officially close on November 1. This first outlet, opened in 2013, once set a single-day sales record. Its rise and fall not only carry the city’s memories but also reflect the evolution of the commercial environment and consumer habits. This article takes an in-depth look back at the full journey of this store—from its controversial beginnings to becoming a popular photo spot—and analyzes the challenges faced by traditional commercial district coffee shops.

Liuxiang Maoye Department Store, a well-known commercial landmark in Taiyuan, Shanxi, is about to bid farewell to a long-time tenant of twelve years—its very first Starbucks location will permanently close starting November 1. This two-story, vintage-style café, which opened in March 2013, not only set the brand’s single-day sales performance record but also became a popular gathering and photo-taking spot for locals. Now, it is shutting down due to decreased foot traffic in the commercial area, drawing many heartfelt responses from citizens.

Going back to 2011, a college student from out of town posted on social media saying, “A big city like Taiyuan doesn’t even have a Starbucks—it’s really lacking in class.” This remark quickly sparked heated rebuttals from local netizens, ultimately ending with the student deleting their account and offering an apology. Ironically, the following year, Starbucks accelerated its expansion in Taiyuan, opening six branches within 2013 alone, with the Liuxiang store in the first floor of Maoye Department Store being the first to open. On its opening day, the scene of overwhelming customer traffic is still fondly recalled by many long-time customers.

This two-story Starbucks, with its elegant décor, became a popular photo spot on social media platforms.The high-ceilinged space paired with wooden furniturewas especially suitable for taking artistic-style photos, and many netizens shared in discussion threads their first-ever Starbucks cup photos taken here. It was observed that thesecond-floor window seat area, with a view overlooking Liuxiang Street, had long been a favorite resting spot for consumers.

However, as the city’s commercial focus shifted, the store gradually faced challenges in recent years.New shopping centers nearby diverted customer traffic, leading to often vacant areas on the second floor, with regular customers noting that even on weekend afternoons, large sections of seats remained unused. In addition,photography enthusiasts drawn by the vintage décorbrought some foot traffic, but the behavior of some who only took photos without making purchases also put operational pressure on the store.

Notably, the store’s site selection strategy holds typical demonstration significance:Initially relying on the massive foot traffic from the department store, along with demand from nearby office areas, it successfully cultivated its first group of loyal customers. But later, it failed to promptly respond to the decline in physical retail caused by e-commerce impacts, as well as shifts in the preferences of younger demographics—modern consumers are more inclined to choose community-based coffee shops or new-style outlets with distinctive themes.

For Taiyuan residents, this Starbucks was not just a beverage provider, but a space that carried collective memories.The sunlight reading nook by the floor-to-ceiling windows, the view overlooking the street from the second floor, and the unique experience of queuing up for purchases during the early days of opening all became irreplaceable, cherished memories. As the November closing date approaches, many netizens have begun spontaneously visiting to take photos as keepsakes, trying to preserve this unique slice of the city’s commercial development.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.