Introduction:A Luckin Coffee outlet in Shanghai’s Putuo District installed a door stopper on the sidewalk without authorization, causing a passerby to trip and sustain injuries. This incident has drawn public attention to the safety of public spaces. This article details the sequence of events, accounts from those involved, the brand’s response, and explores the safety considerations coffee shops should keep in mind when installing storefront facilities.
Recently, a resident in Shanghai was walking near a Luckin Coffee outlet in Putuo District when they suddenly tripped and fell due to an obstacle on the ground, resulting in injury. It turned out the obstruction was a door stopper that the store had privately installed on the sidewalk to control the opening and closing of its glass doors. The incident not only caused harm to the individual but also reignited public concern about the compliance and safety of installations in public areas by businesses.
According to reports, the incident occurred on the evening of January 4th. As the individual was walking home from work past the Luckin Coffee store at No. 1495 North Kaixuan Road in Putuo District, their foot suddenly struck a raised object on the ground, causing them to lose balance and collide with a wall. Although they managed to brace themselves with their hands against the wall, they still suffered a bump on the forehead, and later noticed significant bruising on their big toe after returning home.
The individual recalled that at the time of the accident, the lighting was poor, making it impossible to see the obstruction on the ground. It wasn’t until they used their phone’s flashlight afterward that they realized it was a door stopper installed by the store. They emphasized that if not for their quick reflexes, the outcome could have been much worse, and they expressed deep lingering fear about the incident.
Notably, the location of the store sees a very high volume of foot traffic. It is not only close to Metro Lines 3 and 4, with numerous pedestrians passing by on weekdays and weekends, but there is also an educational training center nearby that sees many students, especially on weekends. In such high-traffic areas, any protrusions on the ground near the entrance pose a significant potential safety hazard.
Photos provided by the individual show that two door stoppers were installed on either side of the Luckin Coffee store entrance, approximately 20 centimeters from the door frame, to limit the opening angle of the glass doors. These door stoppers were installed at a height of approximately4 centimetersabove the ground, creating a substantial tripping risk for pedestrians, especially in low-light or poorly lit conditions such as at night.
After the incident came to light, media contacted Luckin Coffee’s official customer service. The customer service team stated that they would immediately investigate the situation and, if it was confirmed that the door stoppers were installed by the store itself and did not comply with regulations, they would require the involved store to remove them immediately. The customer service team also promised to actively follow up with the individual to handle any related aftercare.
The individual later reported that Luckin Coffee customer service had contacted them, apologized for the accident, and informed them that the involved store had already removed the door stoppers. When the individual passed by the store again, they confirmed that the previously protruding door stoppers were no longer there, the ground had been restored to a flat surface, and the risk of similar accidents had been reduced.
This incident serves as a reminder to all coffee shops that when carrying out store decoration and facility installation, in addition to considering operational convenience, public safety must be given priority. Especially in high-traffic areas such as entrances and sidewalks, any potentially ground-protruding installations should be carefully evaluated for necessity and safety to avoid small oversights leading to serious consequences.
Industry experts suggest that when selecting door control accessories, stores should prioritize products with built-in or low-profile designs and ensure that installation locations do not obstruct pedestrian passage. Additionally, regularly inspecting store surroundings and promptly addressing potential risks are also key measures in safeguarding the safety of customers and passersby.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
