Introduction:The closure of Guangzhou’s Ersha Island Starbucks Reserve store after 15 years due to lease expiration has quietly taken place, prompting many regulars to express their nostalgia. Not only that, but in cities such as Jiangmen and Beijing, several long-operating Starbucks specialty stores have also gradually shut down, including the city's first dedicated pour over shop. These old stores were not just places to buy drinks, but also the starting points of many people’s coffee journeys, carrying the warmth and memories of the city.

The Starbucks Reserve store near the Xinghai Concert Hall on Guangzhou’s Ersha Island recently announced its official closure due to lease expiration, leaving many regular customers shocked and saddened. This store, which opened in 2010, was one of the most iconic cafes in the area and had been in business for 15 years, becoming an integral part of many people’s lives.

The store not only served audiences and performers at the Xinghai Concert Hall, but also attracted nearby residents and tourists taking a stroll. The outdoor seating area was always filled with guests enjoying the sunshine and coffee. Though it wasn’t as crowded as the stores in city malls, it maintained a stable stream of customers and became an indispensable landmark café on Ersha Island.

However, on January 15th, many netizens noticed that the store had quietly begun demolition work—tables, chairs, and equipment had all been cleared out, and the signboard had been removed. Notably, the store did not post any prior notice of closure, leaving many customers who wanted one last cup or a photo for memory caught off guard. They exclaimed things like “It was here yesterday, gone today” and “Went there the day before, now it’s an empty store.”

In fact, this wave of closures of long-standing Starbucks stores is not limited to Guangzhou. Recently, stores such as the Jiangmen Jinlanhai branch, Beijing Shengjing Building branch, Changzhou Fengchen International Plaza branch, and Chengdu Ocean Center branch have also been found closed by local residents. Among these stores, some were the first in the area to offer pour over coffee, some had been operating for more than ten years, and even included branches located in office buildings that typically had decent foot traffic on regular days.

For many coffee enthusiasts, Starbucks may have been their first exposure to specialty coffee. Many people developed an interest in coffee because of their first cup at Starbucks and gradually explored different flavors, roast levels, andbrewing parameters, even trying out pour over methods or learning about the characteristics and origin differences of various coffee beans.

Moreover, the comfortable seating and quiet atmosphere provided by Starbucks have become daily hubs for many students and office workers, witnessing their study sessions, meetings, and even important life moments. Therefore, when these long-time companion stores suddenly disappear, it not only marks the closing of a physical shop, but also touches on nostalgia for the past and urban memories.

Many netizens said that when passing by the old store locations and seeing the traces left after wall removal, or hearing news about equipment being moved away, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. That familiar cup of coffee, that corner—they can now only be found in memories.

This wave of closures of long-standing Starbucks stores not only reflects practical factors such as lease expirations and changes in commercial districts, but also prompts the public to rethink the emotional value of "coffee spaces." Those stores that once accompanied us are not just places to buy drinks, but also carry countless everyday moments and emotional connections.

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