Beijing adds 672 physical first stores in first 8 months, catering leads growth

Beijing, September 24 (China News Service) — According to data released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce on September 23, the city added 672 physical first stores in the first eight months of this year. During the same period, 738 debut events—including product launches, fashion shows, exhibitions, and premieres—were held across the capital.

The coordinated development of the "first-store economy" and "four debut activities" has driven continuous optimization of the supply structure. The trend is characterized by the clustering of international resources, the empowerment of cutting-edge technology, and the integration of diverse business formats, effectively converting first-mover advantages into consumption growth and injecting strong new momentum into Beijing's consumer market.

Catering Remains the Core Driver

Catering continues to be the mainstay of first-store growth, with both international chains and local specialty brands expanding aggressively. The sector is marked by strong thematic, scene-based, and IP-oriented features.

International food brands are expanding rapidly:

• Czech century-old beer brand BUDLVAR and Bangkok Michelin-recommended Baan Phadthai opened their first stores in mainland China.
• Multiple international dining brands have landed in Beijing, including Five Guys (USA), Meraki Coffee (Australia), Oukuk (Singapore), and bb·q Village (South Korea).
• First-store layouts are extending from core business districts to surrounding areas and specialty commercial spaces.

Regional specialty brands are accelerating their entry into Beijing:

• Local favorites such as Hangzhou-style拌川 (mixed noodles), Guizhou sour soup beef, Shunde-style food stalls, and Yunnan mushroom hotpot have opened outlets in the city.

Catering first stores are evolving toward thematic, scene-based, and IP-driven concepts:

• CHAGEE launched a "silent store" to showcase brand warmth through barrier-free services for special-needs customers.
• Guanfen Coffee&Bistro integrates Fenjiu liquor culture with coffee and bistro formats, embracing new youth consumption trends and reshaping baijiu consumption scenarios.
• IP-themed dining, such as Naruto Ichiraku Ramen, has become a new favorite among young consumers.

Retail First Stores: 191 New Openings

In the first eight months of 2024, Beijing added 191 retail first stores, with an increasingly optimized brand structure.

High-profile international brand stores:

• Tiffany & Co. opened its global latest-concept standalone flagship store.
• Vivienne Westwood launched the world's first "House of Vivienne Westwood."
• ADERERROR opened its global flagship store.
• Salomon debuted its flagship store in Beijing.
• The clustering effect of international fashion resources continues to grow.

Domestic trend brands are thriving:

• POP MART opened its first two-story city flagship store in the country.
• 观夏 (To Summer) launched its first standalone incense stick specialty store, "观夏香铺," in a Qing Dynasty heritage property near the Imperial College.
• Heritage gold brand 宝蘭 Borland, oriental aesthetics jewelry brand CIGALONG, and local bag brand 裘真 QZSHION have all opened first stores in Beijing.
• From oriental jewelry and art fragrances to original leather goods, domestic trend brands are reshaping consumption scenes with Eastern aesthetics, emerging as a significant new force in Beijing's retail market.

Store Distribution: "One Core, Multiple Poles" Pattern

The distribution of first stores in Beijing is evolving toward a "one core, multiple poles" structure.

Core business districts leading the way:

• Shuangjing, Wangfujing, CBD, and Sanlitun are the top four business districts for new first-store openings, forming the core matrix.

Steady growth in secondary hubs:

• Changying, Wangjing, Xidan-Financial Street, Chaoyang Youth Road, and Zhongguancun continue to show robust momentum.

Rapid growth in suburban districts:

• Shijingshan, Tongzhou, Changping, and Daxing have seen significant increases in first-store numbers.
• These areas leverage commercial complexes such as Shougang Park, Wanli Wangfujing·Welltown, Beijing Super HeSheng Hui, and荟聚 (Livat) to attract quality brands, effectively expanding the first-store economy from core areas to the entire city.

738 Debut Events Held

In the first eight months of 2024, Beijing hosted 738 debut events—averaging 92 per month.

Technology debuts driving innovation:

• During the 2026 World Robot Conference, multiple humanoid robot products from companies including Unitree, Ubtech, and Galaxy General made their national debuts.
• Other cutting-edge achievements included Moonshot AI's Kimi K3, the world's largest open-source model by parameter count; Lenovo Tianxi AI 4.0, a full-scenario terminal; and the Xinghan 2000E, a full-tilt rotor low-altitude eVTOL aircraft—all launched globally or nationally, showcasing Beijing's leadership as a source of technological innovation.

Fashion debuts gathering international resources:

• During the 2026 China International Fashion Week (Autumn) and the SS2027 Beijing Fashion Week, brands such as LAURENCE·XU, Zhu Bingren, VICUTU, LANCY, House of Uys, and Unke made high-profile appearances, demonstrating Beijing's international fashion appeal.

Cultural premieres highlighting artistic excellence:

• The original play "Swift" achieved its global premiere.
• International classics such as the St. Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre's "Swan Lake" and the original West End musical "Matilda" arrived in Beijing.
• The National Centre for the Performing Arts premiered its original comic opera "Three Beats of the White Bone Demon," further enriching the city's performing arts market.

Upcoming Holiday Season

As the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday approach, Beijing's debut economy is poised for further growth. New offerings span catering, retail, and service consumption, promising fresh experiences for residents and tourists alike and injecting vitality into the holiday consumer market.

During the two holidays, the city is expected to add approximately 50 new first stores, flagship stores, and concept stores.