Expats
Popular bar sees quick close from expired lease
By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-02 10:01
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No last call, no ending celebrations, just the simple sober words:
"Sorry, Rickshaw will shut the doors today at 5:00 pm."
These were the hand-written words on a sign hanging outside of the well-known Sanlitun bar, Rickshaw, Sunday as it unexpectedly announced its closure to a crowd of heart-broken expats.
"The place was like my second home," said 37-year-old American English Teacher, Landon Hooberry.
Hooberry, who has frequented the bar since he first arrived in Beijing more than one year ago, said when he heard the news he was in disbelief.
"When I first heard the news I thought it was a joke, there was no way," he said. But taking a trip to Rickshaw on Monday to see for himself, he came across a gutted out version of the bar's former glory, with movers packing up the furniture, pool table, and booths.
Reasons behind why Rickshaw decided to close were still a little murky yesterday, but Rickshaw owner Kris Ryan said the primary reason was related to renewing the three-year lease.
"Our lease is up. There are better spaces out there and we're looking for one," he told China Daily in a brief conversation on Monday.
He said he was not sure where, when, or if a new location would open up.
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"Everything was pretty much as it normally was. There were no signs saying that they were closing," he said. "I really had no idea."
Ryan wouldn't go into why they chose not to renew the lease, but with the restaurant adopting a completely new menu in late 2009, evidence suggests it was a last-minute call.
Jim Boyce, author of the blog Beijing Boyce, a highly regarded food and drinks blog in the Beijing expat community, offered some insight as to why they chose not to renew.
He said while Rickshaw had a solid foundation and for many years was the go-to spot for 24-hour pub food, it began experiencing ups and downs as the number of locations offering burritos, burgers and pints became much more competitive.
"Even those who haven't been to Rickshaw in a couple years will be disappointed to hear of its close," Boyce said.
As to whether or not this is a trend, Boyce said it's always been a trend. "Like everything else in this scene there's always a lot of competition and the bar is always being raised. It's always a big challenge to keep up," he said, noting that issues between landlords and bar owners have been the cause of several closures over the past few years.
