Thinking of Opening a Little Café or Bar in Nanluoguxiang? Think Again

This just in from the Ministry of Trying to Control Everything, Dongcheng Division: There are too many damn bars and cafés in Nanluoguxiang, and we won't let more than 25 percent of the street be taken up by them.

The Star Daily reported Thursday that the busybodies in the Dongcheng district government have put forth Guidelines for the Development of Qianmen and Other Special Business Districts (download the full document in Chinese from the Dongcheng District Goverment here) which governs the future development of six of Dongcheng's commercial hotspots: Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying, Nanxincang, Guijie, Qianmen, and Xianyukou.

Seeing as they've already pretty much wrecked Qianmen; Xianyukou and Nanxincang hardly pop up on Beijing laowai's radar screen; and no amount of regulation seems to reign in Guijie (aka Ghost Street), we decided to take a closer look at the regulations as they pertain to Nanluoguxiang, which is within close promixity to a number of popular bars and cafés such as Alba, Cafe Zarah, Mao Mao Chong, and Salud; and Wudaoying Hutong, home to Stuff'd, Vineyard Cafe, VA Bar and School, to name a few.

Officials imagine a future for NLGX that consists of a business mix of precisely 35 percent creative industries and retail stores; 25 percent bars and cafés; 25 percent fashion retailers; 5 percent inns/lodging, 5 percent specialty restaurants, and 5 percent other.

Unfortunately high on the official no-no lists are the scourge of "small" businesses – small shops, small bars, and small eateries – the intimate nature of some might rightfully be credited as giving NLGX some its characteristic charm (but obviously not by bigger-is-always bigger city officials).

Also on the discouraged list are barbecue joints, non-branded specialty restaurants and discos, along with a smattering of the stores that make neighborhoods livable by local residents: things like hardware stores, small convenience stores and car repair shops.

No mention was made as to how such restrictions were to be made or upheld, other than making the process of applying for a business license in this area much more bureaucratic. Here's your simple seven-step approval process:

The Wudaoying portion of the document is less specific about any future business mix but contains similar language about discouraging "small businesses." However, it does contains some enlightened language about their future vision for the neighborhood: making it into an organic blend of traditional Beijing and modern international culture with a focus on creative businesses and multicultural leisure activities.

Other notable restrictions on Dongcheng hotspots include: no restaurants smaller than 300sqm will be approved to open on Guijie and no more barbecue places will be allowed in Nanxincang.

Image: 117go.com