Only a day after ominous scaffolding cropped up on Yonghegong Dajie one of the street’s most popular bars and restaurants, Café de la Poste (CDLP) has announced that that construction will bring their business to a close. For how long, however, remains to be seen.
Owner Christophe Rovan announced, in a WeChat message to fans of the French magnate for wee hour hutong barflies, that CDLP will likely close on Sunday because of the streetside renovations. Although he was unsure when his bistro might be able to reopen, he tried to remain upbeat, writing: “This is a temporary closure but could last several weeks or even months. It may give us the opportunity to find a renovated café, enlarged and all clean.”
To that end, Rovan and co. will hold a provisional farewell party on the evening of Friday, Apr 12, for which pastis liqueur will be sold at RMB 5 a pop.
Rovan told the Beijinger that these developments have left him saddened, adding: "We started this story 13 years ago with a lot of different people, and we have kept the same spirit alive all this time."
Manager Thibaut Lafarge's reaction was even more pointed: “I’m sad and angry. This place has been running since 2006 and is an institution for Beijingers.” However, like his boss, Lafarge tried to stay positive, saying “I’m already thinking of a new Café de la Poste, either at the same place or elsewhere.”
Rovan concurred, saying they will remain on Yonghegong "if we can wait and if the rent doesn't become crazy." But if they need to reopen CLDP elsewhere, Rovan says so be it, adding that he is willing to consider a number of locations with a similar 150 square meterage.
Before this sudden announcement, CDLP was a holdout from the recent Great Brickening beautification campaign that brought throngs of neighboring businesses to a grinding halt. As one of the last bars and restaurants standing in the area, CDLP has been attracting big enough weekend throngs to spill out from the no-frills bistro and onto the sidewalk, those patrons knocking back wine and beer from the well-stocked shelves. CDLP also upgraded its meal offerings recently, serving casual French fare that brought in less rowdy crowds earlier in the day.
So yes, even going one weekend without a visit to CDLP will be tough for many hutong party types, much less waiting indefinitely for the beloved spot to reopen. But those devotees can at least gather for Friday’s bash and bid the beloved business au revoir for now during what is sure to be a memorable, bittersweet soirée.
Read more about the Great Brickening here.
More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos: Guidepals, Garth Wilson, Tautvile Daugelaite, Tom Arnstein, courtesy of Christophe Rovan and CDLP
Good news if you missed the going away party (or miss CDLP already): the Yonghegong bistro has been open for business from 7pm-late after the construction crews head home for the day. Manager Thibaut Lafarge cheekily calls it Cafe de la Prohibition. This state of affairs likely won't last, so we suggest you head down pronto for one last CDLP hurrah.
