Gaobeidian Antique Furniture Street Slated for Demolition
Gaobeidian Antique Furniture Street, a go-to destination for those seeking antique and stylized furniture and popular among expats and tourists, is slated for demolition by the end of June this year.
While the exact reason for the demolition of the street, which is home to over 300 dealers specializing in Ming and Qing dynasty-style furniture and refurbished pieces, remains unclear, several dealers hint at a potential environmental greening project as the driving force behind the impending change.
During our visit to the antique street yesterday, we found that a significant number of the shops on the street's southern side were already unoccupied. Many of these stores were shuttered, and several displayed the Chinese character 拆 chāi - a symbol meaning "tear down" in English.
Certain stores on this side were barricaded by green steel barriers bearing the notice “疏解整治促提升，城市更新换新颜”, translating to "improvement for urban renewal for a new look". Conversely, the shops on the northern side were, for the moment, undisturbed. Though, according to one dealer we spoke to, it's possible that the north side may also face demolition in the near future.
In light of these circumstances, numerous outlets are either relocating or offering substantial discounts to expedite the sale of their inventory. Upon our visit to a store named 贵舍 Guishe, renowned for its collection of American and French furniture, the proprietor shared their plans of shifting to a new storefront just across the lane. In an effort to reduce the expenses associated with the move, they are currently striving to sell as much of their vintage inventory as possible. "This table, for instance, once tagged at RMB 8,000, is now up for grabs for merely RMB 6,000," the owner told us.
In the realm of relocation strategies, rental costs weigh heavily on the decision-making process of many merchants. Some are still in the process of securing a new space. Not far from the store Guishe, lies Across the House, a furniture hub selling imported retro-style pieces reminiscent of the 70s era.
"The rent in Gaobeidian is significantly lower compared to densely packed areas such as 798," they shared. "We're in the midst of identifying a new location. Meanwhile, we are transitioning some of our inventory to our warehouse."
Lily's Antiques, another furniture store that has primarily emptied its third-floor inventory, informed us of their impending move to Baiziwan, where rental costs are steeper. "Gaobeidian is the solitary enclave in Beijing teeming with a cluster of dealers vending furniture," they told us. "Hence, the future performance of Lily's business post-relocation remains uncertain."
Others have not been as fortunate, resulting in permanent shop closures. A recent entrant to the business scene, an office furniture outlet located on the north side of the street, shared an insightful perspective. Thriving businesses, they suggested, may consider relocation as a viable option. However, for those grappling with hardships, the only option may be to cease operations entirely.
Such is the case for Runyitang, a store that has been running for over two decades, one employee disclosed that the business is not generating enough profit, and they will probably have to shut it down permanently. "I moved away from my hometown to Beijing over 20 years ago," the owner reminisced. "Now I find myself in a situation where I have to leave the city that once held my dreams."
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Images: Irene Li