Recently, many Changping residents who get up early to buy groceries have noticed while passing through the Jiuyaoli commercial area that Haidilao has "set up shop" right at their doorstep. On September 8th, it was reported that Haidilao's first community store nationwide has opened in the Jiuyaoli commercial area of Shahe Town, Changping District. The community store not only serves hotpot but also sells breakfast, main dishes, prepared foods, and desserts and beverages, becoming an "all-day dining hall" at the doorstep of nearby residents.
Twisted doughnuts at 1.5 yuan each, tea eggs at 2.5 yuan each, white fungus porridge at 3 yuan per bowl... During breakfast hours, the food cart outside the community store attracts the attention of passersby. The breakfast varieties are rich and diverse, including handmade braised pork buns, beef and carrot buns, and frozen tofu and vermicelli buns, with main dish prices ranging from 2.9 to 4.5 yuan. "There's another breakfast spot now, and chain brands are reassuring to eat at," said one resident.
After breakfast hours, the store transforms back into the familiar setting people know, with diners preparing their condiments and enjoying hotpot inside. Outside the store, the prepared food counter sells five-spice smoked chicken, braised beef, rabbit legs, spicy crawfish, and other prepared foods, along with various desserts and beverages. The store also features an outdoor dining area and "bubble houses" to meet some consumers' outdoor dining needs.
It was observed that most customers dining at this store are residents from surrounding communities, with a significant proportion being elderly consumers. "I came to eat on opening day, and now I don't have to go far when I want hotpot," an elderly couple with their grandson told reporters. They have already visited twice recently, saying, "I didn't expect this store would also sell breakfast and prepared foods."
The store manager introduced that the first community store is located in the Jiuyaoli community-oriented commercial district, which can serve over 10 surrounding communities and multiple universities, meeting the all-day dining needs of diverse groups including community neighbors, students, and office workers. It's expected that more categories like snacks, marinated foods, barbecue, and mixed rice will be added later.
Sun Gonghe, Director of the Restaurant Department at the China Chain Store & Franchise Association, believes that service consumption has shifted from functional provision to emotional connection, and community restaurant chain stores are evolving into service supply stations at the city's capillary level. Small and flexible community stores have adaptable layouts that can effectively handle overflow traffic from commercial districts, better connect with residents' daily life scenarios, and create intimate consumption relationships where people can "eat just by going downstairs."