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Many residents in neighboring communities
visited The Burrow after its opening at Zhong-

dao Street. According to media reports, des-

sert shops and bars had opened nearby in the

following months, renewing the whole street

visually, temperamentally and socially.

Sitting at one end of Zhongdao Street, The Bur-
row neighbors the food market. It was converted
from a chicken coop and has been a famed name in
the city. As soon as it opened in August 2022, trendy
youngsters gathered here and tagged it as “Chicken
Coop Café”, “internet-famous shop”, “steampunk”,
the list goes on. Named after Ron Weasley’s family
home from Harry Potter, the owner Chang Sihong
wishes that The Burrow could be “homey” to visitors perfectly resonate with red bricks and antique wood. concept in line with the increasingly mature coffee
from all over the world. He sees it as more of a com- The 17m 2 space accommodates a movable bar coun- market in Chengdu. The stable products and enriched
mon room, where everyone can make a cup of coffee. ter, a separate zone for coffee lessons, a display brand need in-depth thinking.”
Just as Chang takes Ron’s home as the best place he zone for cultural products, a vinyl player, a ration- Being an “Instagrammable” place means cus-
has ever seen, The Burrow has met a similar expec- al zone to use fireplaces, a zone for brewing, a zone tomers would demand more than products. The
tation, to some extent. After one year of operation, for roasting coffee beans, separate seating areas, Burrow was not a simple coffee-selling store since
it is still vibrant. Just like this ever-improving store, and a large storage zone. its inception. Chang thinks apart from offering a cup
Chang is also growing. Through the fully open bar counter and folding of coffee, offering more added value represents a
doors, along with an outdoor seating area across the type of involution. “Many consumers tend to have
“Being an internet-famous shop Is an Estab- street, The Burrow opens its gates to accommodate more specific needs. On top of caffeine, they demand
lished Fact” all the guests and quickly shortens the distance from aesthetic recognition, social currency, and even
customers. Originally, the store planned to offer cof- emotional connection with baristas,” he says. “In
When it came to choosing the location, Chang fee courses, in addition to a simple menu of america- principle, this is not something that a cafe needs to
mulled over four factors: being interesting, unlimited nos, lattes, flat whites, and pour-overs. Unexpected- provide. However, the large base in Chengdu means
possibilities, contrast, and low rent. For the current ly, sales boomed with lots of attracted visitors. that many cafes must meet these needs to survive
location at Zhongdao Street, he says frankly, “I was However, Chang Sihong was in no hurry to enrich the before they are attractive enough. There is no right
lucky to find such a ‘treasure’. The site gives us end- menu or add special options. “Being a merch store is or wrong in this matter; it’s just a way to survive
less room for imagination.” an established fact. We are just an ordinary store for different stores.”
A golden zeppelin sits on the roof. Steampunk among nearly 10,000 cafes in Chengdu. What we need Many residents in neighboring communities visit-
objects pile up. Knick Knacks made with primitive to do is to observe the market trends, without paying ed The Burrow after its opening at Zhongdao Street.
techniques – iron fireplaces and light fittings, and too much attention to the pace of society. We don’t According to media reports, dessert shops and bars had
hammered brass wall coverings – liven up the room. have to influence or be influenced,” he says, “We want opened nearby in the following months, renewing the
Massive metal elements and mechanical installations to express that coffee is an everyday consumption, a whole street visually, temperamentally and socially.

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