In September 2016, we were very proud to open the CK Culture Boutique on the 3rd floor of the 258 Electronics Mall in Beijing. It was the perfect place to start our little retail division, and we were very happy to have set up shop there.
Unfortunately, nothing ever stays the same for very long in Beijing. As such, while it was not entirely unexpected, it is with heavy hearts that we announce that Monday March 19th will be our last day of business at 258 Mall.
In fact, yesterday (March 15th) was meant to be the closing day for the entire mall. However, due to anger from some of the other mall vendors, the 258 management announced late yesterday that the mall would be permitted to stay open to the public until the 19th, in order to allow time for everyone to move all their furniture and stock out.
So, what is the reason for the forced closure and displacement of all the vendors at the 258 Mall? According to management, they were contacted by the local government, and told that they must refurbish and upgrade both floors of the mall, or face permanent closure.
As a result, everyone has to leave while the upgrade work is done, with the tentative date of May 1st being given as to when everyone can return.
And while we would very much love to believe that will be the case, it is simply too much to expect any business to just sit by and wait 6 weeks to see whether or not the honeyed words of unseen managers will come true or not.
And certainly, we are not alone in our concerns for the mall’s future. Many vendors are now asking on a daily basis when they will receive refunds, and what kind of compensation they will receive.
But as to those questions, the invisible management remains silent.
Whatever the final outcome, we can definitely say it’s been a great experience having a store at 258. Our neighbours and customers alike have been wonderful, and have always made working there a pleasure and never a chore.
While it is heartbreaking to see our little boutique close, we are sure that wherever we end up next, our loyal customers will follow, and help us create a new home somewhere else again soon!
And to say thank you to all those who have supported and helped us grow over the past 18 months, and to anyone who would still like to the opportunity to drop by and pick up a pair of genuine Chinese Feiyue, beautiful mindfulness jewelry, or a stunning piece of Chinese art, we are extending our offer of 10% off everything in store until March 19th, the day we do officially close.
Of course, the CK Culture Boutique isn’t the only reason to visit the 258 Market before it closes down. As theBeijinger recently wrote, “It’s the kind of place that you feel like you might stumble across real treasure, and the stalls are manned largely by owners who have collected certain wares to fuel their niche interests and hobbies and not out of a necessity to make money.”
And of course, one such treasure is our good friends, The Bulk House. Located on the 2nd floor, The Bulk House is China’s first zero waste store, promoting a green and healthy lifestyle through their motto of Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle and Rot.
At their store in 258, you can find lot of useful items to help you do that, together with more information on what else you can be doing to help both the planet and yourself lead a happier, healthier life. You can also follow their Official WeChat Account here.
So there you have it. Plenty of reasons for you to drop by sometime in the coming few days to pick up a great bargain, make new friends, and see what you might have been missing all these years.
The CK Culture Boutique will be open Friday March 16th, Saturday March 17th and Monday March 19th, 1pm till 7pm. We sincerely hope to see you there!
