How 66 Women Co-Owned a Beijing Coffee Shop

What does it take for 66 women from totally different fields to come together and open a single café? In August 2013, a group of women—bankers, tech workers, real estate pros, media editors, fashion insiders, and entertainers—did just that, launching HER COFFEE in Beijing’s Jianwai SOHO district. This wasn’t a corporate venture or a chain expansion. It was a grassroots effort driven entirely by personal investment and shared passion for coffee culture.

In short: HER COFFEE in Beijing launched on August 18, 2013, with 66 female shareholders from sectors including finance, IT, real estate, media, and entertainment—continuing the nationwide 'many people, one café' trend.

What Is HER COFFEE and Why It Matters

HER COFFEE opened its doors at Unit 0104A, Building 2, East Jianwai SOHO, Beijing, on August 18, 2013. The project brought together 66 individual women, each from a distinct professional background, who pooled resources to create a brick-and-mortar café. This model wasn’t born in Beijing—it built on the momentum of over 67 similar 'many people coffee' initiatives that had already launched across China.

Who Are the Owners?

The 66 shareholders behind HER COFFEE didn’t come from the traditional restaurant or café industry. Instead, they represented a wide cross-section of urban professional women, including those working in:

• Finance and investment
• Information technology
• Real estate
• Media
• Fashion
• Entertainment

Each contributed as an individual backer, reflecting a grassroots approach to business ownership rarely seen in the service sector.

The ‘Many People, One Café’ Movement

HER COFFEE is part of a broader national movement in China where groups of individuals—often strangers with a common interest—come together to crowdfund and co-manage a single café. Prior to HER COFFEE’s launch, more than 67 similar initiatives had already taken root in cities across the country. This model challenges conventional café ownership by distributing responsibility, risk, and reward among a large group of passionate backers rather than relying on a single owner-operator or corporate franchise.

Why This Model Works for Community-Centric Cafés

By involving dozens of stakeholders, the 'many people' model allows for a broad base of ideas, networks, and support—all focused on creating a space that reflects collective values. For HER COFFEE, that meant building not just a place to buy coffee, but a community hub founded and funded by women representing diverse sectors of the professional world. The model relies on transparency, shared vision, and a decentralized yet committed ownership structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many women co-own HER COFFEE in Beijing?

HER COFFEE was founded by 66 female shareholders from various professional backgrounds, including finance, IT, real estate, media, fashion, and entertainment.

Where is HER COFFEE located?

HER COFFEE is located at Unit 0104A, Building 2, East Jianwai SOHO, Beijing. It officially opened on August 18, 2013.

What is the 'many people, one café' model?

The 'many people, one café' model is a grassroots crowdfunding approach where a large group of individuals—often from different industries—pool resources to open and co-own a single café. More than 67 such projects had launched across China before HER COFFEE.

Did the HER COFFEE owners have prior experience in the coffee business?

No, the 66 shareholders came from sectors like finance, IT, real estate, media, and entertainment—not traditional hospitality or coffee retail. Their shared interest in community-driven spaces led to the café’s creation.

Is HER COFFEE part of a larger trend in China?

Yes, HER COFFEE continued a national trend of 'many people coffee' shops. Before its opening, over 67 similar collectively funded cafés had been launched in cities across China.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Community Cafés

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