Do Bookstores Need to Sell Coffee to Survive?

In Guangzhou, bookstore owners face a harsh reality: rent eats up nearly all revenue from books alone. Some close. Others adapt. Among them, 1200bookshop is expanding, while tiny specialists like the Little Ancient Bookstore prepare to renovate with a café corner. The big question? Can a bookstore survive without selling coffee — or is caffeine now essential to literacy?

Yes, most surviving bookstores now depend on coffee for revenue — often making up 60% or more of turnover — but a minority, like Borges Bookstore, refuse to sell it at all, staying 100% book-focused despite losses.

The New Model: Coffee Keeps the Lights On

1200bookshop runs three locations, including a 300-square-meter 24-hour branch in Wokai Street. Here, coffee and juice are served alongside books, and there's even a free sofa-bed for travelers. According to operations manager Hu Benchong, the original 24-hour shop on Tiyu East Road reached break-even within a year. Yet just 30% of revenue comes from books — 60% is from drinks, and 10% from creative goods. Early attempts at offering meals were dropped due to atmosphere clashes.

The owner, Liu Erxi, describes the model as “business by day, passion by night.” The late-night hours provide a haven for readers and drifters. The shop has grown into a cultural hub, and more locations are planned — including a youth hostel-bookstore hybrid in Dongfeng Road, where rooms generate income and the bookstore remains a reading space.

Why Many Bookstores Now Sell Coffee

“It’s the worst of times, and the best of times,” say local booksellers. While chains fold, others expand by mixing retail with food and drink. For many, coffee isn’t a sideline — it’s survival.

At 1200bookshop, drinks make up the bulk of sales. Other shops follow similar paths: one unnamed store plans to add a coffee zone in a renovated antique book space, hoping it offsets declining sales (down around 10% yearly over four years). Culture-themed merchandise and curated coffee also help — several stores report steady growth after adopting the “books + coffee + merch” approach, with some increasing non-book revenue to 40% or more.

The Holdouts: No Coffee, Just Books

Not everyone embraces the café model. Borges Bookstore, with two Guangzhou locations, has refused to sell coffee for years. Despite relocating 13 times under rent pressure and operating at a combined monthly loss of thousands, owner Chen Tong insists bookselling is a serious, almost sacred, endeavor.

“Coffee is for chatting. Reading is a mission,” he says. The store has survived through writing income, loans, and even mortgaging property. Chen would rather see the shop function as a library — a place for readers to encounter great books and grow — than turn into a café. He won't compromise, even as others profit from lattes.

Other Approaches: Balancing Books and Beverages

Some stores walk a middle line. United Bookstore reports over 60% of revenue still comes from books, though they’ve introduced cultural products. At Fangsuo Bookstore, drinks represent just 35–40% of turnover, but books remain the top seller. Meanwhile, Xueyou Bookstore added a coffee area and hosts literary events after closing an underperforming branch. Coffee and merch currently account for only 8% of revenue there, but cultural add-ons and a refurbished café space aim to boost both sales and community engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do most independent bookstores in China now sell coffee?

Yes. Most surviving independent bookstores in China rely heavily on coffee sales — often making up 60% or more of their total revenue. Beverage sales are typically the largest income stream, followed by books and then cultural merchandise.

What percentage of revenue comes from coffee at 1200bookshop?

At 1200bookshop’s original 24-hour location, around 60% of revenue comes from coffee and other drinks, while only 30% comes from book sales. The remaining 10% is from cultural and creative products.

Are there bookstores in China that refuse to sell coffee?

Yes. Borges Bookstore, which has two locations in Guangzhou, refuses to sell coffee. Owner Chen Tong believes reading is a serious activity and prefers to keep the space focused entirely on books, even amid financial pressure.

How do bookstores that sell coffee stay profitable?

Bookstores that sell coffee often offset declining book sales with higher-margin beverage and merchandise sales. Drinks can make up 60% or more of total revenue, while creative products contribute another 10–20%, helping these stores achieve overall profitability.

Why do some bookstores see coffee as essential?

Coffee provides higher profit margins and draws in more foot traffic, especially during off-peak hours. It also helps create a community-focused “third place” between home and work, which traditional book sales alone often cannot sustain.

Is it possible for a bookstore to survive without selling coffee?

Yes, but it’s increasingly rare. Stores that don’t sell coffee, like Borges, often operate at a loss and rely on alternative funding, such as loans or rental income from other sources, to stay open.

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