How does he make money by opening a cafe across from Starbucks?

Chongqing Morning News reporter Huang Deqiang reports

In the lobby of Chongqing Wharf Sichuan Restaurant on West Dawang Road in Beijing, He Zongcheng said with confidence: "I am from Chongqing, so my store name must have the word 'Yu' in it. In addition, Chongqing has Chaotianmen Pier, Wanzhou has Pier 17, Pier 16…I like docks and dock culture, so I named my shop this." However, no one expected He Zongcheng to be just a chef when he first arrived in Beijing 15 years ago.

When I first arrived in Beijing, I earned some money as a chef

"I'm a real peasant." He Zongcheng said so, He has always had a dream of becoming rich,"In 1981, I was still in school when I started to do business, From 1985 to 1992, I first in my hometown fruit business, At the end of 1992 to Wanzhou to open a grocery store."

He Zongcheng, who "found some money", did not settle for the status quo. He saw that the chef was looking for money very much, so he opened a grocery store while learning from several famous chefs in Wanzhou. At the end of 2001, influenced by two classmates doing business in Beijing, he decided to go to Beijing for a break and started his life with his wife.

When he first came to Beijing, He Zongcheng didn't know much about the situation here, so he found a job as a chef in a Sichuan restaurant. At that time, the chef's income was OK. He still earned a lot of money after working for three years.

Ten years of struggle, three restaurants.

After he became familiar with beijing's restaurant market, he decided to give it a shot in 2003 after much thought.

"In 2003, I opened my first Sichuan restaurant." He Zongcheng said. The restaurant business quickly went on the road, 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, he took advantage of this opportunity, opened a second store, earned a lot of money. In 2011, He Zongcheng took advantage of the hot iron and opened a third store on Beijing West Dawang Road, named "Chongqing Wharf Sichuan Restaurant".

At this point, He Zongcheng, who has drifted north for 10 years, has transformed himself from a wage earner to a "He boss" with three restaurants through his hard work and hard work spirit.

Starbucks came across the street from the cafe.

After the restaurant was on track, He Zongcheng had more time to think about the next development. At the end of 2011, a high-end office area facade for rent, a friend introduced He Zongcheng to have a look. After he went to take a look, he realized that the facade had been empty for a year or two, and no one dared to rent it. Firstly, the location was not very good, and secondly, the price was relatively high. However, He Zongcheng has a discerning eye."In fact, I hesitated at first, but after discussing with my children, they thought this location was OK, and strongly suggested not to open a Sichuan restaurant here, but a coffee shop."

Cafe is a new thing for He Zongcheng, in order to persuade him to make this decision, the children also specially took him to drink coffee, who has never drunk coffee. "At that time, we also did an investigation, and the office building where this facade is located has Huawei, Huadian, and a number of well-known accounting firms, but there was no cafe here at that time." Of course, we don't just make coffee. We also make simple meals and so on." He Zongcheng said.

Although in the first two months of operation, the cafe failed to introduce simple meals due to procedural problems and lost some money. But two months later, business at the coffee shop began to boom. However, the good times didn't last long. Before long, Starbucks opened a store opposite He Zongcheng's cafe.

At first, He Zongcheng was a little worried that he could not compete with the coffee giant. In order to meet this tough battle, they not only further improved the service, but also made some price adjustments. Unexpectedly, after a series of countermeasures were introduced, Starbucks 'arrival did not affect its performance at all, but its business was better than before. The store only took a year and two months to return to capital, He Zongcheng thinks his investment is very beautiful,"Next I also want to open a coffee shop, At present still looking for a place."

He Zongcheng held an important position in Beijing Kaixian Township Association, actively helped Chongqing villagers and Kaixian villagers to develop in Beijing, and also sponsored many Kaixian college students studying in Beijing. Every weekend, two college students will go to Chongqing dock Sichuan restaurant to help, one of them said: "The university's annual tuition fees are all paid by Uncle He, and at the beginning, I will also subsidize some living expenses." But in order to train us, he offered us the opportunity to work here so that we could earn pocket money."

I feel that my hometown has changed a lot, especially in recent years. I am from Kaixian County. Now Kaixian County is really well repaired. After retirement, I am willing to go back to my hometown to buy a house. I am willing to go back to live. I now go back to Chongqing to live in Kaixian County for two days, very comfortable, where the air is better than Beijing.

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He Zongcheng, a native of Kaixian County, worked hard in Beijing for 15 years and grew from a chef to an owner of many restaurants and cafes.

conversation>

It's not easy for a fellow villager to come out and wander

I wish I could help them.

Morning Post: Why are most of the waiters in your restaurant Chongqing villagers?

He Zongcheng: It's not easy for villagers to come out. I've been through it. I want to help them. Therefore, the first choice for waiters in my restaurant is villagers.

Morning Post: Do you often go back to Chongqing now?

He Zongcheng: I go back to my hometown two or three times a year now, one of which is to go back to my hometown to give my old father a life.