HK Facebook group that gathers shop closure updates shoots to fame

A Facebook group which reports any closure of retail stores or restaurants, "全港店舖執笠結業消息關注組(店舖/ 餐廳/ 零售/ 小店/ 大集團)", has shot to fame that it has amassed over 200k followers over the past two weeks.

As of 5 April 2024,  the group has reached a membership count of over 242k, a check by MARKETING-INTERACTIVE saw on Facebook. Members of the group have been actively sharing updates and reports on the closures of restaurants and retail shops they have personally witnessed.

According to HK01, the owner of the Facebook group said that the group was initially named "全港執笠大結業關注組" before it was renamed on 25 March 2024. Prior to the renaming, the group had accumulated 30k members only.

The owner of the group said that he established the group in response to his observation that some of his beloved restaurants were silently closing down during the pandemic, according to the report. Therefore, he created the Facebook page to provide a platform for netizens to share information, hoping that everyone can learn to cherish what they have.

On 1 April, the owner of the group said on a radio programme by CRHK that Hongkongers have a tendency to gather at establishments that are on the verge of closing down. This behaviour is driven by their emotional attachment to these cherished restaurants.

The owner said the surge in membership was unexpected, as the page had been neglected for a while. He believed that the discussions multiplied due to recent restaurant closures, which expanded from small shop closures to retail businesses and large corporations.

Social monitoring firm Meltwater saw a total number of 175 mentions across social platforms, with 4% positive sentiments, 2.9% negative sentiments and 93.1% neutral sentiments. Keywords associated with the project include "consume" (消費), "closing down" (結業) and "restaurants" (餐廳). 

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In fact, Hongkongers have expressed disappointment upon the shutdown of certain retail chains or restaurant groups. Back in February, retail chain City Super Group’s food court, CookedDeli closed its Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour City store on 20 February due to the end of the tenancy.

“Over the past 22 years, we have had the privilege of serving you international cuisines in a relaxing ambience. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support, which has been the driving force behind our passion for culinary excellence,” the statement reads.

Earlier this year, local bakery Dang Wen Li by Dominique Ansel also shut its operations in Hong Kong, including its flagship store at H Queen's in Central and boutique store at Admiralty's Pacific Place.  

Possible reasons that led to the closure of the bakehouse include a severe shortage of manpower, high rent and food prices, and a harsh business environment after the pandemic, Dang Wen Li's executive director Tammy Wu told multiple local reports such as HKEJ.  

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