Shops located on the second floor or above in industrial/commercial buildings or old residential buildings are known by Hong Kong people as "upstairs shops." From clothing and accessories, medicine and general merchandise, and household goods, to education centers, hair salons, and food and beverage outlets, these shops are famous for their wide variety of businesses and are almost all-encompassing. Coupled with their colorful and highly individualistic appearances, they have become an indispensable and beautiful part of Hong Kong's commercial landscape.
For a long time, brands in various commercial districts in Hong Kong have become increasingly homogenized, and the downtown areas of Hong Kong have begun to look more and more alike. Although the high density of shops brings convenience to tourists, the joy of shopping has gradually been lost. The emergence of upstairs shops has well compensated for the regret caused by the lack of personalization.
These shops, hidden in various buildings and residential blocks, bring shoppers a sense of freshness from free exploration. Reaching some shops requires climbing slightly narrow stairs, but once inside, the space opens up. Usually, these shops replace walls with transparent floor-to-ceiling windows; watching the crowded and bustling streets below, this shopping experience of stepping away from the crowd is even more rare.
In addition, compared with street-level shops, these types of stores usually have fewer customers, allowing you to take your time to select your favorite items, and the sales staff are generally more enthusiastic. Since most of the customers in the shops are local Hong Kong residents, visiting tourists can also get a close-up look at what the local residents need and love while shopping.
With the northward shift of traditional manufacturing, Hong Kong's economy began to transform in the early 1980s, leading to a number of vacant industrial buildings, which are also gradually changing their usage.
Horizon Plaza is located in the beautiful Ap Lei Chau. This shopping center, successfully transformed from an industrial building, has become well-known among mainland tourists. The 24-story industrial building houses over 150 shops, mostly featuring distinctive home goods stores and designer outlets, including flagship stores for major brands such as Lane Crawford and Joyce Warehouse. If you are lucky, you can find designer clothing at prices much lower than the market rate.
Hong Kong's cuisine is also not to be missed. In addition to large commercial centers and independent restaurants, among the restaurants in Hong Kong selected in the latest "2014 Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau," a host of eateries have chosen to open upstairs. After analyzing the list, the reporter found that among the 18 high-quality restaurants that received Michelin three-star and two-star ratings, nearly 70% are located on upper floors.
Why do many of Hong Kong's star-rated eateries prefer to operate as upstairs shops? One reason is the expansive view from the upper floors; enjoying Hong Kong's brilliant night view while tasting delicious food at night provides a dual enjoyment of taste and vision. In addition, the better privacy of these upstairs restaurants also meets the needs of customers who prefer a quiet environment.
Besides food, stylish cafes are also excellent places for afternoon leisure. The "Meow Planet" cafe is located on the 4th floor of a building behind SOGO Department Store in Causeway Bay.
"I chose to open an upstairs shop because the rent on the streets in the Causeway Bay area is expensive; 10 square meters can cost as much as over 100,000 Hong Kong dollars per month, while the rent for this upstairs shop is 40,000 Hong Kong dollars per month, which is much cheaper." The owner, He Jing, admits that many shops choose to locate upstairs due to high rents. In her impression, with the continuous rise in rents, there have been many more upstairs shops in residential buildings and commercial buildings in the Causeway Bay area over the past two or three years.
As a joint product of Hong Kong's expensive land rent and the shop owners' pursuit of individuality, upstairs shops have become a new symbol representing Hong Kong culture. Interestingly, they have also extended into some brands; for example, some brands simply use the two characters "Upstairs" (楼上) to name themselves.
"Upstairs" (楼上) Bird's Nest was founded in 1998, and from the beginning, the company operated in the form of an upstairs shop. "Upstairs" has a rich variety of products, such as bird's nest, cordyceps, Japanese dried sea cucumber, abalone, seafood, and nourishing products, which have gradually attracted many customers. Currently, there are 25 branches. Although they have achieved fame, "Upstairs" Bird's Nest still chooses to open most of its shops on the upper floors of buildings because it deeply understands the principle that "good wine needs no bush."
