Those of us living in China might have been spared the tumultuous drama that our US counterparts have experienced in 2017, but like always, the Middle Kingdom has had its own fair share of attention-grabbing headlines. From the boom of shared bikes to a presidential visit from The Donald, our team has put together a list of 2017’s most unforgettable viral stories, recounting major events that defined the worlds of sports, tech, arts, fashion and food. Here’s to another year of eclectic, weird and wonderful life in China, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
For more, follow our full 2017 Year in Review coverage.
While there were plenty of great new openings, Shanghai saw no shortage of notable locations ‘bite the crust’ this year. As 2017 draws to a close, it feels prudent to give these now defunct locations a nod of remembrance. In no particular order…
The Franck Empire
Popular French bakery Farine was forced to close all four of its branches for investigation following its highly publicized food scandal in March. The bakery was accused of using expired flour at the company's Minhang factory, which was used in breads supplied to the bakery's outlets at Wukang Lu, IFC Mall, Hubin Dao and Huashan Lu between December 2016 and March 2017. Listings for all four branches were later removed from local listing site Dianping. The rest of the Franck empire — including Pécol's namesake restaurant Franck Bistrot, Grains (which also houses WIYF), Rachel's and Far-West — soon followed. (Franck Bistrot later reopened, with the "Franck" name completely removed from the restaurant).
Everything on the West Side of Dongping Lu
That included Shanghai Brewery, Spice Bazaar and glo London cafe, gastro grill, bar and rooftop BBQ.
The Apartment
Another Yongfu Lu institution bit the dust in July.
Cotton Club
Shanghai bid farewell to a jazz institution in February: The Cotton Club. The legendary live music venue hosted over 5,000 performances, and earned the respect of music lovers all over the city. Said owner Greg Smith to That’s: "The party on the corner is over. But not to worry, we shall rise again." Could a second iteration of Cotton Club be on the cards?
Click here to read stories from Shanghai musicians recalling their wildest nights and fondest memories at the club that was so essential to Shanghai's jazz scene.
Charmant
Chi-Q
Chi-Q, the upmarket Korean BBQ restaurant in Three on the Bund by the Jean Georges crew bid adieu to the city in March. It was replaced by Kanpai Classic.
Arcade
Retro bar Arcade closed down in September. We're going to assume this fresh smite is from the Gods of city zoning again.
Dogtown
Ruijin Cajun
Say goodbye to Creole comfort food.
Baoism
One of the city's best-loved concepts took a final bao in January.
Kathleen's Waitan
The restaurant by F&B stalwart Kathleen Lau offered stunning views of the Huangpu. Luckily, a Lujiazui branch opened up shortly after the Waitan location closed.
Bubba's
Bubba’s finally closed their last remaining location in 2017.
Tour
An untimely demise for Tour, a bar in United Valley that paired snacks with creative. This won’t be the last we’ll see of its talented Torontonian mixologist, Mack Ross. He's sticking around in Shanghai, no doubt with plans for another bold new project.
Red Town
Another venue on the chopping block in this year of closures was a doozy: Hongqiao's Red Town, the home of music venue On Stage as well as several art galleries, restaurants and an open grassy space dotted with surreal statues.
Bombay Bistro
Like the Shelter, JZ Club and Bocado before it, Bombay Bistro said farewell to their Yongfu Lu address. They were said to be in negotiations to move to Jing'an.
Boxing Cat Brewery (Hongqiao)
However, all the other locations are still alive and very much open for your consideration.
The Camel (Pudong)
Closed for good in June.
Sel Dining
A Found 158 casualty.
SMASH
SMASH shuttered its doors in September. According to a statement, the team behind the popular low-key bar and club "Can't achieve what they want at the current location, and have decided to look for a more suitable venue." The place will reportedly continue to operate, albeit under a new name and ownership.
Salotto G
Over in Jing’an, news of a closure in June: Italian eatery Salotto G, which last we checked was being turned into a "bar with lots of wood," as reported by our man on the ground, Logan R. Brouse.
The British Kitchen
Here's a gratuitous TBK cake that we will never eat again.
Amelia's (Julu Lu)
A terrible year for British food in Shanghai.
Relocations, Second Comings and Rebrands
Tailor Bar
A second coming for Eddy Yang's Tailor Bar, which closed for relocation in May. The new digs are inside 20s-style boutique hotel Le Sun Chine on Huashan Lu.
Madison Kitchen (Fuxing Lu)
Madison Kitchen, chef Austin Hu's pickle purveying, intense grilled cheese sandwich vending delicatessen has made quite the mark on Shanghai since opening last year. But alas, it seems Xuhui District didn't feel quite the same way, as they, along with veteran Taiwanese restaurant Charmant, were forced to close in the fall. Luckily, Madison Kitchen was installed at a new Donghu Lu spot.
El Patio (now Bull & Claw)
Much-loved surf ‘n’ turf eatery The Bull & Claw made a comeback at long last in March, after abruptly closing last Christmas. That was at the expense of long-standing El Patio, as Bull & Claw will be occupying the entire Fenyang Lu villa that the Spanish restaurant previously called home.
Whampoa Club (now The Canton Table)
The Canton Table at Three on the Bund opened in December.
Taste Buds Cocktail Palace
Star mixologist Daniel An re-opened a version of his smash-hit bar Taste Buds Cocktail Palace at a new location after the former was forced to close when its lease ended. Now installed in an antique shop on Sinan Lu, An decided not to make big changes to the interiors, which complements the eccentric charm of the original.
Craft
After six years as a neighborhood bar and divey dance club on Donghu Lu, Craft closed in July. Then it reopened a few weeks later.
Big Bamboo Nanyang Lu (now Blind Pig Bourbon and Smokehouse)
In August there was a switcheroo on Nanyang Lu: Big Bamboo was no more. Instead, it was replaced by the Blind Pig Bourbon and Smokehouse, which is also owned by the Big Bamboo group, True Legend, and had prior to just closed an ill-fated first location on Hongmei Lu.
Hunan House
Cotton Ding, local restaurateur and proprietor of the eponymous (and legendary) Cotton’s, did away with Hunan House and replaced it with Lychee, a multi-story gastrolounge and cocktail bar inspired by the story of lychee-loving Tang dynasty beauty, Yang Guifei.
Mr Harry
Coming shortly after the announced closure of UK supershop Marks & Sparks, 'Shanghai's first authentic British restaurant' (and Rick Stein recommended), Mr. Harry announced in January that they too would be shutting up shop. But all is not lost. According to the owner (yes, the Mr. Harry), the establishment will be relocating to Jinshan (aka the far outreaches of the beachier side of Shanghai).
Lola (now Hollywood)
Hollywood, that semi-sleazy late night Euro club that turned into Lola last year, made a comeback this spring (not that they really changed anything the first time around). It might never be the same as the old Lola at Surpass Court that closed after complaints from party pooper neighbors, but Hollywood returned as the den of debauchedness we low key love but are ashamed to admit we go to.
Sliders
On Yongkang Lu, now employed as host to a bizarre new set of boutiques and cafés, one of the street's last stalwarts, Sliders, turned into an El Luchador, proving that it ain't over for old Yongkers until the mariachi band plays.
Hunter Gatherer (Anfu Lu)
Hunter Gatherer Anfu Lu closed in April, but moved the entire operation into new digs at Taikoo Hui on Shimen Yi Lu and Nanjing Xi Lu in May.
Jalapeño (now Bordertown)
The crew behind Bubba's also shuttered Tex-Mex eatery Jalapeño, which has since rebranded as Bordertown.
For more 2017 Year in Review coverage, click here.
[Cover image via Indiegogo]
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