All subway stores in Shanghai to close for a month from today

"All stalls and businesses inside Metro stations will be shut for a month from today, including news stands, because of public security concerns for the Olympic Games. Shentong Metro Group, owner and operator of Shanghai's Metro, said it had decided to close them because of local government requirements to step up public security at stations. The suspension of business will affect 1,080 stores as well as up to 12,000 square meters of commercial areas inside Metro stations, Shentong officials said yesterday. Even food vending machines will be closed. Business owners, however, will not get compensation from the company to cover their losses, Shentong confirmed." Ouch. [Shanghai Daily]

Comments (8) [rss]

[1] | nanheyangrouchuan

One World of entrepreneurs did not have One Dream of going one month without income, especially during a time that they should be raking it in from extra tourists.

Reply | August 5, 2008 9:25 PM

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[2] | quirkybeijing

Yes, something similar happened in selected Beijing subway stations about two months ago. The worst thing about it is that my favourite bakery and wonton joint were shut down!

Reply | August 5, 2008 10:01 PM

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[3] | Micah Sittig

I have an idea. The shop owners should sue the city government!

Reply | August 5, 2008 10:04 PM

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[4] | Bumix

Are they afraid of people hiding bombs in those stalls? Or of crowds standing still and shopping and not moving smoothly? I don't really get it..

Reply | August 5, 2008 11:55 PM

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[5] | booggerg

makes sense to me.. no restaurants and shops = no reason for crowds to gather in the metro stations = easier to monitor metro stations = less risk of an incident occurring in metro stations.

But does it mean the incidents will just relocate elsewhere? Not if they put the communist clamp down elsewhere as they are doing now..

Reply | August 5, 2008 11:58 PM

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