End of an era: City Shop closes their last two stores in Shanghai

Credit: Jiang Xiaowei

Some "end of an era" type news for long-term expats in Shanghai: City Shop has closed its last two shops in Shanghai.

The closure came suddenly, with Shine posting photos of the closure notice outside the Shanghai Centre branch.

Many expats who came to Shanghai more than 10 years ago will hold a special place in their hearts for City Shop, as it was one of the first places we were introduced to for some solace when we needed a "taste of home."

For Americans, it was THE place to go if you wanted to pick up some Tabasco sauce, Skippy peanut butter, French's mustard, Vlasic pickles, or some good old-fashioned processed cheese slices for your sandwiches. But beyond the reminders of home that City Shop provided, it also served as a kind of unintentional "cultural bridge."

This Canadian had his first taste of HP's "brown sauce" while tagging along with his blond British flatmate, who used it liberally on her steaks years before she became vegan. And while I was missing all the devilish little treats from Hostess, my Australian friends were helping to fill that gap by taking me to the aisle at City Shop to pick up Tim Tams.

As Shanghai continued to introduce me to the various little treats that are enjoyed by people of differing passports in the city, my kitchen expanded, featuring many corners of the world, thanks to City Shop: fish sauce from Vietnam, Vegemite from Australia, Mortadella from Italy, Camembert from France, Manchego from Spain, and Ponzu sauce from Japan. City Shop, in some ways, contributed to China's "broadening of my horizons" during my early years in Shanghai back in 2007.

Probably, City Shop's first major threat to business (or at least an omen) was the Avocado Lady on Wulumuqi Road, who undercuts everyone on price and is still much beloved by many in the expat community. Then, of course, Epermarket came with high-quality imported goods, very reasonable prices, and the added convenience of having whatever you wanted delivered to your doorstep with just a few taps, something that City Shop was too late in the game to catch up.

Alas, we bid adieu to a three-decade brick-and-mortar business that, despite committing highway robbery on pricing, still brought back little moments of familiarity to all here whose hometowns are far flung from Shanghai.