The Coffee House causes controversy for covering electrical outlets at some locations in Ho Chi Minh City

(Dan Tri) - The fact that some branches of The Coffee House in Ho Chi Minh City have covered up electrical outlets has caused controversy. The chain said that this is part of a plan to adjust the space and divide areas to suit customer needs.

Recently, many customers were surprised to discover that some The Coffee House stores in Ho Chi Minh City had covered their power outlets or replaced them with USB or Lightning charging ports. This decision has caused a lot of controversy and mixed reactions from customers, especially from the group of customers who have the habit of sitting for long periods of time to work or study.

Meanwhile, in Hanoi , some branches of The Coffee House have not changed the power outlets. Many power outlets are still located in both indoor and balcony areas.

Contradictory opinions

In fact, the trend of working freelance in coffee shops is becoming more and more popular. Many people spend 8-10 hours a day "rooting" in coffee shops to work and study. Therefore, the information that some branches of The Coffee House coffee chain have covered up the electrical outlets has caused a lot of controversy.

Because before, the difference that attracted customers to this coffee chain was the space design aimed at students and working people who came to the coffee shop to find a spacious, quiet, comfortable space to study and work.

Information about some branches of The Coffee House coffee chain covering electrical outlets has caused a lot of controversy (Photo: Screenshot).

Working as a freelancer, Nguyen Minh (Cau Giay District, Hanoi) often visits The Coffee House on Trung Hoa Street when working. With a large, quiet space and densely arranged power outlets, the shop becomes an ideal workplace, allowing Minh to comfortably charge his laptop and phone for many hours.

"I usually spend about 4-6 hours here to finish my work. The special thing about The Coffee House is that most people come here to work and study, creating a quite quiet space. Even though the quality of drinks has decreased recently, I still choose to come here to work," Minh shared.

However, Minh expressed concern when hearing that some branches of The Coffee House in Ho Chi Minh City had started to cover up electrical outlets. "If this spreads, it will certainly have a significant impact on customers like me - those who need to use electricity continuously when working outside the office," Minh added.

Similarly, Ms. Le Ngoc (Ha Dong District, Hanoi) said that covering the power outlets at The Coffee House is no different than "gently chasing away customers who stay for a long time". "I often sit all day at the shop, working, if there is no place to charge my devices, how can I work? Coffee shops don't just sell drinks, they also sell space and amenities", she said.

According to Ms. Ngoc, there are currently many coffee shops that have combined the co-working model (shared office) to serve freelancer, startup or student customers... with full amenities such as power outlets, wifi, small meeting rooms and quiet space. Many shops are always crowded with customers and full tables.

Meanwhile, from the perspective of a business owner, Ms. Hong Minh (Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi) said that we should understand and sympathize with The Coffee House when it covered the power outlet. The fact that a person only ordered a cup of water but stayed in the shop for 5-6 hours is something that many shop owners have to consider.

In fact, to maintain operations, restaurant owners not only have to ensure profits but also optimize service capacity, while costs for premises, personnel, electricity and water, etc. are increasing and creating no small amount of pressure.

Many people often go to coffee shops with spacious desks and charging outlets to sit and work comfortably for many hours (Photo: Nguyen Ha Nam ).

"We really appreciate our customers, especially those who come to work or study. But when one person sits all day with just a cup of coffee, it means that many other customers in need have no place to sit. That's very awkward," she admitted.

What does The Coffee House say?

In the face of conflicting information, on May 25, The Coffee House chain officially announced and explained. On its official fanpage, the brand said it was making some minor adjustments to the space design. Accordingly, power outlets will be arranged in each area so that customers can choose the space that suits their needs.

Customers who need power outlets for studying or working will have their own quieter area. Meanwhile, customers who come to the shop to chat, relax or experience the service will also have their own space, ensuring comfort and not affecting the overall experience.

The chain said it would temporarily restrict the use of power outlets within a 2m radius of the counter area for safety reasons. "All changes are carefully planned, short-term and will not impact the rest of the store. Other floors and spaces will continue to operate as normal," the coffee chain said.

The Coffee House was founded in 2014 by Mr. Nguyen Hai Ninh. Under the leadership of Mr. Ninh, The Coffee House has continuously impressed with its rapid growth. However, the "halo" of The Coffee House seems to have faded since the founder Nguyen Hai Ninh left, and the chain has changed the CEO position many times.

In the past year, the chain announced the closure of a series of branches in many cities such as Can Tho , Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nghe An, Ha Tinh... To date, The Coffee House has 92 stores nationwide, a sharp decrease compared to the scale of about 180 stores in 2021.

Earlier this year, Golden Gate acquired The Coffee House chain from Seedcom Joint Stock Company. This information was considered by many to be able to help the coffee chain gradually regain its position in the market. However, after 5 months, no clear changes have been shown, causing many people to continue to question the new direction of the once-famous coffee chain.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/the-coffee-house-gay-tranh-cai-vi-bit-kin-o-dien-tai-mot-so-diem-o-tphcm-20250526015340097.htm