BEIJING ¨C In a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the Chinese capital, businessman An Dawei inspected rows of giant fridges, industrial hobs and commercial bread ovens waiting to be resold to dining establishments.
¡°For the average person, opening a restaurant is almost a guaranteed failure,¡± said the 38-year-old who sells used kitchen equipment.
Behind every appliance is the tale of a failed Beijing restaurant, set up by those who often bet their life savings on a V-shaped economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, only to see consumers skimp on eating out as China¡¯s economy slowed.
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