Outdoor Seating Removed in Sanlitun at Outlets of Cheers, Two Guys and a Pie

Police and civil management authorities forcibly removed outdoor seating at venues along Sanlitun Nan Lu on Wednesday morning, on the small street that runs behind Yashow Market, business owners confirmed to theBeijinger by telephone.

Owners were notified Monday that any construction extending beyond the original structure of the building was prohibited, and some were already making preparations to comply when demolition activities began this morning around 9am, said one owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Chairs, tables, awnings, refrigerators, and other implements were confiscated, the owner, who was injured in a scuffle with officers, said.

Affected businesses include the new Cheers wine bar, which opened only last Friday. It will now be converted into a retail outlet, according to Johann Oberson, Cheers' director of sales. Two Guys and a Pie and a new outlet of Revolution that was about to open saw equipment carted off.

Operations will otherwise continue as normal at the venues, as the police order applied only to outdoor structures and seating.

(updated with additional photos, 2013/06/26 1.45pm)

Photos: Two Guys and a Pie via Weibo, Allison Reibel