3rd May 2024 – (Hong Kong) Amidst the ongoing wave of store closures in the city, a small store called Petite Petite, located at 18 Aberdeen Street in Central, unexpectedly saw a massive crowd of over 50 people lining up. The store specialises in handmade canvas bags and has gained popularity among mainland Chinese tourists, attracting the attention of curious onlookers in the neighbourhood.
Some mainland Chinese tourists waiting in line revealed to reporters that the store has recently gained popularity on the social media platform “XiaoHongShu” and has become a favourite among mainland customers. Taking advantage of the Golden Week holiday, many visitors flocked to purchase these bags as souvenirs, jokingly referring to it as “following the trend.” There were even mainland tourists who made same-day trips just to visit the store, with some spending over an hour queuing to choose their favourite items.
Located on the inclined road of Aberdeen Street, the store has gained significant attention on “Xiao Hong Shu” by offering affordable denim canvas bags. In addition to the bags, the store also sells handmade accessories such as keychains, cardholders, and passport covers, priced between HK$30 and HK$200.
During an observation by a local media reporter in the afternoon, a line of 50 to 60 people, all mainland Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong during the Golden Week, stretched for tens of meters, extending towards the corner. This unusual scene in the midst of numerous store closures surprised many passersby, who curiously asked, “What are they queuing for?” and “What’s so special about it?”
The first person in line, a Mainland tourist, revealed to the reporter that they had been waiting outside the store for over an hour. Due to the limited space inside the small shop, which can only accommodate around 10 customers at a time, those hoping to purchase their desired items can only patiently wait outside. Xiao Hong, a tourist from Hangzhou, who had been in Hong Kong for two days and one night, explained that she came to the store after seeing its popularity on “Xiao Hong Shu” and intended to buy a cardholder as a gift for a friend. She believed that the store’s products had more value as travel souvenirs compared to similar items available in mainland China, and the prices were reasonable, around 100 yuan. However, she had not anticipated the long queue outside the store and mentioned that she would give up if the wait became too long after already waiting for about 10 minutes.
