Geronimo in Lan Kwai Fong is closing

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

AJ Halkes
January 14, 2026
12:47 pm

Geronimo in Lan Kwai Fong is closing; a 13-year ago leap of faith and courage, when my client, a Tokyo bar operator, opened in Hong Kong, is over. But why is it closing? Is it a slowdown in drinking, the declining attractiveness of Lan Kwai Fong, a difficult building and location, or just a changing landscape more interested in savoury snacks than shots?

After surviving Covid, it genuinely saddens me to see hidden gems get lost. Or perhaps single concept “hidden” ideas simply run their course; people who once were the core customers change, and it makes them redundant?

As for the refrain of blaming the landlord, I will not comment. People have their own views on that front; staffing remains hard here, and all costs are high: sometimes the maths will not work even if it’s a free space.

Also, people don’t see liquor the way they once did. A shot bar that catered to celebrations of big financial wins and market successes may no longer resonate with a digital era of work from home, desk or keyboard warriors.

I enjoyed representing this client, and it was one of the more rewarding relationships I have worked on. Challenges were not avoided but actively tackled, including an Appeal at the Municipal Services Appeals Board, successfully reversing a Liquor Licensing Board decision; a win that significantly increased profitability and operational capacity for over a decade.

Will someone step in and take it on, given the building, access challenges, quirky location, and the general LKF tone, let alone any reluctance to enter a licensed premises where someone established has just left?

But as one door closes, another sometimes opens. I’ve had clients take over failed premises and go on to great success, at locations others thought were simply too hard.

For the right concept, with the right team, the right landlord arrangements, and at the right timing … most locations will function in the F&B landscape, from what I have seen over the years.

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR, you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

HongKong LanKwaiFong FNB HospitalityIndustry BarIndustry BusinessStrategy UrbanChange Licensing Entrepreneurship GeronimoShotBar LanKwaiFong