Starbucks’ Urumqi store was reportedly built on the former driveway of a commercial building confiscated from the family of Uyghur businessman Jibrillah Enver.
Starbucks opened its first two stores in East Turkistan on September 29, 2026, at Urumqi’s Grand Bazaar and Tianshan International Airport. The Grand Bazaar location was promoted as an “intangible cultural heritage flagship.”
An October 21 investigation by Közet compared court records and satellite imagery, placing the store on the former driveway beside the commercial building previously owned by Enver’s family.
Family Company Confiscated and Sold
According to a 2021 report by the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), the Lop County People’s Court confiscated Enver’s property in 2019 in a case involving a charge of “helping terrorist activities.” The report records the July 2019 sale of all shares in Urumqi Bayliq Trading Company to Xinjiang Zhongjiang for 66 million yuan.
Witness Accounts Point to Bayliq
RFA reported on October 23 that two sources described Bayliq’s past use of the site occupied by Starbucks. One source said company employees had told him the land belonged to Bayliq.
Local Partner Funded Base Construction
China’s 21st Century Business Herald reported that a local partner covered the store’s base construction costs, while Starbucks funded the fit-out and design. The newspaper attributed the project’s realization to cooperation with local state-owned capital.
According to Starbucks’ official April 2 announcement, funds managed by Boyu Capital hold 60% of its China retail operations. Starbucks retains a 40% stake and continues to own and license the brand and intellectual property.
Közet said Starbucks and Boyu Capital had not answered questions submitted before publication.
Speaking to RFA, World Uyghur Congress president Turgunjan Alawudun called on US authorities to investigate the relationship between the store and the confiscated Uyghur property.
