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Hong Kong’s first Chinese-owned department store, Sincere, will close its Central store in early December after nearly 126 years of business, as it failed to renew its lease. The company is searching for new premises in Sheung Wan or Central for a new store, yet no suitable location has been found by Oct. 4, according to an official announcement by Sincere. Only a four-storey store in Mong Kok and an online store will be left in Hong Kong after the Central store closure. Lily Chan, 74, a customer who lives in Hong Kong Island, lamented the closure of Sincere’s Central store since it had been her top shopping destination for more than 50 years. “I started shopping in Sincere when I was only 20 years old,” she said. “Back then, few Hong Kong department stores like Sincere carried such a wide range of European brands, covering apparel, kitchenware, and furniture.” “I am unsure where I can go shopping after the store shuts down. The Mong Kok one is far from my home,” Chan added. Anny Lau, 42, said her family spanning from her parents down to her children had shopped here. “It carries memories for several generations since it is more than a century old,” she added. Ahead of the closure, the Central store is selling its remaining stock at discounted prices. A cleaner who has worked at the store for a year said customer numbers had been generally low, and only surged these days amid the sale. She declined to be named for fear of repercussions from the company. Sincere’s consolidated revenue dropped from around HK$146 million in 2023 to roughly HK$134 million in 2025, according to Sincere’s annual report. Heidi Cheung, 25, said she seldom shops at traditional department stores such as Sincere, as online shopping is more …