When Lawrence Chen opened Unconditional Love Coffee in the then-emerging art district next to Today Art Museum, he was warned the area was dead, with many of the buildings still unfinished and piles of dirt and construction waste lining the streets.

"The first year was very hard," said Chen. "I worked up to 12 hours every day and had a hard time finding the right staff. Luckily, my uncle was also here to help me. Importantly, there were several regular customers who became dedicated to the shop and they contributed in many important ways. They still do."

A pioneer in the new up-and-coming Pingguo Community's 22 International Art Plaza, Unconditional Love Coffee serves coffee, bagels and sandwiches during the daytime.