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Luckin Coffee Debuts in New York With Cashier-less Model, Challenges Starbucks

Luckin is rolling out app-only ordering with steep introductory deals under New York City’s cashless-business regulations.

A Luckin Coffee location China. Monday marks the first day it's expanding to the US.
A Luckin Coffee shop in Huai 'an City, Jiangsu Province, China on April 24, 2025.
People stand outside of 'Luckin Coffee' store on opening day of one of two U.S. locations in Manhattan, New York, NY, June 30, 2025.
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Overview

  • Luckin Coffee opened its first two U.S. locations on June 30 at 755 Broadway in Greenwich Village and 800 Sixth Avenue in NoMad.
  • Both Manhattan stores run entirely through the Luckin app with no cashiers and feature takeout booths aimed at younger consumers.
  • To mark its U.S. debut, the chain offered the first 100 customers free tote bags and limited-time 99-cent drinks via mobile promotions.
  • New York City law bans fully cashless businesses, so Luckin has added limited cash-payment options to comply with local regulations.
  • After recovering from a 2020 accounting fraud scandal and overtaking Starbucks in China by revenue in 2023, Luckin is now testing its low-cost, tech-driven model against Starbucks’s 17,000-store U.S. network.