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NEWS: 4 Out of 5 Remaining Gundam Cafes to Close in January




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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 5925
Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 11:46 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
The main Akihabara cafe had just expanded in July 2020 by nearly four times its previous floor space, celebrating its 10th anniversary.


Considering the above, probably, death by Covid.
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Picky33



Joined: 09 Jul 2021
Posts: 270
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 6:20 am Reply with quote
it's a shame to close the Yokohama Gundam event in March 2022, I think it should stick around for a couple more years, it probably cost a bazillion dollars to create, why not milk it for a little while longer.
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Greed1914



Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4618
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 8:17 am Reply with quote
TarsTarkas wrote:
Quote:
The main Akihabara cafe had just expanded in July 2020 by nearly four times its previous floor space, celebrating its 10th anniversary.


Considering the above, probably, death by Covid.



Most likely. Considering that it was done as part of an anniversary, I'm sure they signed contracts well in advance when things were better, so even if by then they knew they were never going to get full use of that much space, it was too late. I'm sure it affected the other locations similarly.
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SenpaiDuckie
ANN Community Manager


Joined: 16 Sep 2021
Posts: 522
Location: PH
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 10:34 am Reply with quote
This really sucks to hear.

I have been to all of those branches and each branch is a unique experience for me. Sad
And I will have to agree with TarsTarkas that it is death by COVID. Such shops exist for the experience and cannot transition it online. I just hope then in the future, they'll open a new one, a better Gundam cafe.
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yurihellsing





PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:18 am Reply with quote
Anyone else wondering if there'll be anything to visit for after all this?
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SenpaiDuckie
ANN Community Manager


Joined: 16 Sep 2021
Posts: 522
Location: PH
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:47 am Reply with quote
yurihellsing wrote:
Anyone else wondering if there'll be anything to visit for after all this?


Of course! Since we're talking about Gundam, the 18-meter Gundam Statue, Freedom and the First Gundam Very Happy
Let's not forget that if you're a Gunpla lover, just go to their tax-free shop and get as much as Gunpla as you want <3
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crosswithyou



Joined: 15 Dec 2007
Posts: 2899
Location: California
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 4:00 pm Reply with quote
Wow, this is such a shame. It's been a landmark right (pun intended) outside the Electric City exit for years. It'll be weird to not have the Gundam-yaki nobori flapping in the wind. Wonder what will be planned for the space. It's a prime location since it's literally just outside the station exit.
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GrdAdmiral



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 101
Location: Tokyo, Japan
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 5:13 pm Reply with quote
Its sad to see another landmark fade away. But, the Covid-19 pandemic killed it. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government was slow to react. (Typical Japanese bureaucracy). The constant state of emergency and the country is still closed to international tourism. Those of us living here don’t visit these locations daily, maybe once a month or every two/three months. Not having tourists is killing the economy for these smaller businesses.
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sdsichero
Subscriber



Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 171
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 6:08 pm Reply with quote
That's too bad. I only ate at one (not much of a sweets drinker or eater) in next to Akihabara station. I never dined at the one in Expo City in Osaka, but wonder if that closing, also closed Gundam Square (the store with merch)?
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enurtsol



Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 14886
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 7:56 pm Reply with quote
Gundam gets slapped by Covid
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Redbeard 101
Oscar the Grouch
Forums Superstar


Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Posts: 16963
PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2021 9:07 pm Reply with quote
It's a real shame. I always feel sad when these more unique places close down.
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