CROWD ROASTER coffee is also used in high-end coffee shops.

Let me introduce one of those stores.

"MAIDENS SHOP JIMBOCHO" is a new select shop in Jimbocho that aims to "showcase to the world the charm of handcrafted goods from around the world and the clothing created by designers who have inherited those traditions."

In this town lined with used bookstores and long-established cafes, a new type of shop has been added, featuring high-quality apparel and antiques, mainly imported goods, along with a coffee stand offering coffee supervised by CROWD ROASTER .

Yamamoto, who is in charge of CROWD ROASTER , spoke with store manager Yamada and Yamazaki , who is in charge of maidens coffee shop, about why they chose Jimbocho as their location, how they came to introduce CROWD ROASTER coffee, and Manabu 's philosophy of "delivering the real thing."

MAIDENS SHOP is a select shop that started in Harajuku and Jingumae and now has four stores, including one in Jimbocho. With the theme of "bringing wonderful designs and products from all over the world to Japan," it was born in Harajuku as the first retail store of Maiden Company, which has its roots in wholesale business, and has steadily expanded its base ever since.

The opening of the Jimbocho store was, in a sense, a product of chance. When they began looking for a new street-level store when they closed their Hibiya store, they initially focused their search on properties in the Shibuya and Harajuku areas, but then information about a property in Jimbocho came their way.

<Ms Yamazaki , in charge of Maidens Coffee Shop, and Ms. Yamada, manager of MAIDENS SHOP JIMBOCHO>

"At the time, I didn't have much connection to the Jimbocho area and didn't know much about it, but I walked around the neighborhood and thought it was surprisingly nice. I was looking for a property like this that was available for rent as a whole building, so I was initially drawn to the property, and then I grew to like the Jimbocho area, and that eventually led to the opening," Yamada recalls.

I fell in love with the property, walked around the neighborhood, and felt a connection. CROWD ROASTER 's base is also in Jimbocho, and this is where the connection between these "neighbors" begins.

MAIDENS SHOP JIMBOCHO spans four floors, from the basement to the third floor above ground, and features an open terrace. The larger space compared to existing stores allows for expressions that were previously impossible.

One major difference is that in Harajuku, men's and women's clothing were sold in separate stores (MAIDENS SHOP and MAIDENS SHOP WOMAN), but in Jimbocho, both will be sold in a single space.

They also sell carefully selected fixtures and furniture, and Yamada says, "Until now, even if we wanted to hold furniture events, we didn't have the space to do so. Here, we can make luxurious use of the space, so I think this was something that director Makino had always wanted."

Another unique feature not found in other stores is the attached coffee stand. The combination of an apparel shop and coffee service is said to be an unusual approach in the industry.

"Jimbocho is a town where people are connected to one another. However, the clothes we handle aren't the kind that ordinary people can easily connect with... We started this Jimbocho store because we thought that coffee, which we had always wanted to do, would be a good fit as a way to connect more firmly with the people in the neighborhood," says Yamada.

Coffee has truly begun to function as a "gateway to the town," sparking conversations and extending the time customers spend there. In one week, they reportedly sold over 40 cups of coffee. There have even been cases where local customers came in specifically for the coffee and became regulars.

"Sometimes people come in and ask, 'Is this a cafe?' (laughs). A lot of them tell us that it's really delicious, and that's how we've been able to connect with them, so I think the response is good," says Yamazaki .

It seems to be popular with the staff as well, with Yamada saying, "Someone drinks it every day without fail (laughs)."

MAIDENS SHOP's sourcing is guided by three keywords: "American Style," "Traditional & Contemporary," and "Authentic." Using these as a guide, we don't simply chase trends, but instead propose items that possess a timeless appeal, as reflected in our concept.

"Instead of branding through price or adding some kind of false added value, they offer their products at a fair price and with appropriate specifications. I think that's one of the criteria for something being authentic," ( Yamazaki ).

Every item in our shop has a story to tell. We know what kind of designer created this particular piece, the level of dedication they put into it, and why it has value. Every member of the MAIDENS SHOP staff is prepared to explain each and every item.

This commitment to "authenticity" resonates with what we CROWD ROASTER look for in coffee.

"Our Jimbocho Blend and MAIDENS Blend sell very well, but we also occasionally have customers who like or know about Geisha and purchase it. I think the entry points are quite similar, or perhaps there's a similar sensibility, but coffee also resonates with people who love fashion. Many people buy clothes and then drink coffee as a set. Many people also grind and brew their own coffee at home, so I think there's a very high affinity between selling coffee beans together and their preferences," says Yamazaki .

Apparel and coffee—two things that might seem completely different at first glance—are naturally connected at MAIDENS SHOP JIMBOCHO. For our customers, both clothes and coffee are simply another part of their "selection" process.

Furthermore, some customers visited the store because of the coffee, and after listening to the staff's detailed explanations, ended up buying their first garment.

"This Jimbocho store has coffee at the entrance, and its location makes it easier to drop in than our other stores. We have many first-time customers, but all of our staff make sure to explain the value of our products, and some people end up making a purchase because of that," says Yamazaki .

"Customers stop by because they're interested in coffee, and then they realize that good clothes are expensive but worth it, and they end up buying them. I think that's because each and every staff member can explain the clothes that MAIDENS has selected, acting as an evangelist for them, which leads to purchases. I think that's the real charm of this shop, and the best thing about the combination of coffee and clothes," says Yamamoto.

This shop, which serves as a gateway, connects coffee, people, and the shop itself, creating a new landscape.

When asked what kind of shop they want to be in Jimbocho, Yamada said, "Many people in Jimbocho may not have had many opportunities to experience the kind of fashion we are proposing. We want to introduce a new world and new values ​​to those people as well."

"It's a place that serves as a gateway for people to connect with each other, so we hope it can blend into the city more casually. We hope that this can be an entry point for people to discover the appeal of clothing," Yamazaki continues.

In the future, plans include collaborations with CROWD ROASTER , such as pop-up events featuring baristas, suggesting that new encounters are likely to occur in this place where fashion lovers and coffee lovers intersect.

<Store Information>

MAIDENS SHOP JIMBOCHO

2-2-14 Kanda Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Opening hours: 12:00-19:00 (weekdays), 11:00-19:00 (weekends)