Patrons of this snug coffee shop are invited to enjoy seating at The Cage, a mixed-use public space across the street; but if you can, grab an old-school formica chair at the counter and enjoy the mid-century Americana vibes.
Though this shop opened in 2016, the barista is no stranger to Shimokita. “I’ve been coming here for over 25 years,” she says. “I never had any one favorite shop here, it’s just nice to walk around and browse the shops.” Back then, she says there were more antiques stores than coffee shops.
Perhaps as with gentrification around the globe, your typical mom n’ pop shops selling everyday goods are replaced with more leisure-oriented shops, like cafes and boutiques. Without such changes back then, would Shimokita have become this artists’ haven today?
The barista at Bookends Coffee Service worries that once the new station exits are opened, they’ll see less foot traffic their way. Then again, it’s equally possible that more traffic in general could boost business for all cafes in Shimokita. She admits that battle passed some years ago and construction is already underway.
Today most Shimokita business-owners, including Bookends, just accept the change and hold out cautious hope for the best.
So how do they plan to compete with the evolving scene? Their formula for success is simple: “We make it affordable and delicious!” Pair your coffee with one of their delicious American-style baked goods like the soft and chewy “peanut butter chunky”; everything is baked fresh in-house.
Name: Bookends Coffee Service
Address: Tokyo, Setagaya-ku, Kitazawa 2-11-17
Hours: 11:00am～21:00pm
☎︎ +81 03-3411-8885