Osaka's Shinsegae long-established Fugu restaurant "Zuboraya" closed

Osaka Shinsegae Long-established blowfish restaurant "Zuboraya" closed Closing corona effect June 12 19:35

“Zuboraya”, a long-established fugu restaurant in Osaka and Shinsekai, which has been closed due to the new coronavirus, will be closed without restarting. The operating company said, "It is a restaurant with a large number of people who surrounds a pot, and while we were avoiding crowds, we could not make the prospect of operating as before."

"Zuboraya" is a well-established blowfish restaurant in Osaka known for its signboard made of blowfish, and the two stores, "Shinsegae Main Store" and "Doutonbori Store," have been declared as an emergency since April 8th. I was closed.

Although the operating company has been aiming for resumption, the operating situation deteriorated due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and ``It is a restaurant surrounded by a lot of pots and it will continue to operate as usual while avoiding congestion even if it restarts. I couldn't make a forecast," and decided to close the store in September without restarting the business from temporary closures.

Zuboraya Shinsegae is a tourist attraction that represents Osaka, which is popular with foreign tourists, but many stores are in a difficult business environment due to long holidays and shortened business hours. I will.

“I am sorry that we received a lot of phone calls asking us to restart,” said Ryuji Matsuda, chairman of the operating company.

The signboard of the store's papier-mache has been popular for many years as one of the landmarks symbolizing Osaka, along with the tourist attraction Tsutenkaku, and the company wants to consider how to deal with it.

Founded in Taisho 9th, this year will celebrate 100 years

Zuboraya is a well-established fugu restaurant that represents Osaka. Founded in 1920 (Taisho 9), this year has just celebrated 100 years. We have two stores, Shinsegae Main Store and Dotonbori Store.

A huge signboard of blowfish papier-mache is displayed at each store, and it has a presence that symbolizes the city of Kuidaore.

The Shinsegae main store has 150 seats and the Dotonbori store has 400 seats. Since it is suitable for large-scale banquets, it is often used by group guests and has been popular with a wide range of customers including tourists.

The people of the city...

In Osaka and Shinsekai, there were many voices mourning the closure of Zuboraya.

An 80-year-old man who has lived in Shinsegae for nearly 50 years said, "About 30 years ago, the economy was good and I came to eat often. Since then, it was cheap and delicious, and it was crowded with many people. I was surprised to hear it, and I would be sad if the signboard disappeared."

In addition, a 63-year-old woman in Kumatori-cho, Osaka, was reluctant to close the store, saying, "It's a shame that the 100-year-old long-established store is gone."

A 47-year-old man who visited from Tokyo on a business trip said, "I thought Osaka was this landscape, so it's a pity that the store will close."

Original level remains at 50% after lifting demand for eating out

Nomura Research Institute has compiled an estimate of the eating out demand affected by the new coronavirus.

As a result, during the period when the emergency was declared, the level had dropped to 23.8% of the level before the spread of infection.

And even if the declaration of emergency is lifted, it is estimated that eating out demand will remain at 50.1% of the original level.

This estimate is based on the assumption that users will eat out as often as before, so if the frequency of people going out to eat is reduced, it will be even more severe.

According to Nomura Research Institute, “It is expected that it will take a long time for demand to recover to the level before the spread of the new coronavirus infection. Due to infection prevention measures, the profitability of stores will be low, and some stores will not be successful. Will come."

Voices from other companies

Katsuya Ueyama, who runs a long-established Kushikatsu shop in the same new world, said, “I'm shocked to hear that Zuboraya-san will be closing the store, and I'm shocked as a long-term partner in the new world.”

Mr. Ueyama's store is a long-established store that has been in business for 91 years since it was founded for 100 years, and when the store that has been supporting the lively streets for many years closed, he said, "I feel lonely, hurt, and waste. I wanted to do business with."

In addition, Mr. Kamiyama said, "Whenever you take a picture of Tsutenkaku, Zuboraya's blowfish will be reflected together. Without Zuboraya, the scenery of the New World will change. One symbol of Osaka, the symbol mark will disappear. Is very lonely."

A symbol that disappears...

The Tsutenkaku towering over the New World and the Zubora no Fugu signboard have been familiar to many people as the so-called symbols of the city.

Takamitsu Takai, president of Tsutenkaku, a famous tourist attraction in Osaka, said, ``In the New World, I thought that Tsutenkaku Tozoboraya-san's blowfish lanterns were two billboards, so I thought that it might disappear, I feel like I've lost it, and I'm lonely."

In addition, "The new coronavirus has caused the number of customers to return to the New World town, but we will continue to work on it with Tsutenkaku alone, and we want to do our best to work together with the local people." I was talking.