Almond Cafe in Roppongi to relocate after 44 years

Friday 02nd January, 05:36 AM JST

TOKYO —

Almond Cafe in Roppongi, a famous meeting spot near the Roppongi intersection, will close on Saturday because the building it is in will be torn down. The cafe opened in 1964, the same year Tokyo held the Summer Olympics. Its long opening hours (9 a.m. – 5 a.m.) and it being open every day of the year helped it to become a symbol of Roppongi and the most popular meeting spot in the area.

A spokesperson for the cafe said: “Many people have come to love this place over a long time, but the building is old now so we’ve got to move. We’re pretty busy with the increased business during New Year and also with preparations for the new place.”

The cafe will relocate on Jan 9 to a store about one minute from its current location.
The company that runs the Almond cafes was founded in 1946, and is said to be the first food and beverage business in Japan that handed out “oshibori” - moistened hand towels - to customers before they ordered.

12 Comments

shinjukuboy at 09:07 AM JST - 2nd January

Oh no! Let anything change in Tokyo but this! So many memories.
Ranger_Miffy at 10:37 AM JST - 2nd January

Don't worry, Shinjukuboy, it will be just one-minute away. Hope they keep the cheerful pink and white overhang.
USNinJapan2 at 10:50 AM JST - 2nd January

Sigh : ( Roppongi just lost it's last remaining bit of charm for me. Guess it had to happend some time...
Sarge at 10:57 AM JST - 2nd January

"the first food and beverage business in Japan that handed out oshibori to customers before they ordered"

As opposed to places that hand out oshibori to customers only after they order something ha ha ha!
elbudamexicano at 11:32 AM JST - 2nd January

Oh my God! My life will never be the same in Roppongi if I have to walk 1 extra minute to get to the Almond Café!
meanmutha at 11:51 AM JST - 2nd January

yep this was my pit stop for the toilet for an array of things in the young days.
Richard_the_First at 11:52 AM JST - 2nd January

44 years equals and old building, ffs. In my country, houses and buildings are built to last.
PepinGalarga at 12:05 PM JST - 2nd January

with the millions of tons of ultramodern concrete, glass and metals going up in the area, i am not surprised. that building is prime real estate.
ScottishThug at 01:21 PM JST - 2nd January

As opposed to places that hand out oshibori to customers only after they order something

Sarge, yes, that was the way it was done before. I don't get what's so funny about that.
PuffinMuffin at 02:19 PM JST - 2nd January

natsukashii
tokyokitty at 10:28 PM JST - 3rd January

lol!never been inside ALMOND, but whenever I go to meet someone in Roppi. The landmark I would say to meet me up is in front of ALMOND..hehhe
TheTim at 08:27 AM JST - 1st February

Hopefully those annoying African guys in Roppongi will 'relocate' also. I don't even go to Roppongi anymore because of those idiots.