Hello, this is M, the concept-cafe writer!
Wow, I never imagined I'd spend the New Year holidays at a maid cafe. This time, unusually, I received a request from up top: to go and discern the differences among the three @home cafe Akiba shops.
First up is the AKIBA Cultures ZONE store. As the name says, it's a shop on the fifth floor of AKIBA Cultures ZONE, with two separate entrances in the front and back, and not knowing any better, I just lined up at the back one for now. Since it was the year-end, I figured it'd be crowded, and indeed, arriving right at opening time, there was already a line. Fortunately, I got in without much of a wait, but wow, it was already packed with people. I thought about photographing the shop's interior, but it was so full of people I couldn't.
When I went in and told them it was my first time, I received something called the "Moe Oath," got a "Key Card (membership card)" (see photo), and received various explanations. When you scan the QR code, it currently shows that I'm Bronze rank. Five "homecomings" (visits to the shop) gets you to Silver. As your rank rises, apparently visiting during your birthday month gets you fancier service and the like. You can also register your favorite shop, favorite maid, and so on. ...Somehow, a membership card with a QR code is so cutting-edge it surprised me a bit.
What I ordered was a hot coffee and the Unrequited Love Parfait, which instantly drew me in when I looked at the menu. When I ordered, they said, "Would you like a cheki together?" There's a cheki-included course, with cheki fee, drink, food fee, and table fee included, starting at around 3,500 yen. Compared to other shops it's indeed cheap, so I asked for that.
But the maids at this shop, and the fairies (helpers), seemed quite busy with it being the year-end and New Year, and on top of that, customers can apparently only stay about 60 minutes. While cheki shooting was happening on the central stage, my turn just wasn't coming, so I told a fairy I'd skip the cheki and cut my visit short, then left. Sorry, maid. Good luck with the festive season.
Finally, when I came out of the shop, the line had just cleared, so I snapped one photo. From a goods corner to bromide prints, it was all there; it felt just like coming to Takarazuka.