Cheese specialty store "Ryokusuian" to reopen in Kuroishi, Aomori after one month of closure of "Chusan"
A new store, RYOKUSUIAN, of cheese specialty store SHE/SHOCK/CHEESE opened in Kotobukicho, Kuroishi City on September 30th.
The store had opened pop-up stores in supermarkets and department stores in Aomori Prefecture, and had a brick-and-mortar store called "Atelier" on the premises of Nakasan Hirosaki store. With the closure of Nakasan at the end of August, the store owner, Takashi Aizawa's family home, was partially renovated to replace "Atelier," and the store reopened one month after the closure.
Before his mother Yoko passed away in 2019, she ran the Edo Senke tea ceremony school "Ryokusui-an" in her family home. The new store utilizes a disused tea room, and the store name was taken from the name of the school. "It was an idea I had always wanted to try, to take over what my mother left behind and make my family home into a flagship store. The sales environment is a residential area, the complete opposite of the city center. I was sad to see Chusan close, but I've moved on and want to enjoy the change," he said.
The interior of the restaurant makes use of the Japanese design unique to teahouses, such as folding screens and hanging scrolls. Table seats will be installed so that customers can enjoy eating and drinking outdoors. According to Aizawa, there are plans to develop features in the future that will allow customers to enjoy a relaxing time, such as foot bath facilities and weekend-only meal service.
There will be 20 to 30 types of cheese, mainly from France. They will also sell Parmigiano Reggiano (750 yen), assorted cheeses (2,000 yen), and expensive cheeses costing 100,000 yen. The drink menu will include coffee (400 yen), matcha (500 yen), wine, sake, and highballs (all from 500 yen).
Aizawa smiles and says, "This is a place where I can expand my worldview. I would like to renovate it little by little so that I can create a better atmosphere."
Business hours are 13:00-20:00. Closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.