Farewell to HK Oldest Comic Themed Cafe

Posted in Blog, F&B News Hong Kong on October 1, 2019 by Lilian Leave a Comment

The oldest comic themed “Charlie Brown Cafe” closed down after 14 years in HK. Will themed cafes or restaurants no longer be a food trend?

Charlie Brown Café, a comic themed café, closed down today. Perhaps many Peanuts fans don’t have enough time to say farewell to their favorable café. What a shame!

Among all comic themed cafes in Hong Kong, Charlie Brown Café is one of the first and has lasted for 14 years. While some of the restaurants are struggling to battle against the impact by the frequent protests, this themed café has already closed its operation by late September 2019.

Charlie Brown Cafe closed down operation in Hong Kong. What a shame!

Charlie Brown Café – the oldest comic themed café in HK

Undoubtedly, the Charlie Brown Café is a themed café for all who love Snoopy, Charlie Brown and his family. Located on the second floor in Tsim Sha Tsui, where is a popular tourist district in Hong Kong.

Back to 2004, Hong Kong was the first Charlie Brown Café opened in Asia. Nowadays, the café is operating under the same brand by other franchisees in Korea and Singapore.

In fact, this café pays tribute to the ever so popular comic strip Peanuts, it makes the place more attractive for fans of Snoopy. All the décor, food and drinks are filled with various characters of Peanuts.

Peanuts fans pay the last tribute to Charlie Brown Cafe HK

Can comic themed cafes last long in Hong Kong?

Can Comic Themed Cafe last long in HK?

Given that comic themed cafes or restaurants use successful comic characters or comic strip to attract diners. They utilize décor and incorporate the characters into the food by providing a memorable experience.

As compared with other Asian cities, comic themed cafes could hardly last long in Hong Kong. For example, Hello Kitty Secret Garden Cafe was once a popular comic themed café selling coffee and desserts. However, this sweet cafe has closed down in February this year after about 4 years.

Hello Kitty Secret Garden Cafe closed down after 4 years of operation in HK

Other Comic Themed Cafes in HK

While some comic themed cafes in Hong Kong do not seem to stay long, there is no sign to stop new cafes jumping on the bandwagon.

To name a few:

(1) Dim Sum Icon

Known for cute comic twists on traditional dim sum. This cafe operates by pop-up comic themes.
They have previously collaborated with the Little Twin Star and then Sailor Moon concepts. Currently, Crayon Shinchan (臘筆小新) is on stage.

Dim Sum Icon, a comic themed cafe, twist Japanese anime into Chinese food

(2) Old Master Q (OMQ) Café (老夫子餐廳)

Old Master Q is a popular Hong Kong comics first published on newspapers in 1962. The comic strip is led by Old Master Q, an elderly man dressed in a distinctive traditional Chinese attire.
While Old Master Q comics primarily focuses on humor, it also reflects emerging social trends of Hong Kong, particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The Old Master Q Café first opened in 2016 and is currently operating 2 outlets in Hong Kong.

Old Master Q Cafe use a local comic character for the theme of decor

Amusement Park Themed Restaurant

Popularity of social media push more restaurants to theme their F&B shop spaces into inspire instagram lovers. But it’s not easy to put an amusement park theme into practice due to size and rental constraints in Hong Kong.

Finally, a family member of a past amusement park owner made this theme happened. It is

Cuisine 1949 (荔園.流金歲月)

This theme restaurant uses a past amusement park called “Lai Yuen” (荔園) for the décor.
While the restaurant décor follows the set of old Lai Yuen Amusement Park, it’s interesting to see a 50 years old Carousel antique to be there.

Cuisine 1949 (荔園.流金歲月) put old HK amusement park element into decor and food

Comic Themed Cafe in Asia

As we might aware, we have limited comic themed cafes in Hong Kong. For instance, DC Comics Super Hero Café has outlets in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, but not yet in Hong Kong.

Not to mention, a number of themed cafes in Japan have tied with anime. It has become a trend of themed cafes that mesh anime and Japanese food together.

Just to mention few popular names: Gundam (高達) Café, Pokemon Café, Sailor Moon Cafe and Kirby Café. These cafes are so kawaii that we can’t resist to visit.

The trend of themed cafes seem to last for long when the anime attractions continue in Asia and around the world.