Fever Cools Down Again: Not Just Chibi Maruko-chan, Another Themed Restaurant Announces Closure

In recent years, themed restaurants featuring cartoon characters have swept across Taiwan, sparking heated discussions and pilgrimage-like enthusiasm among fans. However, not long into the new year, the healing-themed "CRAFTHOLIC Alien Themed Restaurant" recently announced that due to the expiration of its lease, it will cease operations starting tomorrow, prompting an outpouring of emotional farewells from fans on its Facebook page.

Renowned for its vibrant pink color patterns, the "CRAFTHOLIC Alien Themed Restaurant" opened its first global branch in Taiwan in October 2016, located near Taipei’s Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall MRT Station. Operating for over a year, it not only offered a variety of dishes but also attracted numerous fans with its healing alien designs and dreamlike decor.

The adorable dishes at the Chibi Maruko-chan themed restaurant, along with its famously strict reservation policy upon opening, were dubbed “the most stringent ever.” (Photo courtesy of this newspaper group)

However, following the sudden closures of the first overseas licensed "Chibi Maruko-chan Themed Restaurant" and the "Pudding Dog Restaurant," the "CRAFTHOLIC Alien Themed Restaurant" is now also suspending business. The shop stated on Facebook that it has “not yet found a suitable new location due to the lease expiring,” and will close starting tomorrow. Upon hearing the news, some fans commented, “Shocked,” “What do we do? I was planning to meet up here,” while others urged the business to consider opening in other areas such as Kaohsiung or Luzhou.

As the themed restaurant craze surged and then waned, there have been numerous cases of closures or relocations. For example, the "miffy x 2% Miffy Themed Restaurant," which first opened at New Taipei City’s Zhonghe Globus Mall in 2015, ceased operations in March last year; its Linkou branch shut down on January 2 this year due to lease expiration and relocated to Taichung.

Eslite Life Wuchang Store | Pokémon Themed Restaurant. (Photo provided by Eslite)

The kawaii visual design of Crayon Shin-chan charmed everyone. (Image provided by Crayon Shin-chan Restaurant)

Though themed restaurants may appear to be losing their heat, many businesses are opting for pop-up formats. For instance, currently operating concepts like the "Pokémon Themed Restaurant," the "Crayon Shin-chan Limited-Time Themed Restaurant," or past Taiwan arrivals such as the "Daer Dog Limited-Themed Restaurant" and "The Powerpuff Girls" have all swept through Taiwan with their limited-time appeal. Unfazed by the cooling trend, they continue to fulfill fans’ pilgrimage dreams.