I got my first real six-string… bought it at the Fender Cafe Shimokitazawa
Word on the grapevine is that those were the original lyrics Bryan Adams wrote for Summer of ’69, but due to a last minute lyric change, the concept of a Fender Cafe became lost in the pages of what could have been. Until now…
That’s right, Fender has just dipped its toes into the bistro business, opening up a brand new cafe in Japan – and the menu is full of guitar-themed items, from Telecaster Maple Lattes to Six-String Burgers.
While Fender’s Tokyo store currently has an in-shop cafe, this is the first time Fender has opened a fully fledged cafe in its own right. Situated in the Shimokitazawa neighbourhood, a trendy, creative area known for its thriving music scene, the Fender Cafe joins the area’s selection of basement jazz bars and quirky cafes.
READ MORE: Bryan Adams reveals the story behind his “first real six-string” in hit song Summer of ’69 – and it actually wasn’t bought at a five and dime
While there wont be a selection of guitars to peruse, the Fender Cafe promises to offer a more guitar-centric flavour to the eccentric district regardless. Visually, there’s nothing too guitar-y about it; the cafe simply looks like a modern, modern version of Edward Hopper’s famous Nighthawks cafe painting, complete with huge glass windows and almost brutalist, exposed cement walls.
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But there are glimmers of Fender sprinkled across the stylish joint. The coffee machines are branded with Fender Cafe, while stools are plectrum-shaped and branded in ode to the Fender Heavy pick. There’s also a 1969 rosewood Tele mounted on a wall for good measure, considering it was the guitar that inspired Fender to set up the cafe in the first place.
“The new store adopts a space design inspired by the 1969 Rosewood Telecaster that has left its name in music history,” Fender Japan explains [via Guitar World]. “Fender combines the spirit of rock and roll with California coffee culture with Japanese sensibilities, craftsmanship, and subtle hospitality.”
“Fender Cafe Shimokitazawa aims to blend in with nature’s daily routine in this city and create a community place where music-loving people can connect at ease,” Fender Japan adds. “Musicians, community people, live house attendees, and musicians.”
The menu is also where things feel a little more Fender. We’re talking Stratocaster rose lattes, Six Strings Burgers, Chicken Overdrive Rice, and even a special coffee bean blend, First Set.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
