Two gothic style shops located in Harajuku announced their closures within the same week.
Drug Honey
On April 10, 2020, Drug Honey’s Harajuku shop tweeted April 14, 2020 would be its last day in operation. Drug Honey is a unisex brand whose rock and gothic themes are sublimated into mode style. Their designs revolve around the color black and range from everyday to extraordinary looks. The brand started in 2016 and opened their Harajuku flagship store on Takeshiita Street in 2017.
【閉店のお知らせ】 Drug Honey原宿本店は 4月14日(火曜日)を最終営業日とさせていただきます。
4月13日14日の2日間は, 閉店SALE店内商品、全品50%OFFになります。 残り短い期間ですが、 宜しくお願い申し上げます。
[view original tweet]
Many fans of visual kei replied to the tweet asking if they would continue operating online with a 50% off sale.
Noble Noire Tokyo
On April 11, 2020, select gothic shop Noble Noire Tokyo also announced its physical shop closure. Its last day of operation will be May 5, 2020. The store opened in October of 2018 after the closure of Dangerous Nude Kakumei. Owner DJ WAKANA hopes to re-open in the future, but until then the online shop will go under maintenance for a period of time and resume online sales.
【大切なお知らせ】 Noble Noire Tokyo 原宿実店舗は 2020年5月5日をもちまして閉店する事となりました。 約1年半という短い間でしたが本当にありがとうございました。 Online Storeは継続を予定しております。 今後ともよろしくお願いいたします。 #NobleNoire
[view original tweet]
WAKANA has organized and hosted two Harajuku Gothic Walks as Noble Noire Tokyo and is planning a third one in the foreseeable future. Noble Noire Tokyo is a stockist for KILLSTAR, RESTYLE, Drug Honey, and some indie brands such as Pure One Corset Works, KOMACHI2266531DarkLolita, Phantom Jewelry, and PrivateSquare. The full announcement can be read on their blog.
Neither shop has explicitly stated why they are closing. One would assume it’s a combination from lack of tourism due to COVID-19, gentrification of Harajuku, and gothic style falling out of favor.
Update: Drug Honey officially closed their physical and online shops at the end of May 2020.
