Maid Café Opens Near High School in Shunde

A new maid café opening near a high school in Shunde, Guangdong, has sparked public debate—especially online—over its concept, location, and hiring practices. The café, still under construction, posted a job ad seeking part-time ‘maids’ who are comfortable wearing themed uniforms and engaging with customers in a playful, anime-inspired style. The listing quickly went viral locally, drawing both curiosity and concern.

The café is set to hire students and non-students alike for evening shifts; the owner confirms it will operate mainly between noon and 9pm and is aiming to open in April.

What Is a Maid Café?

Maid cafés originated in Japan as part of cosplay and anime subculture. Patrons are served by waitstaff dressed as maids who adopt a role-play dynamic, addressing customers as ‘master’ or ‘mistress.’ These cafés aim to create a cozy, familiar atmosphere, often compared to visiting someone’s home. In China, such cafés are still relatively rare and often misunderstood.

Why Open One Near a High School?

The café is located on Shude Road in Ronggui, Shunde—one end of the street houses the café, while the other leads to the back gate of Rongshan High School. The area is already busy with food vendors and attracts many students after school. The two local partners behind the project, both natives of Ronggui and fans of Japanese pop culture, said they chose the spot partly due to the foot traffic and their shared passion for anime.

One of the owners, Ah Hao, a lifelong anime enthusiast who once ran an online shop selling Japanese merchandise, described the concept as a way to bring a slice of Japanese café culture to Shunde. His cousin, Ah Liang, handles the interior design and logistics.

What’s the Hiring Process?

The original job post—published February 27 on Weibo by user @-Sean_S—attracted over 600 reposts and widespread discussion. It called for part-time maids who are ‘presentable,’ willing to wear a maid uniform, and preferably able to ‘act cute’ or engage customers playfully. Shifts were initially (but erroneously) listed as starting at 6pm; the corrected schedule is noon to 9pm daily, with extra staff needed on weekends.

The café expects to employ 2–3 maids on weekdays and 3–4 on weekends, with interviews starting that same weekend. The venue will have capacity for around 40 guests. The ad specifically welcomed students to apply.

How Will They Address Safety Concerns?

Public reaction included skepticism and worry, especially given the café’s proximity to a high school and the nature of the maid uniform. Some commenters questioned the propriety of the concept, while others asked about the length of the skirts or whether university students could apply.

In response, Ah Hao clarified that the maid role is inspired by Japanese cosplay culture and is not meant to be seen as demeaning. He emphasized that in well-run establishments—like those he researched in Guangzhou—strict rules protect the staff. For instance, customers are not allowed to take photos with maids or contact them without permission, and harassment is not tolerated.

To further ensure safety, the owners plan to provide staff with a dedicated car service after late shifts, particularly for student workers. The initial confusion over working hours was simply a typo in the Weibo post, now corrected.

What Do Local Officials Say?

Rongshan High School’s principal, Wu Jianping, stated he had not heard of the café but confirmed the school does not interfere with students’ legal part-time work. He acknowledged that while the concept is new and its impact uncertain, so long as the business operates within legal and ethical boundaries, it could be seen as part of broader cultural exposure. He added that the school would monitor the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the maid café in Shunde located?

The maid café is located on Shude Road in Ronggui, Shunde, with one end of the street leading to Rongshan High School’s back gate. The café is currently under renovation and set to open around April 2024.

What kind of staff is the maid café hiring?

The café is hiring part-time ‘maids’ who are comfortable wearing themed uniforms, engaging with customers in a playful manner, and ideally familiar with anime culture. Both students and non-students are welcome to apply. The preferred shifts are weekday evenings and weekends.

What are the working hours for the maids?

The corrected working hours are noon to 9pm on weekdays, with additional evening and late-night shifts (until around 5pm) on weekends. The initial Weibo post mistakenly listed evening hours starting at 6pm.

How is the café addressing safety for student workers?

The owners plan to offer a staff car service after late shifts to ensure the safety of workers, particularly students. They also cited examples of strict conduct policies from other maid cafés in Guangzhou, including bans on photography or private contact without consent.

What is the concept behind the maid café?

The café is inspired by Japanese anime and cosplay culture, where waitresses dress as maids and treat customers as ‘masters’ in a role-playing environment. The goal is to create a warm, home-like atmosphere for patrons.