Shenyang’s 90s Model Opens Anime-Themed Maid Café

In the heart of Shenyang’s Beiyijing Street, stepping into "Sakura Jun no mise" feels like entering an anime world. Patrons are greeted by maids in frilly uniforms, the walls adorned with posters of their favorite shows, and the air buzzing with chatter about games and series. This isn’t your typical coffee shop—it’s a niche community hub where fandom meets caffeine.

This unique café, launched in 2013 by 90s-born former medical graduate Yantata and her friend Zhimeng , combines cosplay, gaming, and coffee service. With 62 staff—including 50 maids and 12 butlers—most part-time students, it offers themed events, tutoring, and gaming for just ¥10/hour.

From Medical School to Maid Café

Yantata graduated in clinical pharmacy from China Medical University but pivoted through various jobs in hospitals and banks before settling on entrepreneurship. Using eight years of earnings from part-time modeling, she and Zhimeng scouted locations in snowy winter 2012, eventually renting a soon-to-close beauty salon despite locals doubting their venture. “There wasn’t a single other café on the street then,” Yantata recalls. “Now there are 17.”

The duo underwent six months of professional training in coffee brewing and roasting before launching. They combined market research with social media promotion via Weibo, WeChat, and Tieba to gauge interest in both anime and maid cafés. Their location strategy and themed concept helped them carve out a niche before the area became a café hub.

What Makes This Café Different?

“Most cafés lack standout features. We wanted something unique,” Yantata says. While anime-themed cafés aren’t rare in Japan, she recognized that novelty alone doesn’t ensure longevity. “You need more than costumes to keep customers coming back.”

To encourage repeat visits, the café hosts regular events such as maid performances, interactive games, baking classes, and seasonal theme weeks for Halloween and Christmas. The menu focuses on coffee and light meals, but the real draw is the immersive experience: patrons can book a maid to play games for ¥10/hour or receive tutoring from student maids at lower rates than traditional tutors.

Business Model and Expansion

The café broke even after about a year and a half, though staffing costs remain high. Monthly profits now average around ¥10,000. Staff are carefully selected not just for appearance but also for knowledge of anime, talent, and service skills. Most are university students working part-time in shifts, with schedules published on Weibo so fans can request their favorites.

Beyond the café, the business has expanded into anime tourism, partnering with a Tokyo school to offer 7-day tour packages. They also collaborate with malls for cosplay performances and attend comic conventions, often preparing until 4 a.m. for the next day’s events. The team plans to grow via franchising, with a new branch in Dalian already under renovation and another opening in Harbin after the New Year. Yantata and Zhimeng personally visit each franchise monthly to maintain consistency.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a maid café and how is it different from a regular coffee shop?

A maid café is a themed coffee shop where waitstaff, dressed as maids or butlers, serve customers in character, often part of anime or cosplay culture. Unlike regular cafés, these venues offer immersive experiences such as games, performances, and themed events alongside food and drinks.

What services does Sakura Jun no mise offer besides coffee?

In addition to serving coffee and light meals, the café provides maid and butler interactions, gaming sessions (¥10/hour), tutoring for middle and high school students by student staff, cosplay events, and seasonal theme activities for holidays like Halloween and Christmas.

How did the founders start the café and what was their background?

Founders Yantata and Zhimeng, both in their 90s, started with no prior café experience. Yantata, a former clinical pharmacy graduate, worked in hospitals and banks before using her eight-year modeling savings. They trained for six months in coffee making, researched local demand, and opened in 2013 despite initial skepticism from locals.

Is tutoring really offered at the café, and who provides it?

Yes, high school and middle school students can receive tutoring from university student maids at lower rates than standard tutors. The service is part of the café’s effort to provide added value beyond coffee and cosplay.

What are the future plans for Sakura Jun no mise?

The café plans to expand via franchising with a new branch in Dalian already under renovation and another set to open in Harbin. The owners personally train staff and maintain quality control at each location. They also run anime tourism trips in partnership with a Tokyo school.