What's happening with that building in Akihabara now? [Closed, withdrawn, demolished]

In 2022, the landscape of Akihabara is gradually changing.
Some buildings are undergoing new construction, while others have been left as they were since the shops were removed.
Many familiar buildings in front of the station are shifting, but is this also a sign of the times?

So this time,What happened to that building in Akihabara?Introducing "!
This time, we have focused on relatively prominent buildings, mainly on main streets.

↓Please take a look at the video that shows us touring the building.

What's happening now? Akihabara's empty and new buildings

Former site of GiGO Akihabara store No. 4 - The scenery in front of the station has changed dramatically

First, let's look at the area in front of the station.
The reconstruction and relocation of Radio Kaikan and the closure of Satomu Sen have been some of the major events happening in front of Akihabara Station.
This is the first thing you'll see when you exit the Electric Town exit.GiGO 4th store closedThis may also be one of the three major spots for "changing the landscape in front of Akihabara Station."

The heyday of GiGO Akihabara 4th store was when a Gundam arcade machine was installed in the basement.
There were so many cars that it was crowded with people on weekends.
Although the home console version of Gundam was also popular, the latest installment inevitably came first in arcades.
The enthusiasm of the genuine fans was quite impressive.
There are other tenants in the building, but it leaves a strong impression as a red building.
Currently, due to construction work on the building, temporary signs are up to indicate that the store is open.

Former Volks Hobby Heaven Building - A worn-out building

This building opened in 2014, perfectly located on the corner of Akihabara Station.

It has now reopened as Volks Hobby Heaven 2 along Chuo Dori.
The reason why the old Hobby Tengoku closed is unknown, but as the building was quite old, it is thought that deterioration may have been the cause.
Issues that will likely arise include whether the cost of demolishing the building and rebuilding it will be worth it.
Considering that Hobby Tengoku 2 is their own building, I guess that makes sense.
Considering the old Radio Kaikan, this is a building with quite a history, so I would like it to remain if possible, but...I'm not sure.
All tenants have now moved out, leaving only advertising space on the first floor, and attention is now focused on whether the building will be demolished or not.

Manseibashi Crossing, Handa Building - Karaoke Maneki Neko

Handa Building is sure to come to mind when talking about Akihabara's landmarks.
If you come from the Kanda direction and pass through Manseibashi intersection, you can see it directly in front of you.

Since GiGO withdrew in 2017, the area has had a bleak impression.
There were tenants on the first floor and basement floor, so it wasn't an empty storefront, but attention was focused on what kind of tenants would move into this prime Akihabara location.
As of October 2022, no major announcement has been made, but it appears that Karaoke Maneki Neko will be opening.
It is rumored that the rent for this building is over 1000 million yen, and as an amateur, I am a little worried about whether the rent can be paid properly.

I recall that the size of each floor wasn't that large, but since it's located close to the station, I'm sure there are some advantages to using it.
I don't know how many people are currently crammed into karaoke stores, but I wonder what will happen next.

Laox Akihabara Main Store Building - Currently closed for a long period of time

Laox Akihabara Main Store is located between Onoden and Edion.
It's a nostalgic sight to see tourist buses parked in front of the store during the heyday of foreign tourists visiting the area.

Laox Akihabara Main Store is currently closed indefinitely.
Due to the pressure from inbound demand, the store temporarily ceased operating as a duty-free shop, but later began selling Asian goods and food.
We were also strengthening our handling of hobby products such as Gunpla, and this incident occurred just as we thought we had made a new start.
There has been no news of the store reopening, but there are rumors that the area where the Laox Akihabara main store is located is being redeveloped, so it is not yet decided what will happen next.

Will it reopen as a new business?
Will they return to the electronics retailer route?
Will they withdraw with redevelopment in mind?
Rather than the reconstruction of large buildings, the Laox Akihabara Main Store building may be the one that people are most interested in seeing happening right now.

Game Panic Akihabara - Former Adores Site

From Adore's Akihabara store to Game Panic.
During the Adores era, the company operated both a game center and a karaoke bar, but since becoming Game Panic, it has focused on prize-giving.
This is also the first building in Akihabara to have a tenant move in after a tenant withdrew from a large building in a prime location.
During the Adores era, the store was dominated by red, but now the yellow sign is particularly eye-catching.
It feels more like an amusement facility than a game center, and its main target seems to be general customers.
It's been less than a year since it opened, so I'm excited to see how it will be run in the future.

Tanaka Musen Headquarters Building planned site (next to Sofmap on Chuo-dori) - Akihabara redevelopment

Currently, several buildings in Akihabara are being demolished and rebuilt.
The former Sofmap is one of them.

The building that stood next to the current Sofmap has now been demolished and construction is underway to make way for a new building.
There were several stores in this area, but they were relocated when the buildings were demolished.
Tanaka Wireless Electric's headquarters building is scheduled to be constructed, but will there be enough space for tenants?
Or will it be used as a headquarters building and all corporate functions will be moved here?
It will be interesting to see how it will be implemented in the future.

The foundation work has not yet been completed, so it will be some time before the building will be visible.
Personally, I would be happy if they operated the first floor as a street-front store...
At the moment, it's still unclear what kind of stores will be located there, but will it become a landmark building in Akihabara?

Akihabara Hotel Project site (next to the Armed Shop) - Building under construction on Chuo Street

This is the site of the former building next to the Armed Shop.
At one time, this was the location of a smoking bus.
It seems that a new accommodation facility will be built here as part of the "Akihabara Hotel Project."
The space is not that large, so the first floor will be used as the entrance and reception, with accommodation rooms on the second floor and above.
I don't think the rooms will be that large, so it will likely be a facility mainly for single or double occupancy.
Has the demolition itself been completed and is the foundation work currently being carried out?
The heavy machinery itself was installed, there was a guard at the back entrance, and materials were being brought in and taken out, so it seemed that construction was progressing.

Construction has just begun on this building, so it is likely that it will not be completed until next year.
Akihabara itself has a fair number of hotels and other accommodation options, so it will be interesting to see what position it will take in the future.
Will this be a lifesaver for those staying in Akihabara during Comiket?

Former Toranoana Building - Store closed

The Toranoana building has closed, much to everyone's regret.
The business is now closed and the shutters are down.
The rooftop sign is still up, but the banners have been removed and will likely not be installed again in the future.
Although it was a small building, it was a famous place in Akihabara.
Will the building be sold, demolished, or will a new tenant move in?
Personally, I would like to see similar tenants move in and liven up the town.

Can Do returns to the former Can Do site - the 100 yen shop on Junk Street

Can Do, the beloved only 100 yen shop in Akihabara, is making a long-awaited comeback!

Can Do, which had closed due to the building being rebuilt, is returning to Junk Street.
The building itself has already been neatly erected, and a poster announcing the opening date has been posted at the entrance.
A 100 yen store has opened in Yodobashi Akiba, but I somehow felt it was a bit difficult to go there.
The new Can Do store, like the old one, is not a very large space, but from what I can see, it looks like it has two floors.
This will be a long-awaited opening of a 100 yen store for the people working on Junk Street, so it looks like it will be a big success.
It is scheduled to open on November 2, 2022.

Showa-dori Exit McDonald's - McDonald's is back

The McDonald's that was located at the Showa-dori entrance has returned with a new look.
The vertical reading of Burger King was a hot topic for a while...

This building not only houses McDonald's, but also Seven-Eleven and Maneki Neko.
The Showaguchi area is known for its many restaurants, but there weren't that many fast food restaurants.
There is also a convenience store inside, so it looks like it will be very convenient.
The kebab shop was the last one standing when the building was demolished, but it seems it never returned, but hey, a lot has happened...
The exterior is also modern and new, and I get the feeling that the current tenants will remain in place for the time being.

What happened to the wiring in that building in Akihabara?

That building in Akihabara with the unreasonable wiring...or rather, the store...

Akihabara's unreasonable power supply pic.twitter.com/xUcnUuT57h

— Akihabara Base Camp (@akihabara_bc) February 17, 2021

There are still wires left!!
But it seems there's only one...

What happens after Onoden Streaming Studio withdraws?

This is the former site of Onoden's broadcasting studio, "Akiba.TV STUDIO."
It doesn't seem to be related to the demolition of the building, but I feel sad because this was a place that could be called Akihabara's Spain Hill Studio.

No new tenants will move into the former Regild site...?

I'm not sure if I should call it a building...
Will any tenants move into the former Regild site?

The buildings in this area, including Akiba-O, which previously closed due to relocation, are old, so it's unclear what will happen to them in terms of earthquake resistance.
If they can't bring in new tenants and they won't demolish it, it may become a difficult property to handle.

Former Kitchen Jiro Site - Con Cafe Information Center

This is also more of a store than a building.

After Kitchen Jiro closed, it became a maid cafe information center, but now the information center has also closed.
On the second floor there is a maid cafe where you can drink as much as you want for 13 hours for 2000 yen.
The sign has a huge impact. It's a little hard to understand what the concept is, though...

With rumors of Akihabara being redeveloped, how will the city change?

The town of Akihabara has changed its appearance many times.
Although I feel a little sad, I look forward to seeing a new Akihabara take shape.
We are now at a point where we need to think about many things for the future, such as the problem of aging buildings and redevelopment.
I'd love to see a beautifully reborn Akihabara, while still remembering the past. What will it be like?

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