I'll say it again because it's important.
"We're closing Rockmo. Is there anyone to take over?"
We have decided to close Bokumo's sister store, Rockmo, which opened in 2011, at the end of July 2020.
I think 10 out of 10 people would have thought, "Oh, that's because of the coronavirus."
But, you know.
It's a little different.
Actually, I had decided to close the store even before the coronavirus outbreak. It may sound like I'm being stubborn, but it's the truth, so there's nothing I can do about it. I'll close the store this summer. I had decided to do that several months ago.
The reason for the closure is fairly simple: Haru, who has been the manager of Rockmo for a long time, is pursuing a different path .
Currently, Rockmo is a music bar, and also a place where you can eat Haru's specially made southern Indian curry. I left the store in Haru's hands, and as he became more of a curry guy, the curry influence at Rockmo became stronger. Before I knew it, Haru had become a curry guy who would go to Tokyo or Osaka if he heard there was a good curry, and would line up for two or three hours. He researched spices day and night. He created a new southern Indian curry at Rockmo, and the regulars were delighted. We even served Haru curry at Bokumo's anniversary party. It sold out in no time.
So I was talking to Hal a little while ago.
The theme is "The Restaurant of the Future."
Iwa : "I think the ideal restaurant is one where everyone agrees with the obsessions of the enthusiasts. I love this taste, I want everyone to eat it, drink it. It's that kind of passion that makes small restaurants shine. Actually, the only people who run shining restaurants are perverts with their own obsessions."
Ha: "That's true, isn't it?"
Iwa : "If New Zealand wine was already popular in Japan, I wouldn't be so into it. But it's still not well known, so I have a passion for letting everyone know about it. I'm always researching New Zealand wine on my days off, and I want to try the ones I don't know about yet, and if they're good, I want to introduce them to others. I can't help but think about that. But if that passion fades, I'll wonder if there's any point in me doing it."
Ha : I'm that type of person too.
Iwa : "So, for Haru..."
Ha : Yes. South Indian curry is exactly that (firmly).
Iwa : "I see. I had a vague feeling, or rather, a very strong one. In that case, I guess it would be best to go down that path."
Ha : But... I love Rockmo too...
Iwa : "I'm grateful for that. All the regulars know about Haru's hard work at Rockmo. That's why I'm sure they'll support you on that path too. After all, you're probably thinking about spices when you go home, right? You're probably thinking about how to become more Indian, right? So I'm sure everyone would love to see you jump into the world of curry, or rather, into the Ganges."
Ha : "Okay... I don't know if I can become an Indian, but I'll jump in!!!"
So, we decided, "In that case, Rockmo will be closed."
The Ganges will surely be spicier than he expected. He might even drown. But he thinks that if he drowns in that river, it will be his wish. It's a big deal to have found something like that. It's not often in life that you find something that you're completely hooked on and that you want to make it your job.
Also, for me, seeing Haru change course in life and working hard is a big part of what makes me want to work hard too. He chose to love South Indian curry. I'm not going to lose to him in my love of New Zealand wine.
After reading this far, some of you may have questions.
First of all.
"Why doesn't Iwasu become the owner and run Haru's curry restaurant?"
The answer is clear. Because I don't like curry. This is a very unfortunate fact. If I eat curry with a lot of spices like South Indian curry, I usually get an upset stomach (it's embarrassing but it can't be helped). To begin with, I've only eaten curry a few times a year for the past 20 years, so my stomach and intestines have no tolerance for spices. At CoCo Ichibanya, I only choose mild.
I don't like restaurants that serve food that the owner can't eat. It's no good to have a sushi restaurant owner who can't eat fish. It's no good to open a new curry restaurant or renovate a rock shop into a curry restaurant.
One more thing.
"Why don't we just bring in a new manager to replace Haru and continue the business?"
I thought about this for a bit, but it was impossible. The reason is that I am currently working on three jobs in parallel: Bokumo, radio, and a website, in addition to Rockmo, and I am already fully occupied with these. Oh, I also work as a wine instructor (currently on hiatus due to COVID-19). None of my work is done by me alone, but is based on trust with other people. So, if I were to add the task of training a new store manager to that, the sweet curry in my small plate would overflow. The table would get soaked and I would cause trouble for everyone involved. That would be bad.
So we decided to hire new people and not keep the store open.
So, I'll say goodbye with dignity .
I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude. I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been involved with Rockmo up until now. Rockmo has been a very happy place, surrounded by nice customers. I think there are many people for whom visiting Rockmo has become a part of their daily lives. I am truly grateful.
But unfortunately, everything has a beginning and an end. The music also has an intro, an A melody, a B melody, a chorus, and then moves to a quiet ending. It's been nearly nine years since the performance, which had a long and dramatic development like progressive rock, but for now, the end will be at the end of July. I was surprised that there was a long rest near the ending because of COVID-19.
However, there is still an outro period for "Goodbye Business", so please come and visit us again. Listen to music, eat curry, and enjoy the afterglow for the next two months.
"Rockmo: Goodbye Business"
June and July 2020
Open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday only *Last business day is July 31st (Friday)
Business hours: 18:00～23:30
(We also accept inquiries regarding reservations on days other than business days, so please contact us.)
We will be taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as spacing out the seats, improving ventilation in the store, and frequently using alcohol disinfectant. I also plan to visit Rockmo as many times as possible during this business period.
Anyway, the other day I had a meeting with Haru at Rockmo to discuss future plans.
So I thought again, "Rockmo has a really elaborate interior." Of course, they must have poured a lot of love and money into making it.
The refrigerator, freezer, and wine cellar all work properly. As for the air conditioner, the previous one broke, so I replaced it with a new one. The toilet works properly, and the YouTube request system works. The speakers sound pretty good. I really feel like it would be a waste to lose this.
So, let me finally go back to the title and address everyone watching this.
"We're closing Rockmo. Is there anyone to take over?"
If there is anyone who wants to use this interior to run a shop, I would be happy to take it over. If you know anyone who is interested, please let me know. Of course, you can take over all of it, a part of it, or just a small part of it.
I don't think bar culture will go away so easily, even after the coronavirus pandemic. It will take some time, but I think there will be a backlash from the coronavirus shock. I think we will enter an era where small communities will heal people more than ever before. If that happens, this place will be strong. It's in a good location, just a three-minute walk from Sakae Station, and we've been in business for just under nine years, so there are many customers who love Rockmo. I think it's much easier to get a head start than opening a new store. To be honest, if you work hard on your own, you can make enough sales to make a living. I'll even share some tips on sales and know-how I've gained so far.
We will meet again to discuss the specific conditions. We can also hold a remote meeting via Zoom or other means. If you would like to take a look around, please come and see us. During the COVID-19 closure, Haru made the interior of the store sparkle, so it is now in a very beautiful state.
For inquiries regarding Rockmo,
Please contact us at
Thank you for reading this long post.
June 2, 2020
Ichiroimo Co., Ltd. Naoki Iwasu
