"SNS Popular Restaurants Gather" Lotte Department Store to Open Many at Main Branch

Lotte Department Store Opens 12 Popular SNS Restaurants at Main Store
Japan's Famous Restaurant 'Bunjir?' Debuts in Korea on 13th Floor
F&B Sales Up 50% Year-on-Year Since Reopening
First Retail Launches of Ojeje and Songhwa Sansi Dosakmyeon
Ttamttam and Donichise Release Exclusive Menus at Lotte Department Store

Lotte Department Store Main Branch 'Ttamttam'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] As Lotte Department Store's food and beverage (F&B) sales continue to soar, its main branch is being reborn as an 'SNS gourmet hotspot.'

According to Lotte Department Store on the 18th, from May to July, Lotte Department Store's F&B sales grew by 50% compared to the previous year. From July to August 15, sales have increased by more than 70%, especially centered around popular SNS gourmet restaurants. During the COVID-19 period, there was a preference for delivery food or takeout stores, but recently, demand for 'dining' restaurants where customers can enjoy meals on-site has risen again. In fact, last month, dining sales at Lotte Department Store nearly doubled compared to the previous year. Reflecting this trend, Lotte Department Store will open a large number of SNS popular dining restaurants with both taste and visual appeal at its main branch on the 19th.

On the basement level 1 deli corner of the main branch, 12 popular SNS restaurants will be newly introduced. Representative brands include 'Ojeje,' known as a top pork cutlet restaurant representing Seoul, which is so popular that there can be over a three-hour wait on weekends; 'Songhwasan Si Dosakmyeon,' a knife-cut noodle restaurant featured on multiple TV programs as a must-queue spot; and 'Guteroyte,' famous as a gourmet spot favored by celebrities. Among the 12 new brands, 7 are entering the distribution channel for the first time, showing the meticulous preparation involved. Previously, the deli corner mainly offered simple takeout menus such as gimbap, but through this renewal, the dining menu has been enhanced across various categories including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Vietnamese, and cafes, and a premium tasting space where customers can enjoy meals on-site has been created. Unlike the previous deli store where everything from ordering to clearing was self-service, a 'table service' system has been applied to assist with serving and clearing at the table, improving customer convenience.

Along with unique menus exclusive to Lotte Department Store, various opening promotions have been prepared. 'Ttam Ttam,' famous for its nourishing rice noodle soup near Gangnam Station, will celebrate its main branch opening by introducing the 'Bakute (Ttam Ttam nourishing soup),' a menu made by slowly simmering high-quality pork ribs and lean meat, for the first time. 'Donicchi,' a premium rice bowl specialty restaurant known for its visual appeal in Songridan-gil, will offer 'Chikaradon,' considered the best Japanese nourishing dish, exclusively at the main branch. Until the 28th of this month, restaurants such as 'Songhwasan Si Dosakmyeon,' 'Guteroyte,' 'Coreano's Kitchen,' 'Consider Bagel,' and 'Shabu Cuisine' will provide additional service menus to celebrate their new openings, and promotions including discount coupons for writing reviews on the Lotte Department Store application (app) will be held.

Earlier, on the 12th, the premium tonkatsu specialty restaurant 'Bunjiro,' a famous establishment from Nagasaki, Japan, opened its first domestic store at the main branch on the 13th floor. After more than three years of extensive discussions and preparations with 'Next Dining,' Lotte Department Store opened the first official domestic store at the main branch, offering menus such as 'Rosu Katsu,' 'Hire Katsu,' and 'Ebi Fry,' which embody the craftsmanship and secret recipes of founder Takada.

The main branch has recently introduced various unique cafes and dessert spots targeting the 20s and 30s age group. Notable examples include 'BIG PILOT BAR BY IWC & CENTER COFFEE,' a collaboration with luxury watchmaker IWC, and 'Bonanza Coffee,' recognized by National Geographic as a must-try coffee before you die. Over the past year, a total of four unique cafes have been newly opened. In June and July, seven bakery gourmet shops such as 'Pledi,' 'Yan Kubre,' and 'Presse' were opened, and trendy desserts are regularly showcased through pop-up stores. Recently, a dessert pop-up by famous Japanese patissier 'Yoroizuka Toshihiko,' held in collaboration with Lotte Hotel, was so popular that it caused a rush at opening.

Gil Okkyun, team leader of Lotte Department Store's Deli & Snack team, said, "Since the reopening (economic restart), the trend of visiting famous restaurants in person rather than ordering delivery has spread again, especially among the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z), leading the main branch deli corner to transform from a takeout-focused space into a dining area." He added, "We will continue to carefully select and introduce not only domestic but also overseas gourmet restaurants first at Lotte Department Store."

Lotte Department Store Main Branch, Donicci 'Steak Don'.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.