"Valuing Personality Over Products": Hakata Station Ming's 50-Year-Old Souvenir Shop 'Marutome' Launches Crowdfunding to Preserve Warm Customer Service by Veteran Staff in Their 60s and 70s
Marutome, a 50-year-old souvenir shop at Hakata Station Ming, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to preserve its warm customer service provided by veteran staff in their 60s and 70s and ensure the store's survival. Facing a crisis due to declining sales from a 2015 relocation and the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with heavy loan repayment burdens, the store is seeking 1 million yen in support.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 18:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 00:02 (6h 2m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 06:46 (6h 44m after Collected)
■ 1. A place like Hakata Station's "living room" where "Have a good trip!" echoes
In a corner of Hakata Station's commercial facility "Ming," there is a scene that has remained unchanged for 50 years. Standing at the storefront of the souvenir shop 'Marutome' are female staff members in their 60s and 70s, including veterans with over 15 years of service.
Their customer service is by no means "efficient." They enjoy small talk, sometimes inquire about customers' health, and carefully convey the passion of small manufacturers in Fukuoka. This face-to-face service, filled with "human warmth," has been a source of comfort for business travelers returning home and local customers.
There, the important teaching inherited from the deceased founder, "It's okay not to have strong products. Value personality," still lives on.
■ 2. Facing a "risk of closure": Scars of relocation and the COVID-19 pandemic
However, our store is currently facing its biggest challenge since its founding, a "risk of closure."
In 2015, due to a layout change accompanying station redevelopment, the store was forced to relocate to a secluded spot away from the main passage. Since then, customer traffic has gradually decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation.
COVID-19 loans saved us during days of near-zero sales, but now the burden of repayment weighs heavily. For several years, we were barely able to ensure the safety of our elderly staff and daily operations. Without being able to take the next step, we are caught in a painful vicious cycle: "If we cut expenses (staff) for repayment, we won't be able to provide our characteristic customer service, and sales will further decline."
The undeniable reality is that it is extremely difficult to maintain the current "polite customer service system" and keep the store running.
■ 3. Why crowdfunding now?
This project is not just about fundraising for a single store.
It is a challenge to protect "inefficient, yet rich value" from Hakata Station.
We deliberately want to cherish another value: "time-consuming face-to-face customer service."
This sentiment has garnered support from long-standing business partners and even Hakata Station.
[Support Comments (excerpt)]
Mr. Kunitada Kato, Hakata Station Manager:
"Marutome, which sells delicious products from Hakata. I pray that it will continue to operate energetically as an indispensable store for customers visiting Hakata for sightseeing, business, or returning home."
Narazaki Shoten Co., Ltd. (Business Partner):
"The existence of 'Marutome,' which has carefully conveyed the charm and traditional taste of the region, is very reassuring and an indispensable partner for us. We, Narazaki Shoten, sincerely support you with the same unwavering commitment to protect and nurture 'Hakata's taste' and 'regional pride' together."
4. The future we want to achieve: For the store to return to its "original state"
The funds raised will be used for "positive recovery" to rebuild the store.
Protecting "a place to belong": Maintaining a place where veteran staff can shine by utilizing their experience.
Protecting "small voices": Improving information provision to carefully convey the dedication of small producers in Fukuoka.
Improving "guidance": Enhancing in-store POP and access to make the store easier to find.
[Crowdfunding Overview]
Project Name: Want to save the store that has delivered Fukuoka's "delicious things" for 50 years at Hakata Station
Period: April 22, 2026 ~ May 29, 2026
Goal Amount: 1,000,000 JPY
Support Page URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/910406/view
[Store Overview]
Store Name: Marutome
Location: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka (within Hakata Station Ming)
Founded: 1966 (Showa 44)
Features: A small souvenir shop carefully selecting famous products from Fukuoka and Kyushu. Veteran staff with an average age of 64 are active.
In a corner of Hakata Station's commercial facility "Ming," there is a scene that has remained unchanged for 50 years. Standing at the storefront of the souvenir shop 'Marutome' are female staff members in their 60s and 70s, including veterans with over 15 years of service.
Their customer service is by no means "efficient." They enjoy small talk, sometimes inquire about customers' health, and carefully convey the passion of small manufacturers in Fukuoka. This face-to-face service, filled with "human warmth," has been a source of comfort for business travelers returning home and local customers.
There, the important teaching inherited from the deceased founder, "It's okay not to have strong products. Value personality," still lives on.
■ 2. Facing a "risk of closure": Scars of relocation and the COVID-19 pandemic
However, our store is currently facing its biggest challenge since its founding, a "risk of closure."
In 2015, due to a layout change accompanying station redevelopment, the store was forced to relocate to a secluded spot away from the main passage. Since then, customer traffic has gradually decreased. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation.
COVID-19 loans saved us during days of near-zero sales, but now the burden of repayment weighs heavily. For several years, we were barely able to ensure the safety of our elderly staff and daily operations. Without being able to take the next step, we are caught in a painful vicious cycle: "If we cut expenses (staff) for repayment, we won't be able to provide our characteristic customer service, and sales will further decline."
The undeniable reality is that it is extremely difficult to maintain the current "polite customer service system" and keep the store running.
■ 3. Why crowdfunding now?
This project is not just about fundraising for a single store.
It is a challenge to protect "inefficient, yet rich value" from Hakata Station.
We deliberately want to cherish another value: "time-consuming face-to-face customer service."
This sentiment has garnered support from long-standing business partners and even Hakata Station.
[Support Comments (excerpt)]
Mr. Kunitada Kato, Hakata Station Manager:
"Marutome, which sells delicious products from Hakata. I pray that it will continue to operate energetically as an indispensable store for customers visiting Hakata for sightseeing, business, or returning home."
Narazaki Shoten Co., Ltd. (Business Partner):
"The existence of 'Marutome,' which has carefully conveyed the charm and traditional taste of the region, is very reassuring and an indispensable partner for us. We, Narazaki Shoten, sincerely support you with the same unwavering commitment to protect and nurture 'Hakata's taste' and 'regional pride' together."
4. The future we want to achieve: For the store to return to its "original state"
The funds raised will be used for "positive recovery" to rebuild the store.
Protecting "a place to belong": Maintaining a place where veteran staff can shine by utilizing their experience.
Protecting "small voices": Improving information provision to carefully convey the dedication of small producers in Fukuoka.
Improving "guidance": Enhancing in-store POP and access to make the store easier to find.
[Crowdfunding Overview]
Project Name: Want to save the store that has delivered Fukuoka's "delicious things" for 50 years at Hakata Station
Period: April 22, 2026 ~ May 29, 2026
Goal Amount: 1,000,000 JPY
Support Page URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/910406/view
[Store Overview]
Store Name: Marutome
Location: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka (within Hakata Station Ming)
Founded: 1966 (Showa 44)
Features: A small souvenir shop carefully selecting famous products from Fukuoka and Kyushu. Veteran staff with an average age of 64 are active.