If this fashion-forward Japanese trifecta of cafe, shopping mall and art gallery is for New People, what is left for us Old People? A half-eaten egg salad sandwich at Benkyodo? Discounted plastic containers at Daiso? I think Little Kitty became a Harajuku girl and threw up in here. The four-floor complex strikes me as half kitsch, half mod, and full-on J-Pop. It's enough to make me feel like a geezer in a Yasujiro Ozu film quietly disappointed in my grandchildren. None of the set-up here surprised me since I came here with my friend Maggie for a Yelp Elite event when it first opened in September 2009. I was so overwhelmed by all the manga, anime and Harajuku fashion that I thought I landed in a Gwen Stefani video. I ain't no Hollaback girl, but I do get peckish. A little Delica bento box and a cup of Blue Bottle might just do me if I get tired of the ramen at Sapporo-Ya. Otherwise I don't think I'll be buying a pair of those sneakers with the toe separation. So not me. read more

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A new modern outlook displaying Japanese products and style. It's quite captivating to look around each distinct floor to see what the entire department has to offer as a whole. There' s a cafe on the first floor and as you go up, products ranges from stuffed Japanese dolls, supplies, robots, toys and to Japanese Lola fashion outfits! Lola fashion outfits, for those who don't know, is like a doll like outfit with layers of ruffles and sometimes with solid or patterned fabric! Reminds of being dressed up in a doll costume! The price to buy one Lola outfit is about $150+! Yikes! I honestly don't understand the trend or fashion of them! Overall, a pretty hip, modern department Japanese place to check out. It gave me great insight on Japanese culture! read more

New People - Decor walking up the stairs - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

The few times that I've come here were for Love Live events (as my bf is a huge fan). This place has always been very clean and accommodating for events (especially getting Pocky/Hello Panda/Choco Shroom treats before/after the showing). Parking isn't too bad as there is the lot under Japantown, but if you want to try street... good luck :) For the movie theater on the basement level, it is very clean and the seats are pretty comfortable - no food/drinks allowed into the theater (water for sure is though). The lighting is very mild and I just love how the walls are decorate to incorporate the lights with the decor. One of the two things I dislike is the lack of ventilation and no cell reception in the theater. It gets really muggy and I usually have to take a break outside around the 2 hour mark for some fresh air. There was once that I felt a slight breeze but it still wasn't enough - the air was still stale and didn't smell quite nice. Final Thoughts: As I've only been here for the theater, I definitely want to try the cafe and explore the place a bit more some other time. I'm pretty sure my bf will be more than excited for another Love Live event (I'll probably wait at Japantown or explore the other levels though). read more

This is usually the "destination" for film festivals, since there is a pretty awesome theatre in the basement area. The decoration inside is pretty cool, and the famous "Escape from a Room" game is on the second floor. The first floor is a Victorian tea area, which is pretty nicely decorated, and great for "afternoon tea" for the ladies :) Definitely a good place to visit at least once if you're in the J-town area. read more

New People - theatre ticket line - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a great place for anyone interested in Japanese pop culture! With a cinema downstairs (was showing Kuroawa's The Seven Samurai when I was there), a cute cafe on the ground floor, and multiple shops on the top floors (beware gothic lolita and manga fans and guard your money!!), New People distinguishes itself from the rest of Japan Town by straying away from the traditional Japanese stuff. There's also a nifty art gallery at the top most floor so be sure not to forget that. Clean and postmodern looking, it's worth a shot to visit. read more

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Cute and overpriced!!! i was looking for a macaron keychain but they didn't have any. Found lots of cute looking dessert stuff though, but sadly not edible... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/X3lTY9QX_ykpRWXCLNXIoA?select=71BnD1228OrnXsOYOWUkTA read more

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OMG ~!!! I'm totally in LOVE with this place !!! It was actually their Grand Opening yesterday,08/15/09 during the J-Pop Summit Festival. Unfortantely, I missed out on the event...=( my lazy ass couldn't get out the bed in time....=x ahahah but hey ! I was here today ~!!! less crowded and no lines ^ ^ muahahahha score either way ^ ^ New People is like a semi mini mall of Japanese culture. They got the goods, coffee, fashion and art all in one building. My favorite would be their 3rd floor SUPERFROG Gallery which features the latest exhibitions. Currently they are showing work done by Yoshitaka Amano his collection called Deva Loka USA 2nd floor you have the fashion and a kids mini playground !!! Kawaii~!!! ahaha They sell Sweet and Gothic Lolita outfits here. They also have models actually walking around to advertise their items. Very interesting, indeed ! ahahah I wanna model for them ahahhah well maybe~ =/ lol 1st floor they got the goods~ ahahha this is where boo boo bought me a t-shirt for me today muahahah ^ ^ [picture is posted of the shirt I got ^ ^] They have alot of cute/neat/cool toys, gagets, music, jewlery,etc. They even have the latest japanese fashion of sweet accessories !!! kawaii~!! lol okay enough with the " kawaii " lol hella annoying now....lol anyways ~!!! So much to look at....so little time....So much to buy...too broke...ahahah =x The goods here are a bit pricey,but hey~! There are just some things in life you gotta have, right? =) hehe it's a must check out place if you're around Japantown for sure !! read more

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Japanese fashion, movies, retail, art, design and more in one building? Love it! I'm glad the elevator wasn't working because the staircases are adorned with art. The music comes from a highly respected artist from Tokyo's club music scene. The employees wear quirky ties by Giraffe. The basement is the orange theatre lobby with Taiji Fujimori Loaf fiberboard seating (looks like wood blocks from a distance). They claim that the VIZ the only cinema in the US dedicated to Japanese films. Restrooms are also in the basement. The first floor features another cluster of Loaf furniture and the Café with Blue Bottle Coffee, savory Japanese treats from Delica, teas and sweets. The Mezzanine level (THE STORE) has a wide variety of goods, including Japanese wrapping paper, rubber stamps, patisserie jewelry, scented patisserie candles (cookies, cupcakes), books, CDs, cloth tape, tiny speakers, t-shirts, pens, notebooks, stickers, 35 mm cameras that look like juice boxes, monsters, aliens, robots and Be@rbrick, etc. The travel alarm clocks are sleek and small. Items are witty, including crumpled paper bags that are waterproof, crumpled ceramic cups that resemble paper cups, a paper lantern that looks like a giant light bulb, picture hangers that look like mini hangers, and one of a kind "drip" bookmarks. I wanted to take pictures but photography is prohibited in certain areas. My picks: * Adorable bow ties with studs by Giraffe for $109 * Bunny shaped carrying case with foldable tote bag inside (which I purchased for a friend) * Milk Crown tray ($49.99) The 2nd floor has four boutiques. BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT features lacy Alice in Wonderland dresses in pastel colors for $200 - 300, shoes and accessories. I can't imagine much demand for this type of fashion in that price range. BLACK PEACE NOW fashion features lots of black, corsets, and skulls - cute and more wearable than BABY. 6%DOKIDOKI was just too bright and cheerful for me. I'm the BLACK PEACE NOW type. SOU-SOU has cute handmade (in workshops across Japan) fabric shoes with split toes - not my style but very different (and about $120 each - not that bad given that the style is so unique). The 3rd floor is the SUPERFROG art gallery. The current artist, Yoshitaka Amano is known for his Final Fantasy character designs. His pieces feature girls with big eyes and tiny mouths. NEW PEOPLE carries items that fans of DEATH NOTE and Japanese popular culture are sure to appreciate. They say that "even our toilets are worth of your time and attention! NEW PEOPLE is proud to be the first public building in the US to have Washlets." Washlets are Japanese toilets. I forgot to check out the toilets (next time). read more

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After years of planning, the "New People" mall grand opening and J-Pop Summit event is this Saturday 8/15. http://static1.px.yelp.com/bphoto/-F92mjA3Xv3p_ojXWpli0w/l During the festivities, a section of Post street is closed and lined with booths of J-Pop culture (left side) & gourmet food vendors (right side). Don't miss that! NEW important note: just announced procedures to manage the crowds on Saturday, in order to access the new building you'll need a numbered ticket from the RED tent (located at the Buchanan corridor) distributed starting at 9:30am. The ribbon cutting ceremony is @11am, followed by the Kagamiwari - sake barrel breaking ceremony, and then doors open at noon (need ticket for access - see above). The first 100 customers to spend $30 get a free store gift bag. If you're a fan of "J-Pop culture", that includes familiar kid's stuff like Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Astro Boy, Gigantor, Speed Racer, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Mobile Suit Gundam, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Naruto, Fullmetal Alchemist, Cowboy Bebop, etc. or other themes like Kamikaze Girls (FREE movie @8:30pm on Friday 8/14 at Japantown's Peace Plaza), anime DVDs, manga, cute stationery, Japanese electronic gadgets and toys, Harajuku fashion, DokiDoki, etc. you've finally found your mecca at this brand new building in SF. The first of its kind in the USA. It's worth 5-stars because it's a welcome addition to the SF's Japantown area since losing the iconic Japantown Bowl long ago. Hopefully, this will revitalize the area. The most striking feature of the new building is the modern glass facade (like a mini version of the downtown Macy's store), compared to the older buildings around it. Yes, it does have a lot of girly fashion, but it also has many other things that appeal to everyone. The hours are a little odd, so the info below is for reference. The retail shops occupies the first 2 floors. The main floor is open Mon-Fri noon-8pm & Sat-Sun 11am-8pm, fashion clothes and accessories are on the 2nd floor (11am-7pm). The top floor is an art gallery (SuperFrog Gallery) featuring artists of Japanese pop culture (Noon-6pm, closed on Mondays). The restrooms located on the 2nd and 3rd floors feature interesting artwork. There's a movie theatre in the basement, Viz Cinema (Mon-Fri 2-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm) - many years ago this was located at the Sony Metreon, but that one was free. Here tickets are $10 ($8 for matinee). The Café (8am-8pm) at the main entrance, features Blue Bottle Coffee, XOX chocolate truffles - yummy!!, bento boxes/pork cutlet sandwich/curry from Delica rf-1 (shop at Ferry Building), and teas from Ito En. read more

New People - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Five stars for the originality alone! Movie theatre in the underground floor, cafe on the main floor and shopping and art on the upper levels. The main boutique area has unique items from Japan, but tend to be on the pricier side. Things I liked were the handheld manual paper shredder and J-POP souvenir mugs. Upstairs, just like at a Japanese department store, there are mini "stores" within the building. One in particular has the "Lolita" fashion featuring the style that reminds me of Holly Hobbie-meets-Little Bo Peep. Not exactly my cuppa tea, but it is refreshing to see lacy petticoats as opposed to the whole sexy schoolgirl look that used to be in. Out of curiosity, I picked up the price tag. Whoa $300 to look like a grown up doll?!? Other stores were the "tabi" Vans. Well, not really Vans, but similar except you have the split toe and the requisite socks to go with them. Really cool fabrics! They were around $90 or so. Another shop that just opened featured air plants and moss balls. The perfect place to pick up something for the person who has everything. Unfortunately the art gallery was shut, so I couldn't check it out. But next time I'm in J-town, I'm definitely coming back! read more

NEW PEOPLE (they prefer their name be all in caps), a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, announces its long-awaited Grand Opening on August 15th. The 20,000 square foot structure features a striking glass façade& holds a theatre, retail, art, & food all under one four-storied roof. The celebration will be accompanied by the J-POP SUMMIT Festival 2009, a pop culture-themed street fair that covers the grounds of Post Street from Webster to Buchanan to the Peace Plaza of Japantown, San Francisco. This year's festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation w/ the Japantown Merchants Association, & centered around the grand opening of the NEW PEOPLE building. The official tape cutting ceremony at 11:00 a.m., & after the traditional Kagami-wari (breaking of the sake barrel), NEW PEOPLE will open its doors to public at 12:00 p.m.. The grand opening finale is a glamorous, day-long, red carpet premiere event of the Japanese hit movie 20th Century Boys at 5:00 p.m. (the screening starts at 6:00 p.m.), after a series of pop culture panels w/ a variety of guests from Tokyo & the local community, at the J-POP SUMMIT Stage co-presented by Yelp! in front of NEW PEOPLE. Yelp!, the Japantown Merchants Association, Japan Society of Northern California, Hotel Tomo!, Japan Airline, Sapporo, Itoen, MTV/Iggy, Japan Nite, JTF, & ShoChikuBai are amongst the sponsors of this event. Yoshitaka Amano Exclusive Exhibition Opening Famed artist Amano makes a rare U.S. appearance to personally open NEW PEOPLE's SUPERFROG Gallery w/ his newest exhibit, DEVA LOKA USA. He is renowned for designing the characters for the hit video game, Final Fantasy, as well as for anime films including Vampire Hunter D, Final Fantasy, & Front Mission. Amano hosts a panel discussion at 12:00pm on the Main Stage in front of NEW PEOPLE w/ a rare autograph opportunity scheduled from 4:00-5:00pm. www.superfroggallery.com. Special Movie Premiere Event VIZ Cinema, which is located in the basement of NEW PEOPLE, invites visitors to the country's first movie theatre w/ a dedicated Japanese film program & will cap off the day's celebrations w/ the San Francisco premiere of 20th Century Boys, an action film based on themanga comic by Naoki Urasawa. www.vizcinema.com Gothic & Lolita Extravaganza The influence of Japanese Harajuku fashion is undeniable & NEW PEOPLE welcomes four edgy labels from Tokyo's hippest fashion district - Baby, The Stars Shine, Bright Black Peace Now, 6%DOKIDOKI & SOU * SOU; each opens its own brand boutique on the building's second floor. There will be a Gothic & Lolita Fashion Show presented by Baby, The Stars Shine Bright & Black Peace Now on the Main Stage in front of NEW PEOPLE at 1:30pm. Harajuku Kawaii Makeover Other couture fun continues at the Harajuku Kawaii Experience at Peace Plaza, located just adjacent to NEW PEOPLE. A Harajuku fashion makeover contest is scheduled for 12:00pm & will award a free trip to Tokyo, Japan to the lucky winner who will be transformed into the most convincing Harajuku girl. Finalists' fashion show & announcement of the award will take place at 3:00-4:00pm. Appearing at 4:15 will be OMODAKA, a duo that offers an ambient & ethereal sound-mixing Minyo (Japanese traditional-flavored folk music) & electronic music, & a special performance art dance piece by fashion label 6%DOKIDOKI. A Harajuku Kawaii-themed dance party will continue in the plaza from 5:00-6:00pm. Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion NEW PEOPLE, in co-sponsorship w/ MTV Iggy & Japan Airlines, also presents the Japan Nite Special: Girls Rock Explosion! as part of the first annual 2009 J-Pop Summit Festival, also in Peace Plaza. A special mini-concert begins at 12:45pm & features the punk & alternative rock sounds of TsuShiMaMiRe, Red Bacteria Vacuum, & Noodles. Yuichi Yokoyama's Art performance & Autograph Session Yokoyama, the Eisner Award-nominated creator of New Engineering & Travel, illustrated the abstract faces that adorn the manga balloon inspired interior walls of NEW PEOPLE The Store, which is located on the mezzanine level & was designed to be not only a retail space, but also a giant art installation. NEW PEOPLE The Store offers Japanese products that include apparel, accessories, books, toys, DVDs, music, & design items for the home & office. Yokoyama will have a live painting performance at 12:00pm & will do a special autograph session at NEW PEOPLE The Store at 3:00-4:00pm. http://www.newpeopleworld.com/wp-content/themes/wp_newpeople/pdf/Event_Guide0717.pdf Santa's Yelper sez: "Wow, I never realised that there are so many lolita fashion devotees here!!!" :::staring in amazement at the multitude of young women dressed up in Baby, the Stars Shine Bright clothing::: read more

New People - NEW PEOPLE - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had read about New People in a recent issue of Travel&Leisure and had the chance to wander through the J-Pop/Harajuku/Animae shop/cinema/coffee bar/gallery on a beautiful afternoon in the city. The one-stop, multi-level store is filled with eye-popping, bright colors of anything and everything created by Japanese artists --- stationery and cute trinkets; toys and robots; flowery, plaid dresses and ruffled tube tops to wear with 5-inch platform boots; stuff for guys; plus so many other things I hadn't seen. Sensory overload. Its worth stopping by if you're in the area... if not to purchase, then just to explore. Neat things (albeit a tad pricey) in every department. Gwen Stefani would surely smile. read more

I come here from time to time for film events. The tea shop at the ground floor is way cramped. But the theater is so comfy, and you know, they have those awesome Japanese electronic toilets -- do check it out. Did you notice there's like zero cell phone or data reception downstairs? Guess that's a good thing. read more

Drove all the way out from Vallejo to check out NEW PEOPLE. We walked in and expected exactly what expected, J-POP galore! I swear this place was so clean, I could of walked in with my white gloves and leave with white gloves. Of course everything is the ultimate Kawaii and cute-cute-cute but expensive-expensive-expensive. I remember seeing headphones that were just too cool for school because it was in the hottest florescent color to sport and all for $45. There was so many books and how-tos to be found. I especially loved all the cute stationary. Go upstairs and you'll find all the Gothic Lolita wear that will get your Harajuku side up and at 'em. The top floor is the gallery to where the Deva Loka USA by Yoshitaka Amano. Although it was very minimal work being presented, I still have a thing for quality anime. I liked this place because it is so J-POP but definitely too expensive for my taste. read more

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Went back to New People to see if I could see the SUPERFROG Gallery. Yay it was open! They Don't allow pics, but I was able to take some before the guy gave me the hairy eyeball. Bathrooms on the Right of the 3rd Fl before the gallery. Separate men/women bathrooms. Women's is just 1 toilet/sink. It was a NEOREST toilet, though I didn't test if the wash features were working. Tried the Flush button on the NEOREST - didn't work! read more

Apparently New People shopping center opened in late 2009 and I have never even heard of it until now! The entrance is kind of small and there aren't any flashy signs or banners so maybe that's why you can easily walk by and miss it. I only noticed it because there was someone standing outside promoting Ayumi Seto's signing at the mall for her new store "Aymmy". When you walk in, there's an adorable high tea cafe on the right called "Crown and Crumpet." It looks like a life-size version of a little girl's tea party set. So cute! I definitely have to come back to try it. Also, I think there is a movie theater downstairs, but I have yet to check that out. On the second floor is "Aymmy," a fashion brand inspired by the lifestyle of a 17-year old Californian with a Japanese punk rock edge to it. The employees here all dolled up. One of them even looks like she can pass as a mannequin! The third floor has "Sou Sou" ("yes yes" in Japanese), which is a fashion store that incorporates modern design with traditional Japanese traditions and culture. You can see it clearly through their items. For instance, the wardrobe for men are long and loose, with the colors, style, and cut resembling that of a yukata (but of course more modernized and wearable for the modern times). They also have "Baby, The Stars Shine Bright" (featured in "Kamikaze Girls"), which is a Japanese boutique chain that sells Victorian-era inspired Lolita fashion, specifically 'Sweet Lolita' (pastel colors, ruffles, pink shades, basically anything outrageously over-the-top girly and doll-like). This is the first store that opened in the US! It's expensive here, but it's a cute place to check out. The fitting rooms are adorable and girly. Too bad no photography is allowed. read more

New People - Cute cafe on 1st floor - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Uhm, very modern and hime place to shop? This is a 3 story shop with interesting things for sale. First floor has a coffe shop with really overpowering coffe smell. 2nd floor is tech gadgets, diy art, and random home decor stuff. I really like the paper art. 3rd floor is a hime's dream come true. Lots of clothes for your dress-up fantasies. Didn't buy anything though, quite out of my price range. Oh yea, a hime dress? That'll be $300 + tax. read more

Three floors of j-culture things to look through! Tea & Crumpets on the first floor is cute, but honestly not worth the money for an afternoon tea. So aesthetic though, and there's a private party room on an upper floor too! There are three j-fashion stores on the second and third floor, including the Baby The Stars Shine Bright flagship stores, but as with all j-fashion, the dresses are cute and hellishly expensive. There are also two escape rooms, one on the highest floor and one in the basement with the cinema! We didn't have time to do an escape room, but maybe next time. I'd love to come for one of the film fests, too. But!! The highlight of this review is the bathroom on the third floor by the Sou-Sou store. It's decorated in kind of a creepy manner (ants and twin girls on the walls, with red lighting by the sink), but!! There is a Japanese toilet seat!!! The heated seat makes for a very nice bathroom experience, though I couldn't get the bidet portion of it to work (boo). Fun to visit and see all the crazy fashion, especially the beautiful sales associates that are dressed up for the stores, too. Come and take it in! read more

New People - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

A Japanese Language/Culture Lesson (sort of): Ano, chotto matte (wait a minute). Nihon desuka?? (Am I in Japan??) Those were the thoughts pinging in my head when I first arrived at Japantown's (Nihonmachi) newest hauteSpot - New People. In Japan, the newest/foreign - see: H&M, Forever 21, Gap, and others -department stores (depaato) that line the Tokyo streets all have a Hip (hippu), chic (shikku. no, not shiko - thats pee in Japanese ;P) and uberTrendy feel to them. New People has that same feeling. And New People gives us a real taste of Tokyo's J-Pop culture. Entering the building, you'll find yourself in a bit of a quandary: Where to go first. Here's a little guide: If you're looking to catch the latest J-Pop related anime/movies (eiga) , head downstairs - the Basement. Just be sure to check out the website (http://newpeopleworld.com/) prior to you visit, to find out what movies they are showing. Food: If you need it, its at the Cafe as soon as you enter - 1F. Pricewise, uhm... there are a lot of ther places to eat around J-Town. If you head upstairs - Mezzanine, you'll hit the Shop. Here you'll find books, trinkets, toys, and accessories conveying J-Pop's influence. From everything cute (kawaii), bizarre (hennakoto), and awesome (sugoi) - you'll find alot of J-Pop goodness all in one location. Making your way to fashion floor - 2F, you'll find yourself in a more "traditional" Mall environment. And by "traditional," I mean a place where you'll find style/fashion, buy clothes (fuku), try on shoes (kutsu), and put on some accessories. Street Fashion. Lolita-style clothing. Harajuku Cute style. Even fashionable ninja shoes (aka Tabi). On the top floor, the SUPERFLOG Gallery - 3F. For the true/aspiring/admiring artiste, the Gallery is an awesome (sugoi) exhibition area to enjoy Art from Artists influenced by J-Pop culture. Although we can no longer order our Loco Moco's at Denny's, or knock down pins at the Bowling Alley - the aesthetic feel of Japantown has changed into something New. Something fresh. Something for New People to visit. And for San Francisco - its all g-doubleOH-dee-good. read more

New People - iPhone foto. Sug(enj)oi! Who's that in the reflexion? - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I didn't know that SFFS had a cinema 1 block down from Kabuki theater (Sundance Cinemas on Post street). Alex O. and I went there today for the first time to watch a Japanese indy movie. The seats are comfortable, however the fabric seems to be "pleather-esque" so a lot of sliding back and forth. Sound and picture quality are good, and the facilities are very clean. There's a cafe on the main entrance floor, and the theater is 1 floor below. I'd come back for other independent films. read more

New People - Cool light fixtures - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ok first off, the light in this place is beautiful. The trendy kitschy pop twee art is good too. But are you going to a museum? If so then it's missing the art and the 20 clams admission that prepares you for the museum cafe price tag of the coffee here. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing some Lolita-decked out patrons walking by, but paying $6 for a cappuccino is ridic. Also for some reason they list flatulence alongside 'eats' 'fashion' and 'goods' on their classy minimalist type wall. I'm coming back for the films and the Lolitas but not the 6 dollar coffee. read more

New People - No one noticed it says 3 Farts????? - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is specifically about the theater at New People, now home to the San Francisco Film Society. I went the other night for Film Socialisme and was super impressed by the interior. It's kind of hard to describe, but the ceiling and walls had this sort of geometric effect with the way lights were all spaced out. And with it being a new facility, the sound and screen were both excellent. Definitely expect to be returning quite a bit for the rest of the year's festivals. read more

I thought I would write a quick update and tell everyone to come on Sat!!! thats tomorrow, there will be a J-Pop summit festival with live performances, food vendors, A Gothic/Lolita fashion show and many more exciting events. Its from 11am-6pm. Of Course the New People building itself will be open but you need to get tickets to get in. Tickets are available starting at 930am http://www.newpeopleworld.com/wp-content/uploads/red-booth-REVISED.jpg Hope to see alot of Yelpers out there! I would like to meet more of you!! read more

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This place is interesting to say the least. Interesting is probably an understatement. I came during the Cherry Blossom Festival with my boyfriend and wasn't quite sure what to make of the place. Visually it's awesome - an all glass, towering, modern structure. Inside, each floor houses different shops selling different things, from art to quirky gifts, eco-friendly wares, lolita fashion, jewelry, and other varying items. My only problem? The majority of stuff here is pretty expensive, and honestly I can't really understand why. I really don't want to pay a hundred dollars for a pair of slippers made from recycled paper, nor do I see the attraction in paying thirty dollars for a hat that looks like a chicken, no matter how adorable it is and how much I, erm, kind of wanted it anyway. Blue Bottle Coffee is downstairs for all of the rabid fans of the place, and Black Peace Now is on an upper floor for people into the gothic lolita craze. I included an extra star for the review of New People simply because of how unique the open layout is on each floor and how entertaining walking around and shopping in here can be. I would return here simply to see what's new, but not really with the intention of buying anything. I will say though, that the jewelry artists who had their wares set up here were incredibly impressive and made beautiful work. New People is worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

I am so bummed. So I spend MUCH time in this neighborhood due to having a chorister rehearsing near here. I first stopped in about a month ago and queried the coffee guys about their selections, baked goods, etc. Very friendly at that point, said the baked goods were all made by the owner's wife. I bought a matcha cookie which was delicious, and had a cappucinno to go - also good. Today took in the two kids to get some homework out of the way before chorus rehearsal. They each got an orange/something or other muffiin which were moist and delicious. Unfortunately, I ordered the green tea muffin, which I could have used to throw through their 2" glass windows and taken them out, no problem. So I returned to the counter, and let them know that, gee, my muffin's flavor seems good, but it's extremely dry. No reponse. Uh, I say, the muffin seems very old and dry. "Well, I think it was just baked yesterday." Me: unbelieving gaze that this is the reply. He: "I'll let them know." Who is this "them" of whom he speaks? And does this "them" understand that now I'm pissed? No offer of "please, let me replace that for you since you just bought three muffins and a cappuccino, and oh yeah, we'd like the customer to like our food." Also not thrilled with the fact that they have several tables but coffee can only be had in to-go containers. Of course, I can bring my own cup next time....oh, wait...there won't be a next time. Too bad. read more

Very very odd J-Pop type thing. I saw thing because they have a cafe in the front, a movie theater for japanese movies, upstairs there is some art and then a random J-pop store where everything is odd and super expensive. Wayyyyyy too much for me, but maybe ok for rich money wasters. I saw 3 very asian, maybe japanese peoples. And 4 wanna be japanese white peoples. 2 of which looked super J-popped out, they even did the weird walk with your knees together thing. It was interesting but I don't see ever spending money here. read more

Came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Very cute place--they sell little trinkets here and there that are overpriced, but nice to look at. The energy i felt from the store was great--wished i spent more time in there! There was also a Coffee shop in the store--Blue Bottle Company, i think. Got a cup of Joe, and it was delicious; I can't remember the exact name, but it was coffee, with milk, and a hint of sugar. Delicious! Kinda odd for a store to sell you food on the first floor, but won't allow you to bring in food and drinks on the second floor. read more

A big, modern, interactive art gallery. Although New People was promised to us as a shopping center, mall, department store type of place.. it's hard to feel that way when you step through those heavy glass doors. I have a tendency to associate Japan with 2 things: cuteness and happiness. New People has plenty of cuteness, but not enough happiness. Too many signs that remind me that I can't drink, eat, take pictures, return, exchange, touch, open. Love the books, the overpriced kitchen gadgetry, the EGL store, the white stairwalls with drawings, the pretty cube speakers, the carousel. I think it's a fabulous idea to bring a glimpse of Japanese pop culture to SF, and all 3 stars go to that, but I feel all too serious when I walk in here to truly be able to enjoy myself. So I admire and point quietly, afraid that I might irritate someone. New People, why so serious? read more

New People - view from the stairs - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Is it a store or a museum? How about both plus a cafe (serving blue bottle coffee), theatre (featuring indie Japanese films), art gallery (with cartoon art from the artist of the Final Fantasy series)? New People is definitely worthy of a visit. This multi-floor, very modern and absolutely cute space is on Post Street in Japan Town. The first floor offers very cute novelty items like the moving face piggy bank, towels that look like cakes, and cute figurines. The second floor offers men's and women's clothing. The women's dresses are straight out of Japan and the "boutique' is so cute you don't even want to try on the clothes, you just want to admire the scene (think living adult dollhouse). There is also a special Harajuki section complete with a Harajuku girl! The third floor is an art gallery space currently featuring anime art work right now but could be a great space for a party or get-together. This place is darling and very cute (I just can't use another word to describe it other than maybe kawaii =). Even if you don't buy anything, it's worth a visit. read more

I feel like I just stepped into my coffee book, of "Fruits." Each level has something for you to discover and open your mind. My favorite is looking at the girls dressed in the underground Japanese street culture. They look super cute and make me want to dress up like that, however I can't, too curvy. Boo! Anywho, the bathrooms have your classic seat warmers and bidet. Yesssshhhhh! There is a cinema located downstairs. I'm curious and want to check it out. I super love this place and for sure want to come back. I think I'm a Japanese girl stuck in a mixed Mexican/American body. read more

On my 2nd trip to SF in my life, I came to this spot after having a few sweets for breakfast across the street. I really enjoyed walking around the second floor and poking every little toy and trinket. Walking up to the third floor was a bit pointless but I was curious to see what was up there. A few clothes and a miniature merry-go-round. I would've rode the merry-go-round but I think it would've been inappropriate so back down I go. There are some uniquely flavored popcorns on the first floor. Should've gotten some but I think we had enough junk food for breakfast. Before we left we found someone sleeping next to the windows in the front. Sorry but I took your picture! http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/Dgxspat3EGd93wOntizbNg/l read more

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This place is like those exotic poisonous plants: great for looking, but not worth taking/buying anything. It's too expensive :P The bottom level is a movie theater and they've shown some pretty good features! The movies are always Japanese films and they range from comedies, horror, etc. When you first enter though, you're on the level with the cafe (they have GREEN TEA BROWNIES!! :O) and the cool/random Japanese stuff store! Seriously, it's SO COOL. I love going in to just look and gawk at the most completely mind-boggling items! Faux grass wallets?! Towels and candles made to look like orgasmic desserts?! YES please! If you need a notebook, address book, or stationary, they have that too! The next level has all the clothes, accessories, and shoes. There's Baby, which carries those cutesy Lolita style dresses and accessories. I'd personally never wear that stuff, but it's really fun to look at...and think how ridiculous it is to spend $200+ on one of the dresses o.O Black Peace Now has all the gothic/punk clothing. Sou is really cool and I might, just MIGHT, end up shelling out $100 for a pair of their "tabi" style shoes! Maybe I could fit a kid's size... The last level is an art gallery, so depending if there's a show, it may or may not be blocked off. read more

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I was dying to visit this place for a week and on the last day I finally got to visit here. Throughout the week they have been closed early. Inside there is a tea and sandwich place on the first floor followed by little shops on the second floor. There was a no picture policy for the shops sadly but the dresses there were cute and expensive. The sandwich crumpet place downstairs was also pricey but for the experience why not... I also found out that escape the room challenges are also hosted here. Next time i am here i will try this challenge with my friends read more

New People - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here for Escape from the Puzzle Room: A group of friends and I played along with a family of three and we had a blast! It was definitely a really good bonding experience, for both my friends and I and our group with that family! Location: Located in Japan town; in this shopping center on the second floor, next to a Rilakkuma store. It was a little hard to find at first because there were no specific signs. Game: We had exactly 1 hour to find the key to unlock ourselves from the room. There were hints and puzzles all around the room; everything was varied and super interesting. There were certain things you had to rearrange, take apart and examine. When the staff tells you to search the room, you legit have to SEARCH THE ROOM. Search for every possible thing that you can because that anything could be your clue. To me, the best part was after 40 minutes, we finally found the answer to this mystery crossword... only to find out that we only managed to solve the FIRST part of the game! Little did we know, there were many other parts, which we had to solve. All in all, we lost but it was THE BEST EXPERIENCE! Service: Staffs were very nice and funny! You could easily converse with them. The staff that you first meet at the entrance will likely become the person that will supervise your group when you enter the room. She was very kind but one thing I did not like was she tried helping us and gave us hints. She obviously meant well and wanted to see us be that 30% that ever managed to escape the room but obviously, we were the 70% that lost.. but I'd rather her not help us and lose than help us and still be a sore loser. Overall, the hour was well-spent! read more

New People - Our group being sore losers - Shopping Centers Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I walked in here desperate to find an Xmas gift for my nephew. I bought my Niece a kimono but when I went to the place that has the cool Japanese pajamas I was told they no longer had them for boys. I walked into New People not expecting much and they didn't deliver much. To be fair I didn't see the theater in the basement or the gallery on the third floor. The cafe at the entrance looked decent if a bit cold and sterile. I went up the stairs a bit and had a glimmer of hope when I saw what I thought was a toy store; I quickly realized the few toys there were geared toward childish adults. The place was sparsely stocked with unusual Asian bric-a-brac with no instructions or explanations in English I was in there about five minutes before I realized the store wasn't for me. I figured that since I was there I should look around a bit more and went up a few more steps to the second floor. As far as I can tell all they have up there are two different gothloli clothing boutiques; I was there less than five minutes. If you are looking for a piece of unusual junk that someone will look at once and then throw into a drawer or you are involved in some kind of kinky cosplay scene this place might be a good fit for you; I doubt I'll be back. read more

Equivalents: Large Shrimp Tempura without Large Shrimp. Una-Don without Unagi. Pork cabbage Dumpling without Pork cabbage. Tekka-Don without Maguro. oh, I think this is it. How about .... a Hot dog without dog! There is nothing new about the place. Really! I came here lookin' for X'mas present. But I AIN'T FIND SHIT! What a waste! Piece of shit. Let's talk about Fxxxin' Tokyo-crap shall we? 1st of all, there is NOTHING in the 3rd floor that supposed to be a gallery. It is empty. Wait a minute. I remember there was something on the wall. Oh sorry, it was just a 70's wall paper. 2nd of all, What the Fxxx with J-Pop? Screw the J-Pop idiots. MozaFxxxer! I do wish it'll go down. Or, Do something really different. Sell something good and reasonable. This is Pseudo J-Pop to me. 3rd of all, There is Nothing to purchase for X'mas present at all. NOTHING. as I said, I came here lookin' for X'mas present. But I AIN'T FIND SHIT! NOTHING IN HERE! I just wondering who is paying the rent? What a waste piece of shit! About J-Pop, I still go "GAMAGO" up the street. By the way, Don't take the elevator. Take the stairs all the way to the 3rd floor and come right back down twice. That'll be a great exercise for after lunch. read more

A very modern building, the lots of glass facing the street. The three floors of this place showcases "Japanese cinema, retail and art, all under one roof." After our little shopping spree at Ichiban Kan, we headed across the street to check this place out. The first floor is the New People Store. There's stationery, pens, toys, bags, stamps,.... Fun to look at, high end stuff, not your Ichiban Kan Stuff. The second floor is where all the "fashion boutiques" are located. There are 4 stores in on this floor. We quickly browsed through each store, but the kids liked the %6Dokidoki store, particularly the little carousal that faced the street. The sales person turned it on for them for a few spins. The third floor is the Superfrog art Gallery. An earlier Yelper described it as Stanley Kubrick-isque, with art posted on very stark white walls. Think of "Clockwork Orange." I liked the design of the building, but for myself, not overly impressed with the stores. What did impress us? The high-tech Japanese toilets on the 3rd floor. There's a motion sensor that detects when someone enters the bathroom, which will result in the lid lifting up. There's seat warmers, sprayers and fans for your underside. My wife, daughters, and one of their friends were quite impressed with this piece of technology. I waited at least 15 minutes for them to come out. The toilets themselves would bump it up another star! read more

It's almost unfair for me to write this review as I am so predisposed in my personal tastes and predilections toward all that New People embodies, something truly horrible would have to occur during a visit for me to be anything less than enthralled. The restroom on the second floor alone has more creative flair and artistry than many art galleries in this city. Yes, it's difficult to tell if the sales people are working retail or part of an in-house exhibition. I love that. I hummed and smiled and floated through the store. I marveled at the newest frilly J pop-tart fashion from Baby the Stars Shine Bright, I went nuts in the Superfrog gallery getting goosebumps from the exhibits...the overall "kawaii" factor had me in a glazed state of hyper-happy. I love that New People is here. Please stay here. My only wish for change is to expand the cafe. New People can do better than Delica Bento boxes as the only savory choice. I know you can. I believe in you. Five super cute, perfectly formed with ethereal paper, origami stars. read more

I don't get it; this place is too hip for the likes of me, though GREAT for people watching. There were many selfconsciously wearing Lolita / goth clothes -- as if it were their first times or as if they were in costume. Reminiscent of when my sister first started wearing heels, I kept wanting to pull one or another aside and say, "sister, if you're going to wear it, you need to rock it!" My favorites were the well-designed knick knack displays on that first level up a half flight of stairs. An umbrella with its own stand? GENIUS (though klutzy me kept knocking one over). Still, I didn't buy anything. Correction, I did buy a Blue Bottle New Orleans Iced Coffee. So the trip was not at all wasted. Side note: have you ever watched a hot woman who, wearing heels, walked like a gorilla? PRACTICE, ladies! read more

Totemo kawaii ne?! I bet this is what it's like to shop at Shibuya 109, but sadly we're gifted with this menial version of it. It's a one up from whatever we had before in the Bay Area, especially for those who are really into the Elegant Gothic Lolita look, or quirky Japanese fashion. Ooh you can also get your nails done too while deciding on which delicious beverage to order from the first floor. I don't remember the rest of the vendors coz I was just too excited about knowing that Baby the Stars Shine Bright has a branch here. If you're not too familiar with the brand, I suggest affiliating yourself with the movie Kamikaze Girls (live action). I think they have every sort of odd Harajuku trend covered because I do recall seeing a lot of gothic/yanki style and those 5inch platformed shoes that I often see people wearing in FRUiTS magazine. P.S. please note that they don't allow pictures inside, so if you can't help yourself, you gotta bust your ninja skills and avoid getting caught. read more