An Insider’s Guide to Idols’ Side Gigs: Super Junior Members’ Family-Owned Cafés

As idol groups' popularity increases and idols become more well-known overseas, it is not at all uncommon for the parents and family members of these idol stars to open up businesses, such as cafés, restaurants, and even language schools. The idol stars who are already rising in popularity often purchase chain stores as a gift for their parents to be managed under their care.

One of these popular idol groups that have opened up family-owned businesses is none other than Super Junior. Almost each member of Super Junior has owned, owns, or plans to own family businesses. Most of the businesses are handled by their parents or siblings, as the members themselves are often busy promoting and working, both in Korea and abroad.

These businesses often then become a tourist attraction and popular hangout spot for fans, who may sometimes be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of their favorite idol working as waiter or cashier at the café or restaurant. Some dedicated fans may even trek all the way to simply sit at the café, in hopes of making a good impression on the mother of the idol husband-to-be of their dreams.

Although family members of idols are often able to make good profits due to the popularity of the idols, the place can often be over-packed by excited fans and thus drive away normal customers who do not visit for the purpose of idol-seeing. Nonetheless, these famous family-owned businesses are must-visit sites for K-Pop fans who have the privilege of traveling to Seoul!

For dedicated E.L.F., businesses owned by Super Junior members are crucial attractions, since the members are often busy with their own individual activities and seldom show up at the main S.M. Entertainment building. Moreover, the members themselves have been sighted working and helping their family at their businesses.

For your convenience, we have compiled a list of Super Junior's family-owned businesses, starting with the Kona Beans Café owned by the mothers of Kyuhyun, Sungmin, and Leeteuk. The café is located in Apgujeong, and serves coffee, smoothies, and baked goods. Once you enter, you will see pictures of the three Super Junior members hung around the café. Almost always, at least one Super Junior member's mother works in the back near the restrooms, and when she is not busy with work, she sometimes chats with fans and takes photos with them!

Address: 13 Apgujeong-ro 42-gil (640-9 Sinsa-dong) Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Exit 2 at Apgujeong Stations (Line 3), turn around to walk straight passing Hyundai Oilbank gas station, then turn left at Blacksmith restaurant

Eunhyuk's mother has also opened a bakery café in Guro-gu, Seoul. Members Donghae and Eunhyuk were recently spotted at his mother's Tous Les Jours bakery in early April (see video below). Fans have recorded videos of Eunhyuk frequently stopping by the bakery to work as cashier and server. Since the size of the bakery is quite small, E.L.F. are advised not to linger there too long, as it would create too much of an inconvenience for Eunhyuk's mother.  

Address: High End Building, Underground 5B1 floor, No.105, Digital-ro 26-gil street, Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Exit 3 at Guro Digital Complex Station (Line 2), walk straight, turn left at apartments no. 102 and 101 on left corner, walk straight until Ace High-End Tower 1 building and continue to lower floor

Yesung, who is now serving in the army, and his brother have opened a café called Mouse Rabbit as well. Although his previously-owned café "Handel and Gretel" is now closed, fans can sometimes see him working at Mouse Rabbit serving coffee and ringing up orders. E.L.F were delighted to be served by him at the grand opening last November.

Official website: https://blog.naver.com/mouse_rabbit
Directions: Exit 2 at Konkuk University Station (Line 2), turn left to walk straight, turn left at Samsung Mobile shop, then walk to find Mouse Rabbit on your right

The most recent of all, Siwon is temporarily owning a coffee shop called Twosome Coffee for three months. A large poster of him is hung outside on the windows, and Siwon has tweeted several times of his visit. Since the café is located in one of the main tourist sites, Myeongdong, it would be a place that is very easy to find for foreign E.L.F.!

Directions: Exit 6 at Myeongdong Station (Line 4), walk straight, turn right at Myeongdong Theater, walk to see Twosome Coffee on second level

Other than businesses in Seoul, Super Junior members also expanded their family businesses overseas. Kyuhyun's father now owns three Korean language schools in Taiwan, and the schools have been reported to have as many as 1,800 students studying Korean.

Donghae's brother also owns a café and waffle shop in Taiwan, where subunit Super Junior-M has been actively promoting in the past. The café is called "The Grand Place," and when Donghae was visiting the shop in late February, so many fans swarmed to catch a glimpse of him that he could hardly get through to the entrance.

Last but not least, Shindong has taken a different route with his business by opening not a bakery nor a coffee shop, but a PC room, also known as an internet café. The place is called "Shindong's DraQra PC Castle" and he has opened two branches in Myeonmok and Sinchon. Heechul tweeted his presence at the PC Castle once in April of last year.

The success of Super Junior in Korea and abroad has extended to include their family-owned businesses. These places are popular attractions for E.L.F., who would love to visit the businesses of their favorite idols at least once in their lifetime!

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