It is not an exaggeration to say that Ikseon-dong already has been the hippest spot in Seoul— and this old neighborhood is back at it again with new eye-popping stores. Among them is The Shelf, a retail store specialized in European footwear. While most of the so-called “hot places” in the area are housed in a renovated hanok (Korean traditional building), it is one that particularly captivates the eyes and hearts of the passerby.
Most recognizable brand showcased inside would be Superga, the “people’s shoes of Italy” founded in 1911. Along with Gola which started in 1905 as a small workshop in the UK, Spanish handmade-shoe brand Maian and eco-friendly footwear Potomac, it completes an indeed classic line-up for the equally classic venue and neighborhood. Soon, The shop will carefully select a theme and a brand to be specially showcased for each season.
Shelf Ikseon also offers a café space for customers. “Coffee at a shoe store?” I thought at first, but it’s quite good, actually. It also offers beers including Peroni, Estrella, and Guinness representing the countries of the main brands which The Shelf carries. If you’ve decided to see how this rather strange combination of a hanok shoe shop and beer feels like, don’t leave the place without visiting the rooftop: overlooking Ikseon-dong, it is a perfect spot for light day-drinking.