[Scone Exploration] Two Doors... A Convenience Store Different by Day and Night

Not Enough Just Once... Door to Seongsu

Editor's NoteWords like ‘special, hot place, limited-time popup store’ instantly make your heart race. It’s because you’re curious what exactly makes these places so special and different that so many people flock to them. You might not want to revisit places you’ve already been, but you don’t want to miss out on the HOT spots others are going to. If you want to visit somewhere truly special, you’ve come to the right place. DrinKit editors have explored various stores and are here to share their experiences. Introducing Scon Exploration (Special Concept Store Exploration)! Were the editors able to truly catch a ‘special scent’ at the places they visited?

In today’s era where premium and luxury strategies are popular, even convenience stores have jumped on the upscale trend. Meet ‘Door to Seongsu,’ located in Seongsu-dong. ‘Door to’ is a new premium flagship store brand launched by GS25, with Seongsu being the first location. Upon opening, a Butterbeer popup store by Boulangerie Beurre started, and more popups are expected in the future. So, DrinKit headed straight to Seongsu to check it out.

The entrance of Door to Seongsu. The left entrance feels like a cafe entrance, while the right entrance feels like a pub entrance.

As seen in the entrance photos, the center is decorated with Butterbeer, fitting for a popup store, giving off a quite sophisticated vibe. As a popular product, it stands out not only in taste but also visually.

However, one slight downside is that despite the large floor space, it doesn’t feel very spacious. Of course, it’s quite large for a convenience store, but seating areas are located inside, while the entrance area is filled with many products on display. In terms of space utilization, it still retains the feel of a convenience store.

Using the Butterbeer decoration as a reference, the left side is the cafe area, and the right side is the pub area. You can get espresso, latte, Americano, and more without needing to visit a separate cafe.

When drinking inside the store, instead of takeout cups like a regular cafe, store-exclusive cups are provided, and you can pay at the self-checkout counter. Next, let’s take a look at the pub area.

Personally, I was much more drawn to the pub side than the cafe. That’s because you can sample beer and wine. Especially the wine, which is available in various products at affordable prices, allowing you to taste without having to buy a whole bottle. Additionally, there are snacks to enjoy with champagne and wine, giving the feel of a professional pub.

Next, I explored the inside of Door to Seongsu. Exclusive products only available at GS25 are displayed, and inside, there are tables arranged in a modern and simple style.

Overall, it was satisfying, but it was a pity that the photo booth was not operating due to rain that day. It is said that it does not operate in rainy weather, so if you plan to visit specifically for that, it’s best to check the weather in advance.

To sum up ‘Door to Seongsu’ in one phrase, it’s the charm of ‘specialness that leaves you wanting more after just one visit.’ Unlike typical convenience stores, it reduces the variety of displayed products and focuses on private brand (PB) items and exclusive products. It can be seen as a unique cafe & pub with the accessibility of a convenience store, offering various special products and beer and wine tastings. Also, rather than visiting just once for the popup store experience, since it’s a ‘Door to’ brand store, it’s a place with strong originality where you can regularly visit and enjoy events and popups as they happen.

With anticipation for what events will be held from December, I bought Butterbeer and headed home, already planning to visit again.

Four-character review: “See you next time”

Photo by Seo Jeongjun