Currently, a unusual cafe with a placing resemblance to an office area has been making waves on social media, sparking some intense debates.
The concept of consuming in an office-like setting has left many scratching their heads—or outright rejecting the thought. “Probably one of the most stressful environments to dine in,” somebody famous.
One other quipped, “I know I’m gonna walk into this cafe and start submitting reports and spreadsheets to the waiters for no reason.”
After which there was the blunt dismissal: “I don’t wanna be reminded of the office on my day off. Thank you, next.”
Naturally, all this buzz piqued our curiosity. What was the story behind Ah Wong Office? We determined to dig deeper to uncover the inspiration behind this seemingly weird concept.
A legacy rooted in custom
The story of Ah Wong Office begins with a story of household, heritage, and a permanent love for conventional Malaysian espresso. The origins of the enterprise hint again to Taiping, a small city in Perak.
“Our grandparents (Hainanese) started running kopitiam business to serve the British army back then (in the 1950s), followed by my parent-in-law in 1989.”
“They operated the second kopitiam in Aulong while the first kopitiam still was run by grandparents separately,” Su, the founding father of Ah Wong Office, informed Vulcan Put up.
It was a time when kopitiams weren’t simply locations to eat and drink, however communal hubs the place tales had been shared and friendships had been fashioned over a cup of kopi and a plate of kaya toast.
10 years in the past, the household migrated to Kuala Lumpur, bringing with them their time-honoured recipes and a ardour for conventional kopitiam fare.
They opened Ah Wong Kopitiam in Setapak, KL, named after a preferred Hong Kong TVB drama, and to honour the household’s Cantonese surname, Ng, pronounced “Wong.”
The kopitiam, which continues to be operating, shortly turned a beloved native spot, recognized for its genuine flavours and heat, nostalgic environment.
Pivoting throughout the MCO
Like many companies, Ah Wong Kopitiam confronted important challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, notably throughout the Motion Management Order (MCO), when eating in was prohibited.
It was throughout this era of uncertainty that Su and her husband determined to take the reins and breathe new life into the household enterprise.
“We were struggling like everyone else, but I saw an opportunity to pivot and rebrand,” she recalled.
“We decided to plant brand and marketing into the business and expand our online delivery channels. The feedback was surprisingly good, which motivated us to keep going.”
That’s after they determined to open one other outlet, which remodeled their conventional kopitiam into the colourful, quirky concept now often called the Ah Wong Office.
The start of Ah Wong Office
In 2023, the thought of Ah Wong Office was conceived, but it surely wasn’t absolutely carried out till 2024.
The identify itself is a playful nod to the office, however with a twist—Ah Wong Office just isn’t in regards to the drudgery of labor however about creating an area the place white-collar employees can simply be themselves.
“We wanted to create a space for the young people, where they could eat, drink, and have fun without any pretences. It’s a place where you can be yourself without the need to put on any mask,” Su defined.
The concept of Ah Wong Office is a intelligent mix of the outdated and the brand new.
With a nostalgic office vibe from the 70s and 80s, the restaurant options menu binders, a typewriter show, and retro-style mugs.
The branding can be infused with an alien motif that represents the thought of an outsider—an alien—attempting to discover ways to be human and survive on Earth.
It’s a playful tackle the immigrant expertise, on the challenges of adapting to new environments whereas holding onto one’s id.
From bazaar to brick-and-mortar
Earlier than securing a everlasting location, Ah Wong Office started its journey by taking part in varied bazaars resembling Pingmin, Messy Membership, and occasions like Tiger Beer’s.
These appearances helped improve the model’s publicity and allowed Su and her group to assemble helpful suggestions from prospects.
“People loved our concept,” mentioned Su. “They thought we were running a very cool cafe, but we were just a traditional kopitiam at heart.”
This section of the journey was important in refining the model and getting ready for the eventual opening of Ah Wong Office in Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya.
The group took the chance to develop the model additional, mixing the spaceship concept with a retro office theme.
A continuation of legacy with a contemporary twist
Whereas Ah Wong Office is a recent, trendy tackle the normal kopitiam, Su identified that it isn’t merely a continuation of her grandparents’ enterprise however fairly a reimagining of it.
“It’s not really a handover, but we continue the spirit,” she mentioned. “We wanted to showcase my father-in-law’s ‘holiao’ to the young people, to tell them not to forget our local drink and food.”
To make sure the standard of their choices, Ah Wong Kopitiam can be at present the central kitchen for Ah Wong Office’s meals choices. “My parents are currently managing it,” she mentioned.
In addition they proceed to collaborate with native sifus (masters) to keep up the normal flavours of things like Hainan toast and nasi lemak whereas introducing trendy SOPs to ensure consistency.
Classes from the kopitiam commerce
Working a enterprise, particularly one with deep familial roots, comes with its personal set of challenges and classes.
Su emphasised the significance of staying targeted, believing in oneself and the group, and repeatedly bettering each the merchandise and customer support.
One of many group’s largest challenges is discovering dependable employees, a standard difficulty in the F&B trade.
“It’s not easy to find employees who are willing to work in a cafe, especially service crew,” Su admitted.
To handle this, the group has enlisted the assistance of associates and companions whereas actively subscribing to hiring platforms.
Regardless of being a comparatively new institution, Ah Wong Office has huge plans for the long run. The group is exploring collaborations with native designers and associates to supply much more to their viewers.
“We’re definitely planning for outlets in other areas of Klang Valley once we’ve stabilised,” she revealed.
Moreover, merchandise merchandise are in the works, with extra particulars to be shared as soon as plans are finalised.
As Su and her group proceed to navigate the challenges of operating a contemporary cafe with roots in a bygone period, they achieve this with a way of goal and a imaginative and prescient that’s each nostalgic and forward-looking.
You may be taught extra about Ah Wong Office right here.
Learn different articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups right here.
Featured Picture Credit score: Ah Wong Office
