OldTown White Coffee, Malaysia’s largest halal-certified kopitiam chain, renowned for its signature white coffee and traditional Malaysian delicacies, celebrated the opening of its new Heritage Centre, located at the heart of Ipoh along Jalan Panglima, to a fanfare of arts and cultural showcases and an evening soiree to commemorate its Artists Heritage Collaboration Project.
Main image: As part of OTWC’s Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, the brand recognizes local artists who contributed to the Heritage Centre. Pictured from left are mural artist Chin Choon Yau, multi-medium artist Jeffrey Lim, cartoonist Azmi Hussin, and fashion designer Melinda Looi. From the OTWC management team, Chief Executive Officer Dawn Liew, Supply Chain Lead Grace Cheng, Chief Development Officer Deric Yeo, and Chief Finance Officer Arnold Molenhuis.
Celebrations commenced in the evening where the brand also unveiled its inaugural Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, an initiative by OldTown White Coffee to elevate its Heritage Centre as a “living” heritage where artists are able to showcase any pieces of art that honour the sweet-smelling legacies of Ipoh white coffee.
The facade of the OldTown Heritage Centre, set to become Ipoh’s latest landmark on the Heritage Trail. This 3-storey neo-colonial building stands as a proud symbol of the brand’s origins at its birthplace.
Spread across three floors of the neo-colonial structure are an eco-driven Earthcare Cafe, the OIdTown Heritage Gallery, and a retail outlet that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the history and heritage of white coffee. The Earthcare Cafe will serve as the brand’s flagship farm-to-table dining concept, featuring a new menu that is distinct from the brand’s familiar kopitiam fare, with an emphasis on ethically and locally-sourced produce, such as free-range eggs from cageless chicken farms.
The dining area on the first floor of Earthcare Cafe, a testament to OldTown White Coffee’s commitment to becoming a greener enterprise.
“The OldTown Heritage Centre is not just a place to enjoy great coffee and food. It’s a celebration of our shared history and values, as well as a platform for fostering community and environmental stewardship,” commented Dawn Liew, CEO of Kopitiam Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.
Members of the media (from left) Kam Yan, Hoo Keat, and Nor Marshaliza are excited about the menu presentation at the flagship Earthcare Cafe, located inside the newly launched OldTown Heritage Centre.
“Its position along the historically significant Heritage Trail meant that we must respect the pre-existing traditions that shaped the area, and this is reflected in the Heritage Centre’s architecture and how we operate the place internally.”
As part of the brand’s cultural preservation efforts, it has elicited the help of various artists to spearhead its Artists Heritage Collaboration Project, most of whom were present for the opening, including:
Local celebrity designer Melinda Looi, known for her longstanding relationship with OTWC, designed its iconic coffee cup and a commemorative tote bag, stands with Dawn Liew, CEO of Kopitiam Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd.
- Melinda Looi, celebrated fashion designer who was also chiefly responsible for creating the iconic brown coffee cups for OldTown White Coffee back in 2009, and has returned to create a limited edition, commemorative OldTown Heritage Tote Bag to mark the Heritage Centre’s opening.
- Chuen Mun Wai, one of the last surviving traditional Chinese lantern makers in Malaysia who was specially commissioned to create five lanterns for the Heritage Centre, visible at the Ground Floor dining area.
- Chin Choon Yau, a renowned mural artist from Ipoh who has painted over 300 walls that eulogises the cityscapes of yesteryear.
- Lim Pui Wan, also known as “PicoWorm”, a miniature artist famed for creating exceedingly intricate and realistic dioramas that could fit the palm of a person.
- Jeffrey Lim, a multi-talented photographer, cultural artist, and heritage enthusiast who contributed a vintage coffee brewing station, a collection of antique coffee cups, and a “Traditional Kopi Lineage” photo installation.
- Azmi Hussin, a cartoonist celebrated for his quirky depictions of local life and the Malaysian record-holder for creating the country’s longest single comic strip, “Saga Kami”.
“The Artists Heritage Collaboration Project will be an ongoing initiative for OldTown Heritage Centre to support local artists and craftsmen, and we will continue to seek out potential talents to create new installations to enrich our gallery,” added Liew. “It’s our way of giving back to the community who have done so much to give shape and definition to our business over the years, and our Heritage Centre now stands as a beacon of ingenuity, celebrating the best of what Ipoh has to offer, beyond white coffee.”
A vintage coffee brewing station found in traditional kopitiams, recreated by multi-medium artist Jeffrey Lim, is displayed at the OldTown Heritage Gallery. The gallery offers visitors an educational and immersive journey through the evolution of local coffee and kopitiam culture.
The OldTown Heritage Centre opens in the midst of Visit Perak Year 2024, and is primed to cater a fresh influx of local and international tourists keen on enjoying what was recently announced as one of the world’s best coffees. With its unique approach to serve time-tested recipes and a history lesson, OldTown White Coffee’s latest flagship addition raises the bar on how heritage businesses are able to capitalise on their rich histories to serve an ever hungry audience with a palate for the past.
The fact sheet is here.
