The Cafeteria Story

For quite some time Tiara Damansara went through a period of cafeteria woes. In fact, there were periods when Tiara had no cafeteria at all.

Getting a competent and dedicated cafeteria and mini-market operator is no easy feat. With a total population of only about a thousand residents, the majority of whom do not patronise the canteen, it is difficult to break even.

In the beginning, on its completion in 1992, Tiara Damansara had the services of a cafeteria. Its very first operator was a Chinese husband and wife team, who ran the cafeteria as well as a mini-market. The cafeteria was well patronised since, at that time, Tiara had a large expatriate population of Japanese and Europeans.

Since it was the only existing condo­minium in Petaling Jaya, Tiara attracted a vast expatriate community. Thus, the cafeteria was a lucrative business then.

But with the emergence of newer condo­miniums in the surrounding areas and beyond, a great number of the foreign tenants moved out.

Without the expatriate community, the cafeteria business dipped. In 1994, the operator offered the cafeteria business up for sale, lock, stock and barrel. It was not taken up.

In the latter part of 1995, a Chinese couple took over the running of the cafeteria, sub-letting to an Indian family at RM400 per month. It was soon discovered that even this small rental was difficult to recover, so the cafeteria soon closed down.

This was the status quo until 2001, when an Indian family reopened the cafeteria at a rental of RM800 a month. Due to the lack of business, it was halved to RM400 a month, but even so the Ravi Mini-market and Café found it hard to survive because of the small clientele consisting mainly of students and people who used the pool.

In November 2004, a new operator took over. Haikal's Cafe and Mini-market, run by a Malay gentleman and his Iranian wife, paid a rent of RM150 per month. Good Malay food was served but since the clientele remained small, the set-up closed down seven months later.

Nine months later, the cafeteria opened its doors for business again when a Malay lady took over, under the name Tiaramase Café and Convenience Store. However, they did not have consistent operating hours, opening or closing whenever they liked. There were many complaints and the Management had no choice but to terminate the services of Tiaramase Café.

It seemed like the Cafeteria was jinxed. No operator lasted long. But fourteen months later, JNJ Ideal Shop, Cafeteria and Convenience Store opened for business in August, 2005. It was agreed that it would be rent-free for a start, to allow the operator time to build up and consolidate her business. However, electricity and water rates were charged.

Ms. Judy Lee, an enterprising and hardworking proprietor, started in earnest, stocking up the shelves with various sundry items, like rice, cooking oil, milk, salt, sugar, jam, bread and coffee. Cigarettes, various snacks, ice cream, canned and bottled drinks are also available as well as household items like toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and razor blades. Phone cards, including IDD phone cards are also on sale.

Judy previously ran a convenience shop at an up-market condo in Mont Kiara before taking over the cafeteria in Tiara. She works Saturdays to Thursdays and closes on Fridays, her day off. The operating hours are from 10am to 10pm, sometimes remaining open even after that as long as the Cafe is patronised.

Her day starts at 7am when she goes to the market to buy groceries and other items, arriving at Tiara by 10am with her cook and assistant. The cafeteria floor is swept and the tables and chairs unchained and set before preparation of the food commences. From then on, it is a full day for them.

There will be some lulls, like afternoons, when people are resting after lunch and before tea or swim time. Her busiest time is around 7.30pm when customers start coming for their dinner. She has a faithful clientele of over fifty people who regularly frequent the cafeteria. Singles, couples and students form the bulk of her clientele; there are few families.

She has a varied menu of Asian and Western dishes, various snacks, hot and cold drinks and beer. There is even Happy Hours, when jugs of beer are sold.

Judy also does catering for groups. Parties have also been held at the poolside. One such recent occasion was when a resident, Mr. Bharat Parthak, from Nepal, held a function there.

"It was a small get-together of Nepalese nationals working in various sectors but living in Malaysia," Bharat said. "The purpose was to get to know one another. I invited around 50 guests and friends and their children as well."

The guest list included the Nepalese Ambassador, Embassy staff and their families, the former Consul General to Malaysia, professionals, businessmen and even Nepalese students studying here. The party began at 7pm and ended around 11pm.

The menu comprised fried rice, fried mee, mutton curry, vegetable dishes, snacks, tit bits and drinks.

"The food was good. Everyone enjoyed it, especially a friend who has a Japanese wife. He and his wife and daughter liked the mutton curry very much. Needless to say, all the food was eaten," added the happy host.

Mr. Bharat added that he believed the place was ideal for small get-togethers of approximately fifty or sixty people. He gave the thumbs up for the food whilst the pool view added a lovely and calm ambience to the occasion, more so on a moonlit night.

To enable Tiarans to have meals in comfort, the Management is now looking into the Cafe's request for a canopy or awning to protect clients from the rain and heat of the sun. The kitchen was also extended to enable the cafeteria to operate in greater comfort and store items from outside view, giving it a neater, cleaner image.

The enterprising Judy hopes to offer even more services in the future. She said she is looking into providing dry cleaning, clothes alteration (like changing of broken zippers, narrowing, broadening, lengthening or shortening) and car wash services.

For Tiarans who would like to cater food for birthdays, hold poolside BBQ's, or wine and dine at the Cafeteria, Judy can be reached at 79608988 or 0123991918.

We wish you all the best in your endeavour, Judy, and may you stay long in Tiara.