The Much Larger ‘Kopitiam’ Takes Shape on East Broadway
The acclaimed Malaysian cafe Kopitiam is making strides toward its revival within the next couple weeks. Contractors are currently busy building out the new location at 151 East Broadway.
One thing is for sure – this storefront offers more space and an expanded menu. The ground-floor is four times larger than the original Canal Street location, and offers 35 seats plus an enclosed hallway entrance and takeaway window of sorts at the top of the stairs. Kopitiam 2.0 is a Malaysian eatery that will serve an all-day breakfast and lunch menus alongside booze options (pending SLA approval).
Initial target re-launch was May, but it’s been pushed back to sometime later this month. And they’re now holding interviews for new employees.
Kopitiam is not new to the neighborhood. It began life on the Lower East Side in 2015 at 51 Canal Street. However, their two-year lease expired at the end of 2017, and the landlord reportedly jacked the rent. A purported 25% increase that Kopitiam could not absorb. (Prior real estate listings noted the monthly dole at around $3,000.) So, chef-owner Kyo Pang instead decided on relocating to this larger locale. To continue on and aid in the “expansion,” the business kickstarted a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo, yet found a new business partner when it failed.
Canal St, September 2017
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