Kedai Kopi Jalan Ampas evokes nostalgia of old Malay films

CYBERJAYA - Walking into Kedai Kopi Jalan Ampas here is like taking a stroll down memory lane. It is evident the owners are huge fans of old Malay movies.

Adorning the walls of the coffee shop, opened nine months ago, are portraits of the luminaries of Malaysian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s - Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Puan Sri Saloma, Datuk Aziz Satar, Kuswadinata and Ibrahim Pendek - while the strains of classic Malay hits fill the air.

Other attention-grabbing exhibits here are the six original copies of the ‘Gelanggang Film’ newspaper, owned by P. Ramlee's publishing company, along with other items such as a Vespa scooter, record player and baju kebaya. The nostalgic ambience of the coffee shop is enhanced by the use of vintage tableware to serve food and beverages to customers.

Malaysian actress Bea Rameshan, 36, who manages her family-owned Kedai Kopi Jalan Ampas - located in RekaScape, Persiaran Apec here - said all the antiques displayed in the outlet are part of her father Shah Faizul Ibrahim, a cinematographer, and mother Norhayati Datuk Ismail’s personal collection.

"All the ideas and concepts (behind this coffee shop) were contributed by my parents. They were also willing to spend hundreds of thousands of ringgit to find and collect old and classic items from several states, including Kelantan,” she said.

Bea, whose real name is Rabiatul Balqis Rameshan and a former contestant of the reality show ‘Pilih Kasih’, told Bernama the main reason for opening Kedai Kopi Jalan Ampas was to revisit the golden era of Malay films as well as introduce them to today's generation who may not be familiar with the legendary film stars. she told Bernama.

Even the shop’s name holds a special significance.

"We know that Jalan Ampas was the name of a road near Balestier Road in Singapore, where (a company called) Malay Film Productions owned by Shaw Brothers was once located. It was the birthplace of many famous Malay stars and unforgettable Malay films.

"(At our coffee shop) we have also displayed several iconic names from P. Ramlee films, such as the Buloh Inn signboard, Haji Bakhil & Co., Sekolah Umum Buta Huruf and Kampar, to evoke even more nostalgia," Bea added.

The ‘Rampas Cintaku’ drama actress is delighted Kedai Kopi Jalan Ampas went viral within a month of operation.

"We admit we were quite surprised and nervous as we are still new in this field and didn't expect such an overwhelming response from customers.

"Initially, we were a bit slow when it came to food preparation due to a lack of staff. However, we are continuously working to improve the situation," said Bea, who promotes the coffee shop on Instagram and TikTok.

Among its specialities, prepared by Bea’s mother, are laksa Johor, roti gelora, mee kari sri bulan, nasi minyak getaran jiwa, kam heong chicken, nasi dagang bunga and laksam.

The outlet also serves a variety of coffees that are specially brewed using a blend of selected coffee beans to create a more distinctive aroma. - BERNAMA