OldTown Heritage Centre is Ipoh's Newest Landmark

Recently, 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 OldTown Heritage Centre, in Ipoh along Jalan Panglima. Its a fanfare of arts and cultural showcases and an evening soiree to commemorate its Artists Heritage Collaboration Project. 

OldTown Heritage Centre is Ipoh's Newest Landmark
 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.

A celebration of shared legacies OldTown Heritage Centre opens as Ipoh’s newest landmark. The 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. 

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 spread across three floors of the neo-colonial structure are an eco-driven Earthcare Cafe, the OldTown Heritage Gallery, and a retail outlet that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the history and heritage of white coffee. 

Earthcare Cafe: The flagship Earthcare Cafe embodies OldTown’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices. The cafe offers specially-created, eco-friendly meals and operates on a farm-to-table concept featuring our own vertical farm. This initiative reflects the brand’s dedication to sustainability, incorporating various environmental practices such as water and energy conservation, composting, and optimised biodiesel production from used cooking oil. The Earthcare Cafe stands as a testament to OldTown White Coffee’s ongoing efforts to become a greener enterprise.

The dining area on the first floor of Earthcare Cafe, a testament to OldTown White Coffee’s commitment to becoming a greener enterprise.

Heritage Gallery: The OldTown Heritage Gallery, curated by William Harald-Wong from WHW Design & Associates, offers visitors an educational and immersive journey through the evolution of local coffee and kopitiam culture, from its humble origins to its modern-day prominence, highlighting key milestones in the OldTown White Coffee brand story.

The gallery also provides a glimpse into the future of OldTown White Coffee as it embraces sustainable ESG practices. Key features of the gallery include the OldTown White Coffee Process Wall, digital panels showcasing heritage stories related to the origins of kopitiams and the OldTown White Coffee brand, along with a slew of historic posters, artefacts, and installations celebrating coffee and kopitiam heritage. 

These displays are part of the Artist Heritage Collaborations Project, featuring works from local artists. Additionally, the Heritage Gallery will serve as a community space, hosting heritage, art, cultural, and eco-themed workshops in the near future.

Retail Shoppe: The Retail Shoppe carries exclusive merchandise to OldTown White Coffee, as well as unique offerings by local artists under the Artists Heritage Collaboration Project.

“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. 

“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 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 rtist 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

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: 

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. Chin Choon Yau, a renowned mural artist from Ipoh who has painted over 300 walls that eulogises the cityscapes of yesteryear. 

4. 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. 

5. 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. 

6. 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.” 

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. 

If you are in Ipoh or plan to visit Ipoh, do add OldTown Heritage Centre as part of you travel itenarary and enjoy a cup of white coffee and their new menu at Earthcare Cafe.