Recently, popular eatery Caffeinees suffered a fire incident that caused significant damage to the second floor of its premises.
Fortunately, the ground floor which houses Caffeinees and Yamaguchi Fish Market was not affected and continues operating as usual.
For the team behind the eatery, the affected space holds years of memories.
For 15 years, the second floor had been more than just a dining area. It was a place where customers gathered for laughter, music, late night conversations, celebrations and friendships.
Despite the heartbreaking damage, the team remains determined to rebuild and restore the space in the future.
Managing director shares what really happened
WeirdKaya had the opportunity to speak with Chris Chang, the Managing Director of Caffeinees, to better understand what happened during the incident.
According to Chris, the business was able to resume operations shortly after the fire as the kitchen and ground floor were not affected.
We’ve already resumed our business because our kitchen was not affected. It’s a different structure compared to the interior of the building,” he said.
He also encouraged the public to continue visiting and supporting the eatery. “Please come visit.”
Fire caused extensive damage to the second floor
Chris explained that the fire resulted in severe damage to the second floor of the building.
“Basically, the fire damaged everything on the second floor. The air conditioners melted, the ceiling melted, and everything fell onto the floor. We will need to rebuild everything.”
The estimated cost to rebuild the damaged area is currently between RM2 million and RM3 million.
Following the incident, the management quickly began taking the necessary steps to investigate the cause and assess the structural damage.
We reported the incident to the police, and the bomba came to investigate the root cause. We also met with the architect to check which structures are still usable and which ones are damaged,” he said.
Staff tried to contain the fire during the incident
Chris also recalled one of the most emotional moments during the fire.
“When the fire started, we were actually in the middle of a meeting when one of my staff informed us. When I went there, I saw that my staff were already trying to put out the fire.”
Several staff members even attempted to carry gas cylinders out of the area to prevent the situation from becoming more dangerous.
However, the situation escalated quickly as thick smoke began filling the hall.
“The smoke became so thick that we could not even see the hall anymore.”
“Life is more important than property”
Chris shared that when he arrived at the scene, the first thing he reminded his staff was to prioritise their safety.
That’s why when we arrived, the first thing I told my staff was not to try to save the property. Life is more important.”
He also took the opportunity to remind the public about the dangers of fire and smoke.
“I want to send a message to everyone. Whenever you see a fire scene, do not try to challenge it because it can spread very quickly. What kills most people is not the fire, but the smoke.”
A place that feels like a second home
For Chris and his team, the premises represent more than just a business.
Our office, marketing team and accounts team are all based here. I come here almost every day. We work here, we stay here. It’s like a second home,” he said.
Despite the damage caused by the fire, the team remains determined to rebuild and eventually reopen the second floor that has been part of the community for more than 15 years.
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