“Locals don’t appreciate what we’re doing here,” mused Keijometo’s owner, a filmmaker who started his cafe as a passion project for in-between shoots. Surely it’s older Johoreans who he’s referring to? Apparently not.
“Young JB people also! They play critic on Instagram, saying ‘what kind of design is this? I can also do. My boyfriend say he don’t want come back because the building looks abandoned,” said Wei, who declined to give his full name.
Keijometo, a fusion of the Japanese words for “shape” and “geometry”, occupies a corner bungalow in Taman Melodies, near KSL Mall. Working with a budget of RM500,000 (S$143,500), Wei personally handled the minimalist design and build while his partner, a chef, crafted Keijometo’s Japanese fusion menu. It opened in early 2022 just before the borders reopened.
On the weekday morning I dropped by, just before the 11am opening, a small crowd had already gathered outside the front gate. By a quarter past, there were no free tables inside.
