Liz Loo Cofounder Three Year Old Cafe

Liz Loo, Co-founder of Three Years Old Cafe

Liz Loo

In this interview, Liz Loo, co-founder of Three Years Old Cafe, shares her story and how the cafe came into being.

What do you do? 

Before Three Years Old (TYO), I was a full-time fashion designer. After taking the leap to open TYO, I now handle the social media and marketing collateral and work on shift daily – for the time being, at least.

How did you get into the industry?

The idea to open TYO came about together with my sister Jane and our close friend Joyce. We wanted to do something of our own, and considering our combined background, we felt that we could give this food and beverage industry a real good shot. And so we did.

Share with us an interesting story from behind the scenes.

What I found interesting that happens behind the scenes is that we all put so much effort to make sure the ship sails smoothly when things get busy. We run around almost like headless chickens trying to “put out fires” without making it known to any of our patrons. Such as running to the grocer to pick up milk, walking to the restaurant nearby to stock up on ice, or an emergency dishwashing soap run because dishes have piled up and we’re out of detergent. I found this constant balance to be pretty interesting, to say the least. 

What’s the best/ worst part of your job?

The best part has to be meeting so many people who want to try what we made and to see them enjoy it. The fulfilment of making our customers happy has got to be the icing on the cake of daily life. If I had to pick one, the worst part would be the long hours and being on my feet for 14 hours a day. Sure is good cardio tho.  

What’s your favourite food and beverage pairing?

As basic as it sounds, I’ll go with our sourdough served with berry compote and umami butter and pair it with a hot latte.

What’s one of the craziest things you’ve seen behind the scenes?

Not too long ago, a homeless gentleman visited our shop and behaved rather aggressively, to put it mildly. He definitely gave our customers and us a scare. The whole ordeal lasted about 20 minutes in total as he bounced about our outdoor seating area while we all waited inside the locked café. This was unexpected and definitely adrenaline pumping, but I just chalked it up as one of the many interesting characters we meet when in the service industry.   

The perfect day off would be…

Getting a massage with a Mimosa in hand.

A day in the life of Liz Loo restaurateur is…

… early mornings and late evenings with so many things in between.  

What’s something you’d like guests to know about Three Years Old Cafe?

Why Three Years Old? The question we get every day from our guests.

Three of us (the co-founders) each have something to offer from our background. We want to send a message of preserving a young at heart perspective on life and looking at the world as a child with a pure heart. Hence, three years old. 

How has the pandemic changed you, your perspective or the way you operate?

Opening during a pandemic surely laid out a different path for us compared to opening a café three years ago, but this was all a new experience anyway, and everyone’s journey is bound to be different. If there’s one thing this pandemic has emphasised to all of us working in the industry, a little empathy can go a long way. Understanding that customers are giving us their trust more than ever when purchasing goods from our establishment during this global crisis really does foster a sense of community and neighbourliness.  

What’s something you’d like people to know about being a restaurateur as a profession?

It’s not glamorous, nor is it ‘cool’ in a modern sense. It really does take constant hard work, and passion can sometimes only get you so far. Determination and a sound support system are also extremely crucial. 

Find more interviews similar to this one with Liz Loo here. And, stay up to date with the latest food and beverage happenings in KL here.

One Comment

  1. A fashion designer? No wonder, lovely dress. Looks a little bit Filipino.

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