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TUCKED away in an obscure corner of Jaya One at Petaling Jaya lies MeTime Book Cafe.
Unlike your typical book cafe equipped with tables and chairs and the occasional beanbags, MeTime mirrors a capsule hotel commonly seen in countries like Japan and Taiwan.
A place initially intended for counselling sessions eventually took the shape of a book cafe for patrons to come, relax and calm their minds.
When The Vibes spoke to MeTime Book Cafe owner and founder Brandonn Tan, he said that he not only wanted to create a platform where he could share his vast collection of books and comics, but also a place for people to hide out from their busy day-to-day living and centre themselves again.
As a former outdoor salesperson himself, he felt the need for a place for people to retreat and rest apart from a hotel room.
Hence, MeTime also serves as a place for people to take a nap or even freshen up before their next appointment. Yes, MeTime does have a shower you could use.
Following this, Tan also became aware of the need for a space where people could escape from their work and even their homes.
Driven by an apparent suicide case of a student who could no longer take the stress of university, he wanted to create a space where people could find peace. He even shared how he often lends a listening ear to those who wish to speak to someone when at MeTime.
And this place lives up to this aspiration with its interior design and the environment that Tan upkeeps.
Each pod at MeTime can hold up to four people. Since its opening in 2019, a wide variety of patrons have walked through the doors of this book cafe – from books lovers to salespeople, tarot card readers and students.
With the ongoing pandemic, Tan is no stranger to the economical strains it has wrought as MeTime relies solely on entrance fees.
Despite the absence of an income, Tan still ensures that extra precautionary measures are taken to keep the place sanitised during these trying periods.
Tan suns the carpets and mats every morning. He provides clean blankets and sheets to his customers and leaves the air purifier on throughout the day. At night, he sets up the UV lights to sterilise the place for the next day.
So, the next time you are in the neighbourhood and are looking for a place to recuperate, MeTime Book Cafe might just be the place for you. – The Vibes, April 9, 2021
Check out MeTime Book Cafe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metime_bookcafe/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeTimeBookCafe
