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| Bringing back the glory days |
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Published:
The Star |
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Date:
July 26, 2008 |
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Looking out the window of his office in Heritage House, Jalan Yap Ah Shak, one
clear morning, William Ng was struck by the dilapidated condition of once fine
old houses just a few hundred metres down Jalan Doraisamy.
“What a waste. Something should be done to preserver them” he thought to himself.
The thought took root. Everyday, as he passed by the houses on his way to work,
wormed its way deeper into his psyche. He began to see the houses in a new light,
imagining what these abodes built at the turn of the 19th century would look like
if given a facelift and a new lease of life.
He pictured finely dressed people driving up in fancy cars, alighting outside their
rejuvenated, sparkling facades and passing through their restored portals to pass
enjoyable evenings filled with wine, good food and foot-stomping music.
He shared his dream with his friends, some of whom are architects, developers and
real estate agents. They laughed at him. “Don’t waster your time and money”, was
the common refrain he heard from friends, hospitality industry players and even
the owners of the houses whom he had approached with his plan.
But Ng was not to be thwarted. He decided to prove his critics wrong and took it
as a challenge to turn the area around his office, bordered by Jalan Doraisamy,
Jalan Yap Ah Shak and Jalan Kamunting, into Kuala Lumpur’s hottest new entertainment
destination.
He began refurbishment work on a corner lot and persuaded the Indochine Group from
Singapore to open up Bar SaVanh – the first notable F&B venture on the street. So
confident was he then that on the side of the building, he put up a sign which read:
Asian Heritage Row. Asian Cuisine, Delicacies, Art Gallery, Gifts, Bakery, Bar, Bistro,
Café, Coffee, Wine and Cigars.
One shop-lot does not make an Asian Heritage Row, some people told him but in Ng’s mind
he could already see the changes that were coming to the area and strategies in line with his vision.
After the first row of shophouses was refurbished, the first brave tenants were a bakery
called Vanilla Box and a Turkish restaurant called Saray, followed by Kristao which served
Malaysian Portuguese cuisine.
This attracted the big boys and more established operators to set up. Following that, other
F&B operators were knocking on his door and he had no problems filling up the restored units.
In fact, he had to extend his vision beyond the original row that drew his attention to renovate
more pre-war houses to accommodate the growing demand from prospective tenants.
Having successfully created the Heritage Row he is now working on Heritage Avenue along Jalan
Kamunting and plans to turn the whole area and brand it as Heritage Village, expanding the F&B
and entertainment outlets to include lifestyle products, galleries and spas. On a tour of the
area, Ng points out the changes that have been instituted, speaking animatedly of the rehabilitation
that awaits yet another row of building. There’s a smile of immense satisfaction on his face and
it’s not hard to guess why. It’s been more than five years since the Asian Heritage Row’s first
tenants opened their doors to the public and it’s still going strong.
It is easy to understand why Ng looks past the façade of the old building to their inherent
spirit. As a well travelled man, he has seen how other countries have resolved the dilemma
of deteriorating architecture. He has also see the increasing friction here between more and
more people clamouring for the conservation of old buildings and the unheeding developers
and bureaucrats who think progress is smashing a wrecking ball though a building and starting
afresh.
You could say Ng is a conservationist by design. but when it come to the hospitality industry
he describes himself as an accidental food and beverage man, having been immersed in the mining
and minerals industry all his adult life. When he began his business, not many suppliers were
willing to pitch in and support his dreams. But for those who did, Ng has eternal gratitude and
amongst this is Guinness Anchor Berhad (GAB) – who had faith and confidence in his venture and
passion.
Nowadays, when he sits with a business operator to discuss a tenancy agreement or its renewal,
Ng insists that they include a clause in the contract that they serve only the beverage of his
choice at the outlets – Heineken, Tiger, Guinness and Kilkenny.
This is not by GAB’s requirement but his own initiative. It is not just out of gratitude to GAB
for being one of his early backers but based on his strong belief that Heritage Row deserves
good things just as GAB sees the good thing in Heritage Row even in its early days.
With just only a couple of exceptions, nearly every other outlet serves GAB products because
“although GAB did not know me when I began the Asian Heritage Row venture, the decided to take
the risk and support me.”
“It is a partnership that began five years ago based on mutual trust. When some suppliers took
a wait and see attitude on how the business would fare, GAB offered to sign a long term contract
to protect our mutual interest.
“Some suppliers were skeptical whether fine dining and pubs would work when the area is so close
to Kampung Baru. Yet the GAB had confidence that the venture would be successful and I was happy
that from time to time their senior management, including the managing director, would come by
to discuss our future plans and potential. I was humbled by their attention and their willingness
to share their business acumen.
Asked why he insists on his tenants serving GAB products by putting it as a condition in the
tenancy agreement, the replies: “I do not get any remuneration out of it. But I tell the new
operators how the outlets forged a strong bond with GAB and its products and how this has
brought success for all.
“Furthermore, I believe that Heineken is the best beer in the world so it is only natural to
be closely associated with GAB”
“GAB is also willing to offer similar incentives, sponsorships and helping hand that they have
offered the others,” he says, adding that he has been a connoisseur of beer since the age of 18,
beginning with the Anchor brand, and then falling in love with Heineken and making it his preferred
drink everywhere he travels.
He also commends GAB for their excellent service – their staff is at hand all the time to take care
of the needs of the business operators of the Asian Heritage Row.
“The labels that GAB carries are compatible with the in-crowd that visits Asian Heritage Row and
other lively establishments that dot the Kuala Lumpur landscape and other areas. The wide variety
of products appealing to customers from all walks of life also makes GAB a natural choice as partner.
Ng gets a little sentimental and adds that people will naturally remember and appreciate those
who extend a helping hand when they taking the first tottering steps and in his case GAB has been
there for him from the infancy of his food and business endeavor.
And every time he drinks his favourite Heineken and watches patrons cherishing GAB products, he
has a satisfied smile as his loyalty is justified and confirms that his choice of partner is the
right one.
Today, what was once an ignored enclave of dilapidated and unwanted houses, has become one of KL’s
more happening places to party, pulsating with gaiety and reverberating with life.
If these old houses could speak, they would thank William Ng with deep gratitude for giving them
the makeover that has restored them to their former glory and brought back the sense of fun into
their souls. He’s proved that old is gold and that the value inherent in our heritage is priceless.
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