Why did Wild Sheep Chase cafe close its Taman Desa outlet?

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Wild Sheep Chase Cafe Closed its Taman Desa Outlet Due to Operational Challenges and a Strategic Realignment

Wild Sheep Chase in Taman Desa ceased operations after nearly five years, marking the end of Kuala Lumpur's first soufflé café. This closure was part of a broader business recalibration by founders Chris Yap and Sujian Khor, who are now concentrating their efforts on their rebranded Section 17, PJ outlet, now known as Wild Sheep Home. The decision stemmed from a combination of operational difficulties encountered at the Taman Desa location and a desire to return to their original vision by streamlining their business model.
Operational Difficulties Impacted Customer Experience

The Taman Desa outlet faced significant challenges from customers who utilized the space for extended photoshoots, impacting the availability of tables for other patrons. Furthermore, complaints regarding the inherent preparation times for items like soufflés, which require approximately 20 minutes, disrupted the intended flow of service. The founders also noted issues with disruptive behavior from children, with parents not adequately supervising them, which detracted from the intended atmosphere of the café.
Expansion Efforts Diverted from Original Vision

In an attempt to scale and find a sustainable path forward, Yap and Khor had embarked on several expansion initiatives. These included launching a sibling café, Catcher in the Rye, and venturing into artisanal ice cream production, even attending courses at Carpigiani Gelato University in Singapore. Yap also harbored plans to establish a coffee roastery. However, these ventures, while aiming for growth, ultimately led the couple to feel they were losing sight of their initial dream of a small, intimate space focused on handcrafted items.
Pandemic Accelerated Pre-existing Business Realignment

While the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO) necessitated adjustments for many food and beverage businesses, Wild Sheep Chase was already in the process of realigning its operations. Prior to the pandemic, they had begun to shut down their hot kitchen in PJ and were transitioning their focus. This strategic shift involved concentrating on ice cream production and coffee roasting, a move that was amplified by the external circumstances brought on by the pandemic.
Partnership with Wild Yeast Provided a Solution

A key element of their strategic realignment involved a partnership with Terence Chong, formerly of Tommy Le Baker, who opened his bakery, Wild Yeast, within their PJ space. This collaboration addressed the common challenge faced by Malaysian cafes of needing to offer a full food menu. By entrusting food preparation to Wild Yeast, Yap and Khor were able to fully concentrate on their respective passions: Khor on creating small-batch ice cream and Yap on his coffee roasting project, Bear Coffee Roaster, which emphasizes medium-dark roasted beans inspired by traditional coffee houses.

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Why did Wild Sheep Chase cafe close its Taman Desa outlet?

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