After working in hospitality for 20 years, Roy Tan decided to expand his business ventures in July 2021 when he bought May Street Larder from Australian Olympians Eamon Sullivan, Steve Hooker, Jamie Dwyer, and celebrated Chef Scott Bridger.
“I first entered the industry in the early 2000s when I bought Dome Coffee in Subiaco, Western Australia. This was where I honed coffee making skills, ensuring we were serving great coffee that kept customers coming back. Now I own May Street Larder and Halo Espresso in South Perth,” says Roy.
May Street Larder can be found in a residential area, which links the suburbs of Bicton, Palmyra, and North Fremantle.
“May Street Larder is a cosy, friendly place, perfect for friends and family to meet and share coffee moments together,” says Roy.
The Perth café has become a mainstay in the East Fremantle brunch scene, and it’s not just for their famous fried chicken waffles, which Roy says is a major drawcard.
“Our brunch menu consists of favourites like smoked beef brisket hash, lemon and passionfruit cheesecake French toast and breakfast burritos. The café’s philosophy centres around seasonal produce, utilising the best produce Western Australia has to offer,” he says.
“We strive to provide consistently tasty yet simple food and beverage offerings. We also wanted to expand our specialty coffee offering, which is why we partnered with Locale Coffee Roasters.”
Roy was introduced to Locale Coffee Roasters when he acquired the business in 2021 and has always been pleased with its service and product offerings.
“They are very hands on, provide great coffee, and we’re very happy with the way they address issues. We have a close relationship and excellent communication with Locale, speaking on a weekly, if not daily basis. They always make themselves available to us when we need them,” Roy says.
May Street Larder uses Locale Coffee Roasters’ Ultimate Wingman as their house blend and Eco Warrior organic blend for espresso, along with rotating single origins.
Roy says the best part of taking over the established café has been having the local community embrace his management.
“It’s so fulfilling when you’re serving customers, regulars are coming back, and you contribute to special moments of their day,” he says.
May Street Larder
23/155 Canning Highway, East Fremantle, Western Australia, 6158
Open Monday to Friday 6:30am — 2:30pm, and Saturday to Sunday 7am — 2:30pm
This article appears in the February 2023 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
