It is a chapter in my life, a three-year long one, being closed for the last time. I couldn’t bear to think of an ending to such a place that bore such an impact in my life. Gloria Jean’s Cafe had been instrumental in providing an environment of work in which I churned out more than 90 articles from November 2002. I was utterly shocked & disappointed. I arrived one morning to see Gloria Jean’s shut down!!!. I was like a regular fixture there! How could they not have told me to prepare me for the worse? I was without a wifi place for a month before I discovered another eatery. Two of their outlets had been closed down since November 2005.
Outside Gloria Jean’s at midnight.
Johnny, the chef who prepares my meals, left without saying a word. That didn’t raise the alarm until Helen, the Assistant Manager of the outlet went on long leave. By then, I was really wondering who would make my half boiled eggs the way I liked them? Or the salads that had the special sauce that’s non-fattening & delicious? I can’t even describe my sadness now when my regular haunt became no more. A place where I met many other surfers, held my association meetings & such, a place where your entrance is always greeted by smiley faces, a nod from the gentleman with the Mac at the corner, the man with his wife at the settee, the Nihonjin at the desk & the shy guy with specs next to the wall…. a place where recognition does not carry a prize or award. Just a simple “hello, you are late!” or “why were you not here yesterday?” would have made my day. A place where I met TV Smith & was inspired to start blogging. We would be there way past the closing time, sitting outside with our computers plugged into their power extension cord. Now I would have to build a new relationship with a strange cafe in a stranger environment, hoping that it would be a lasting one. The only pictures I took of my so-called second home are the ones here. May the memories of those encounters with the other patrons linger on as they find other outlets to call their second home. Goodbye, Gloria Jean’s….sob, sob!
Pummkin .. I too spent many happy hours at Gloria Jeans and am very sad that they have closed. Gloria Jeans was where we first found out of the horrors of the Boxing Day Tsunami. It was where we hosted some Mensa members from Germany and helped them plan their trip to East Malaysia. Gloria Jeans is where I get my GLORIOUS, MOST DELICIOUS, FANTABULOUS Mango Tango and their yummy seasonal durian concoction. Now where can I get such stuff to satisfy my palate??
*Sob-sob* .. so sad. I have fond memories of Gloria Jeans. Anor happy chapter comes to a close but question remains … why?