At 23, this Johorean started a pop-up coffee biz that’s now grown into a full-fledged café

At just 23 years old, Zahirulhaque, who goes by Haq, has succeeded in his dreams of opening his very own cafe.

Located in X Park Sunway Iskandar in Johor, the cafe is called Cartboy, and was officially opened around June this year.

But don’t be mistaken; this opportunity wasn’t something that just landed on his lap.

Born and raised in Johor Bahru, Haq has a diploma in culinary arts and has worked in several food establishments.

His last stint had been as a commis chef at Natalina Italian Kitchen at Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur. A true hustler, he would try to fill his off days working at local coffee shops to gain experience, as the coffee scene was intriguing to him.

At first, he was mainly fascinated with latte art. But with time, his passion for all aspects of coffee grew.

Eventually, though, he decided to go back to Johor to help his parents with their own F&B business. 

“But the concept of my family’s cafe is very different from what I really want to do,” he pointed out. “So, my mum encouraged me to open a side business so I can continue my passion as a barista and cook.”

With that, he opened a pop-up as a side business, and that marked the beginnings of Cartboy as it’s known today.

The rewards of virality

The journey of opening and running a pop-up was not easy at all.

“Back then, there were days when I only sold a cup of hot americano which is only RM7,” he recalled.

Within a year, though, Haq managed to grow his business into a full-fledged brick-and-mortar cafe.

He shared that the cafe is actually the X Park manager’s idea. It was a win-win situation, as Haq could grow his business while also promoting X Park Sunway Iskandar.

The startup capital for Cartboy, which was around RM20k, was funded by Haq’s own savings from working in the city as well as from his family.

“We didn’t want to take a loan or any investment from others since this kind of thing really scares me,” he admitted. “It’s better to use our own money, so if this business doesn’t work out, it’s our own loss.”

As he opened his cafe, Haq began filming and uploading clips of his entrepreneurial journey. He managed to go viral on TikTok, and as a result of that, customers have been showing up non-stop to support him.

“Finally, I’ve gotten the recognition I’ve always wanted, and I really want to give my best for my beloved customers,” he said.

Community over competition

Johor is home to a lot of other coffee shops, though.

However, Haq doesn’t really think too much about competing with others. After all, the intention behind Cartboy is not so much to be a leading cafe but rather a space for community.  

“Actually, Cartboy is more like a community cafe for me to make friends and meet new people every day,” he mused.

That said, he does believe his cafe has unique points, as does every other cafe. For Cartboy, the standout factor is the ambience they offer to customers, which is a cafe that blends seamlessly with nature and its surroundings, providing a more relaxed and peaceful environment for enjoying a cup of coffee.

Another thing about Cartboy is that it opens from 5PM till 1AM, catering to the “lepak” crowd.

“And also, one main reason is because I’m running this cafe alone,” he admitted. “The reason why I’m not finding any staff is because I want to handle and manage it on my own first and try to be on the ground as much as I can. At the same time, I can save some financial reserves for upgrades and other necessary stuff.”

He hopes that within this year, Cartboy will be able to grow their team, change their operating hours, as well as come up with a new menu.

Currently, Cartboy serves up coffee using their own house blend, which is made by Haq’s grandfather, who has his own roastery, Kopi Bancuh.

Aside from drinks, Cartboy also offers hot foods. Specifically, Haq cooks up three kinds of pasta—aglio olio, carbonara, and chilli padi pesto. He uses his own recipes, honed from his years of experience working in kitchens.

Don’t stop trying

Haq shared that he’s dreamt of opening a cafe, but he imagined it would happen closer to the age of 30 or 35.

“But rezeki is always there, and I got to open my business at the age of 23,” he expressed.

Of course, opportunities are captured by those who are prepared. That’s why Haq’s key advice for other youngsters who may want to delve into entrepreneurship is: “Don’t stop trying.”

“As for tips, I can’t offer much since I’m also learning to improve my business,” he humbly shared. “But if you do something, please don’t do it halfway. And don’t forget, passion is important to sustain a business.”

Featured Image Credit: Cartboy