Youth-Led Lumee BTW Brings ‘Hole in the Wall’ Café Concept to Penampang By: Writer on-the-go | feature in Favstyle Magazine

 

It began as a spark, an idea that stirred conversations, debates and even a few arguments. No one expected it to grow so quickly into something that would excite the community.

Rather than opening another ordinary coffee shop, a group of young entrepreneurs decided to create something different: a playful café experience built around a simple yet unusual idea.

That idea has now become Lumee BTW (Behind The Wall), a grab-and-go kiosk in Penampang featuring an interactive “hole in the wall” concept that brings a little theatre to the everyday coffee run.

Originally launched in November last year at Caravan, The Shore, Citadines Kota Kinabalu, Lumee temporarily closed operations in June due to unforeseen circumstances.

But the story did not end there.

By July 5, 2026, the team was already back at the drawing board, brainstorming what could come next.

It was then that Chris Steward Anak Jinbai proposed the idea of a “hole in the wall” concept, inspired by a café in Kuala Lumpur known as Jamboo.

What started as an idea quickly gained momentum. Within just three weeks, the concept was transformed into reality at a location near the team’s office in Penampang.

Young Minds Behind the Concept

The new Lumee BTW is also a reflection of the young people who helped shape it.

UiTM interns Syamir and Daphne contributed fresh ideas and perspectives during the early stages of developing the business concept. Their involvement gave the project an added youthful perspective and helped turn the initial idea into something practical and engaging.

Another young talent, Bryan Goh from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak, joined Lumee as a part-time barista during his semester break. Alongside gaining hands-on experience in the café industry, Bryan also became part of the team bringing the new concept to life.

At Lumee BTW, customers interact with the kiosk through three serving windows.

The first hole is where customers place their orders by handing in an order card.

The second hole is where payment is made, either by cash or QR payment. Customers are then given a pager.

The third hole is where the completed order is collected once the pager rings, usually within three to five minutes.

But Lumee has one more surprise.

A playful “monster hand” reaches through the wall to deliver drinks to customers, creating an unexpected moment of fun, particularly for children.

“At first, the monster’s hand can look a little scary to children. But once it passes them their drinks, the fear quickly turns into excitement. Most of them end up enjoying the playful surprise,” said Mimi, one of the management staff.

A Taste of Sabah

Beyond its quirky presentation, Lumee BTW also carries a strong Sabahan identity.

Its signature drinks feature local tea and herbs sourced from community growers in Sabah. The approach not only introduces customers to authentic local flavours but also creates an opportunity to support grassroots producers.

The concept also draws inspiration from history.

Serving windows similar to Lumee’s concept were used in 16th-century Florence, Italy, where wine was sold directly to passersby through small windows. The tradition has continued to influence café culture around the world.

Lumee BTW has taken that historical idea and given it a distinctly modern Sabah twist, replacing the single serving window with three interactive “holes” and adding an element of surprise.

“Lumee BTW is proof that with passion and collaboration, ideas can quickly turn into reality. It is the product of teamwork, community support and youthful creativity. More than just serving drinks, it’s about creating memorable experiences while celebrating Sabahan culture,” said Mimi.

More Than Just a Café

Behind Lumee BTW is a bigger belief: that young people should be given opportunities to experiment, contribute and grow.

At the heart of this vision is founder Mary Jim, who continues to encourage, motivate and create opportunities for young people to elevate themselves.

For Mary and the team, Lumee is not simply about selling drinks through a wall.

It is about giving young minds a space to participate, test ideas, learn from experience and discover what they are capable of creating.

And perhaps that is what makes Lumee BTW particularly interesting.

The “holes in the wall” may serve coffee and drinks, but behind those walls is something bigger: a young team turning ideas into action, one creative experiment at a time.

Lumee BTW can also be found on TikTok under @lumeeofficials.