Lovin' The Muffin

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Imagine not having to go out of your way to get breakfast in the mornings... Just only having to park, grab a cup of coffee and a sandwich, and be on your merry way. Tucked away in the parking lot of the Knutsford Express depot in New Kingston lies Muffin Top Café.

The renovated trailer venue has been open for business since last August, but the idea has been alive for a year said Sadiki Thames, one of the café's three owners. "We actually started making sandwiches for a few companies in the New Kingston area. Digicel, Jamaica National and Life of Jamaica were just a few of the companies that we would deliver sandwiches to when we just started," the director said. When asked about the name, Thames told Thursday Food, "for every sale of a sandwich, the customer would receive a complimentary muffin. Therefore, we thought the name Muffin Top would only be appropriate."

Thames divulged that eventually the business grew bigger and the orders were too much for them to handle on their own. "We all had nine to five jobs and we had to make a decision as to whether or not we would carry on with the brand. We decided not only to continue but expand as well," Thames said.

Finding the right venue for the Muffin Top team wasn't initially easy. However, Thames would soon find that the perfect venue was right at his fingertips. "I came to work one morning and parked in the Knutsford Express parking lot as I had always done. While thinking about a venue for Muffin Top I noticed that there was a crowd at the Knutsford Express terminal and thought to myself, 'they must be hungry', I also noticed that there was an unoccupied trailer and immediately sought to find out who was in charge. As soon as we found that out, the rest, as they say, is history," Thames told Thursday Food.

Today, the eatery's menu has expanded to include panini melts, bagels and omelettes, wraps, cakes, muffins, smoothies and frappuccinos. Since its opening, the café has received favourable feedback from persons in the surrounding area and tourists alike. The bistro's signature Red Stripe and Guinness frappuccino, has become a hit with patrons. So much so that it has led the owners to start Guinness Frap Fridays, offering customers a 20 per cent discount on the beverage.

The requests have also been coming in so fast that the company has decided to start a delivery service. "At the moment we deliver as far as Spanish Town and Portmore," Thames said. "All customers need to do is call or add us to BlackBerry Messenger and we will deliver."

Already, the Muffin Top team is thinking of franchising and have begun to seek appropriate venues for the next Muffin Top location, while perfecting the current.

Location: 18 Dominica Drive (beside Knutsford Express)

Tel: (876) 462-4943

BlackBerry PIN:

26EC7851

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Lovin' The Muffin