If you were asked “What were you doing at 11 years old?” Your answer (like mine) would probably be studying, playing games, engaging in hobbies, and hanging out with friends. These kids, however, kicked things up a notch and started their own pancake business in Bangsar! Their pancake stall ‘Go Go Pancake’ is located at the corner of Jalan Telawi 9, Bangsar, on Saturdays.
The Go Go Pancake stall can be found on the corner of Jalan Telawi 9 in Bangsar, KL. (credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
Meet Xander, the 11-year-old mastermind and manager of the newly-founded pancake stall. (credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
Meet Xander, the 11-year-old mastermind and manager of the newly-founded pancake stall with his friends cum co-workers, siblings Harish, Atma, and Kannisha ages 13, 10, and 11 respectively. These kids from Sri Cempaka International School had a dream to start up their own business selling food they really like. In this case, pancakes! Why pancakes, you ask? “Well, no one sells pancakes in the whole of Bangsar, it’s all cekodok, pisang goreng, vadai. So we thought of making something unique in Bangsar.” says Xander.
From left to right – Harish, Xander, Atma, and Kannisha – the pancake kids of Bangsar.
Xander and Atma making a pancake. (credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
Go Go Pancake serving customers. (credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
Their idea of a roadside pancake corner stall took two months of planning and a trial run of two weeks, before their official launch on 12 December 2020. To set up their stall, Xander said they had experimented on the batter, sourced for pans, tables, umbrellas and all the equipment needed for it to work. As for flavours, the kids used their best-loved flavours and ingredients – nutella, banana, peanut butter, gula melaka and butter sugar as per their menu.
Kannisha handling the menu. (credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
Go Go Pancakes menu.
“Business has been good; it starts from ‘okay’ and later on, it goes up,” remarks Xander. So far, Go Go Pancake has seen support from family, friends, their own school founder Dato’ Freida, and what more, from generous neighbours – such as the guy in the Ferrari that was passing by.
Kannisha taking an order from a Ferrari driver.
Dato Freida (left) and Encik Hisham (furthest right) from Sri Cempaka International School supporting their students (source: Go Go Pancake)
Harish’s relatives enjoying Go Go pancakes.
Passers-by turned customers ordering pancakes from Go Go Pancake.
One of Xander’s friends who came to support him.
On a side note, if you’re wondering how the kids are doing in school while dabbling in business, don’t worry because they have got their priorities straight! “It’s easy to handle; we just think of our school stuff first during class and once we’re done, we just organise a meeting and then we practice cooking,” says Xander. The kids have long term plans for Go Go Pancake, and they have it in mind to grow this business. When asked further, Xander says, “We have something planned, but we’ll carry it out later, because we just started. So, we will plan ahead, but those plans will be executed later.” Among those plans, the kids’ parents’ revealed that this business will inspire entrepreneurship amongst peers their age and help children in need by giving them up to 50% of their proceeds!
The Pancake Kids delivering some pancakes to Lighthouse Children Welfare Home (source: Go Go Pancake)
Aprel – Xander’s mother, and Laveena – Harish, Atma, and Kannisha’s mother.
Mr Guna – Harish, Atma, and Kannisha’s father – watching over Xander as he works.
Their parents are really proud of them too. Xander’s parents – Aprel and TC – as well as Harish, Atma, and Kannisha’s parents – Laveena and Guna, have expressed their feelings and support in a short interview with us. Check this out!
What was your reaction when the children told you of this pancake business?
Aprel: Well, we were extremely happy with this decision. I think it’s fantastic.
TC: Yeah, quite happy actually. It’s something new, we have not tried it and when they came to us and said they’re gonna do this, I thought why not, just try it out. And no one has done it in Bangsar.
Guna: Yeah, I think that it’s a good life skill that they’re learning. You know, simple things like how to set up something, the cost of stuff and learning to make a bit of money and how to deal with money. Some of these things they don’t really learn in school.
How have you been supporting them? How involved are you in this? Do the kids do all, or some of the work?
TC: Watch, of course, supervise as well, but we just let them do what they need to do.
Laveena: Well, actually, they are mostly supervised by Xander’s parents. They come from an F&B background. Both of us (me and husband) are actually doctors, so we were kind of nervous at the start. With their support, initially the children were taught by them, and then then they took to business well, and here they are, doing it very well.
Guna: We just carry the stuff. I think they handle most things themselves in terms of mixing the batter and everything, so they’re pretty independent.
Kudos to the Go Go Pancake team for being such inspiring kids and young entrepreneurs! If you would like a taste of their pancakes, head down to Jalan Telawi 9 in Bangsar, KL on Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm. For updates follow them on Instagram at @gogo_pancake
(credit: Moo Tik Pin – resident photographer)
