Who, What, Why
It started with Bitters & Love, a cocktail bar that operates at night. Coffee lovers and co-owners wanted to open a coffee shop and the idea of space-sharing made sense because of its central location. Free the Robot was to front the entire exterior of the shophouse.
The name "Free the Robot" wasn't an overnight spark or quirkily coined over a brainstorm. It was one fine day, the nocturnal team came back with the intention to get coffee and observe the lunch time crowd along Telok Ayer street (find out interesting facts about the street below!). 11am, there was a stream of wandering tourists, nothing unusual. 12pm, it was like every office set off their fire alarm -- lunch time. The term Corp-Bots (Corporate Robots) has been long used by us to describe our friends working in the CBD - it was the same time they clocked in to work, lunch, break, work, dinner, drinks, home - it was almost like a routine. At noon, it was just us casually in awe of the crowd and the phrase "Free the robot" just came out and we ended up using that as a name for our coffee shop. 2pm, everyone got sucked back into their work space ship and the streets quietened down again.
Eventually, Free the Robot became 2 meanings for us:
Free the Robot : A term that encourages us to break the routine, to do something different and be adventurous.
In other words, a gentle reminder to - live life.
Free, the Robot : We gave the robot a name. His name is Free. He landed on Telok Ayer Street and made it his base to make and serve coffee to his fellow robot friends. He has made a new girl friend called Freebie and adopted a dog named Freeloader. On certain Fridays, he has TGIF day (Thank God its Free) - where he gives out free coffee or dessert or whatever he wants basically. He is quite spontaneous and likes to surprise himself and others amidst daily routines.
The name "Free the Robot" wasn't an overnight spark or quirkily coined over a brainstorm. It was one fine day, the nocturnal team came back with the intention to get coffee and observe the lunch time crowd along Telok Ayer street (find out interesting facts about the street below!). 11am, there was a stream of wandering tourists, nothing unusual. 12pm, it was like every office set off their fire alarm -- lunch time. The term Corp-Bots (Corporate Robots) has been long used by us to describe our friends working in the CBD - it was the same time they clocked in to work, lunch, break, work, dinner, drinks, home - it was almost like a routine. At noon, it was just us casually in awe of the crowd and the phrase "Free the robot" just came out and we ended up using that as a name for our coffee shop. 2pm, everyone got sucked back into their work space ship and the streets quietened down again.
Eventually, Free the Robot became 2 meanings for us:
Free the Robot : A term that encourages us to break the routine, to do something different and be adventurous.
In other words, a gentle reminder to - live life.
Free, the Robot : We gave the robot a name. His name is Free. He landed on Telok Ayer Street and made it his base to make and serve coffee to his fellow robot friends. He has made a new girl friend called Freebie and adopted a dog named Freeloader. On certain Fridays, he has TGIF day (Thank God its Free) - where he gives out free coffee or dessert or whatever he wants basically. He is quite spontaneous and likes to surprise himself and others amidst daily routines.
DID YOU KNOW : TELOK AYER STREET
Telok Ayer Street is one of the oldest roads in Singapore and was once the coastline and the first landing point for migrants who arrived by sea. Today, reclamation projects have pushed the coastline further from Telok Ayer Street, but the place and stories have remained.
In 1822, Telok Ayer Street was the primary area set aside by Sir Stamford Raffles for the Chinese community. As the main landing site for Chinese immigrants, Telok Ayer Street become one of the first streets in Chinatown and formed the backbone of development of the Chinese immigrant community in early Singapore. Thus, Telok Ayer Street was the original focal point of settlement in Chinatown.
Telok Ayer Street, was named after Telok Ayer Bay, located at the foot of Mount Wallich. The Malay name refers to "bay water" because Telok Ayer Street was the coastal road along the bay. Temples and mosques are plentiful in this area as they were built by Chinese and Muslim immigrants to show their gratitude for safe passage. The numerous religious and clan buildings on Telok Ayer Street testify to their importance in the past.
It is also the only street in Singapore that has all different 4 religious places of worship.
In 1822, Telok Ayer Street was the primary area set aside by Sir Stamford Raffles for the Chinese community. As the main landing site for Chinese immigrants, Telok Ayer Street become one of the first streets in Chinatown and formed the backbone of development of the Chinese immigrant community in early Singapore. Thus, Telok Ayer Street was the original focal point of settlement in Chinatown.
Telok Ayer Street, was named after Telok Ayer Bay, located at the foot of Mount Wallich. The Malay name refers to "bay water" because Telok Ayer Street was the coastal road along the bay. Temples and mosques are plentiful in this area as they were built by Chinese and Muslim immigrants to show their gratitude for safe passage. The numerous religious and clan buildings on Telok Ayer Street testify to their importance in the past.
It is also the only street in Singapore that has all different 4 religious places of worship.
- Thian Hock Keng Temple (1820s), the oldest Hokkien temple in Singapore, dedicated to Matsu, Goddess of the Sea, Queen of Heaven and Patron of Sailors,
- Fun Tak Chi Temple (1824), built jointly by the Hakkas and Cantonese, colloquially known as the mah cau toh peh kong, now restored as a museum,
- Hock Teck Chi Temple (1824–1869),
- Ying Fo Fui Kun Hakka Association Hall (1882),
- Ying Fo Fui Kun Temple (1823), the earliest building on the street built by the Hakkas,
- Nagore Durgha Shrine(1828–1830),
- Al-Abrar Mosque (circa 1827), and
- Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (1924).
Thian Hock Keng Temple (Temple of Heavenly Bliss) is one of the oldest Chinese places of worship in Singapore. Constructed between 1839 and 1842 with donations from devotees, the temple's main hall was dedicated to Ma Zu Po, a deity widely regarded as the Goddess of the Sea. Early devotees went to the temple to seek blessings from and give thanks to the Goddess for safe sea voyages. The site was designated as a national monument in 1973. G.R. Lambert & Co. albumen print of the Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer Street, 1880s. Image from National Museum of Singapore.
COmmunity : customers & friends
we also want to build a strong community for customers and friends to network and get to meet people (and dogs!)
