06/08/2026
Some stories deserve to be told again.
A very young Maia Jaspersmith (Groove now) used to hang out at Gusto Cafe back when we first opened our doors. Her parents had been posted to Penang for work, and Gusto became one of those places that felt a little like home.
From the very beginning, we wanted our walls to tell stories, so we invited artists - especially young, budding ones to leave their mark. In February 2015, just a few weeks before Maia and her family were due to leave Penang for good, she told me she wanted to paint something on one of our walls.
I assumed she'd sketch it out in pencil first before filling it in. Nope. She walked in armed with a handful of fine paintbrushes, stood in front of a blank wall, and started painting... freehand. 🤯
Stroke by stroke, day by day, an incredible world map emerged - every country represented through the colours of its national flag, bird, flower, instrument, and other unique symbols. Watching it come to life was nothing short of amazing. She finished it just before they left Penang, leaving us with a masterpiece and a memory we'll always treasure.
Fast forward 11 years...
Today, Maia walked back through our doors.....this time with her husband and their beautiful one-year-old son in tow. ❤️ What a joy and blessing it was to see you all again! It was also so special to have Jillie and Al as well.
Life has a funny way of bringing people back to places that helped shape their journey, and moments like these remind us that Gusto has always been more than just a café. It's been a place where friendships are made, creativity is celebrated, and people become family.
You'll always be part of our Gusto family.
Sorry we didn't get nearly enough time to catch up with you all this morning, but we're so grateful you came by. Here's hoping it won't be another 11 years before we see you again. ❤️
