The unlikely team that saved Penrith’s The Flower Shop bar

Meet the unlikely team that joined forces to save a speak-easy style bar in Sydney’s west.

Venue Manager Paige Gleeson and hospitality consultant Brendon Hill, at the new look Flower Shop in Penrith, today. The venue has new owners and is thriving. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Prominent hospitality consultant Brendon Hill is working with former security guards of Penrith’s The Flower Shop, who obtained the licence from venture capitalists Quiet Capital three months ago.

The speak-easy style bar, hidden behind a florist on Penrith’s high street, was opened at the end of 2022 by Quiet Capital, who also own brewery Drink West, which Panthers star Nathan Cleary is involved in.

However five months after opening the bar had to close its doors while they applied for a new liquor licence, after originally operating under a restaurant licence.

Then when it reopened, The Flower Shop struggled to find its feet.

Now, former security guards for the venue including Sam Rahif, Ramsin Pedro, Mario Rahif and Hassan Ibrahim have been divested the licence.

Hill, brought on originally to open the venue, is now managing operations. He told The Daily Telegraph he left originally to pursue other opportunities, including work at The Grounds.

However he’s excited to be back at the venue.

“I think it’s one of the best concepts in Sydney. I loved the venue. I have since I opened it. It’s Penrith’s first and only hidden bar. I poured my love into it when it opened, so it felt like there was unfinished business,“ he said.

The new ownership has saved the bar, which has doubled its revenue within three months. The QR codes are gone, there is a new cocktail menu which changes seasonally, a revamped seating plan with more dining tables and a separate area for walk-ins. Guests are also able to bunches of flowers if they want.

“We haven’t changed what the venue was originally supposed to be. Instead, we flipped it back to what it started as and we’ve focused on hospitality. Now instead of staying for an hour for discounted cocktails, people are staying for five or six,” said Hill.

Yuan Casaje. He and his family started Flappys Fried Chicken last year and has become incredibly popular due to their Louisiana style of fried chicken. Picture: Richard Dobson

WHY THIS CHICKEN SHOP WENT VIRAL AND SENT SOCIAL MEDIA INTO A FLAP

A Western Sydney chicken shop has taken social media by storm, after being labelled the best “dupe” for an American cult chain.

Now, it’s spreading it wings to open at a second location.

Flappys Fried Chicken in Penrith has won over the hearts of local foodies, after blowing up on TikTok and Instagram since opening in March last year with hundreds of thousands of likes.

Their Louisiana-style fried chicken attracted Sydneysiders from all over the region and even visitors from interstate, due to its similarity to the popular Raising Caines chicken, famous cup of sauce, fries and bread, which can only be enjoyed overseas.

Owner of the family-run business, Yuan Casaje, said it “definitely was a really good feeling” to see the queues of fans lining up for his family’s fried chicken.

The Mega Tenders Box at Flappys. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We appreciate all the people that drive for hours on end to try our food,” he told Confidential.

“It (customer support) definitely has not slowed down.”

Mr Casaje said the idea to open the fried chicken shop came while holidaying overseas.

“We were on holiday in the US and we tried the Louisiana-style chicken and we were thinking ‘hey this could work in Sydney’ because right now the only known place is KFC,” he said.

“We just thought that fried chicken would become the new trend, we analyse stuff from overseas.”

Then in December 2023, Flappys fried chicken took off online.

“It was quite a surprise. We were on holiday during the time our social media manager posted a video on Instagram and it was the big sauce cup that resembled the Raising Caines cup,” Mr Casaje said.

With their overwhelming demand and praise from local chicken lovers, Flappys have announced they will be opening a second shop, this time in Westfield Sydney in the CBD in October.

“Penrith is such a far place to get to, so we’re giving the people what they want and opening in heart of Sydney,” the 21-year-old said.

“Our goal for the future right now is to expand.

“We really focus on the freshness and the quality of the chicken, everything is made pretty much in house, Even down to our lemonade.”