Burman Cafe

The Burman Cafe is a locally operated cafe serving traditional Indian coffees, teas, sweets, and pastries alongside more common cafe foods and local recipes. Primarily, the cafe is centered on serving a local customer base rather than that of tourists, with lower prices to locals, frequent discounts, and secret menus not made available during the tourist season. During tourist season, Burman Cafe will oftentimes operate a pop-up stand on the city's boardwalk near the main beaches and surfing locations.   The cafe has a promotion where they play up a rivalry between Asher and another cafe owner, Aislinn, having a rivalry between their shops, where customers can get a discount by bringing in each other's cups.   In coordination with the Red Pineapple Corps, which the cafe's manager is a part of, the cafe also functions as a shelter for natural disaster events such as hurricanes and earthquakes, with a substantial stockpile of fresh water, emergency rations, and medical supplies. During emergency events the cafe will operate as a storm shelter for those with inadequate housing or shelter and as a food pantry. It is also stocked with emergency supplies, maps to other shelter locations, and kits for different scenarios. During hurricanes, for example, the cafe has been known to provide hot food, drink, and a safe place to get out of the storm even after hours. It is also a rendezvous for the Pineapple Corps themselves to send people in need of shelter or minor medical care during emergency events.

The cafe itself is owned by Ira Burman who opened it alongside her brother Nirav Burman as their primary business. The pair, alongside Ira's young son Asher lived in the upstairs apartment until Ira retired and bought her own home elsewhere in the city, relinquishing the apartment to her son.

The cafe was built from a refurbished storefront on Tukai Street, renovated for food service in 24,976. For much of the cafe's life it has had a simple design with homely decoration and a regular color pallet of oranges, browns, and white. Many of the cafe's decorations are Ira's own personal belongings, photos, and framed pictures of herself, her family, and regular customers as well as drawings done by local children on a dedicated bulletin board. The cafe also has a local news bulletin advertising local events, shows, and businesses.   Since taking over as the cafe's manager, Asher has made several alterations, mainly in the cafe's cooking area, by upgrading equipment, replacing food displays, and refitting the kitchenette to be able to serve more regular meals and a wider array of menu items. Decor in the cafe has also seen a shift with many more pieces of sporting equipment, modern signage, and string lights, though he has not removed Ira's chalkboard menu. Asher also installed a chalk wall for younger customers, which weekly pictures are taken and posted to the cafe's art wall as well as social media. Although not seen by customers, the building's rear portion also has a large beach mural painted by Asher and Jon.   There is a running gag among the cafe's regular customer base and Asher himself due to a number of decorations being items he made in his childhood that he "isn't allowed to remove", such as old art projects. Asher frequently moves these items, which if they are found by his customers before Ira finds them, he will grant them a free menu item.

The cafe's exterior and general design follows much of the same aesthetics as other buildings in the 'local' part of Shanai. The foundation is made out of volcanic stone, with woven palm for the walls and a roof made of clay shingles. The outside paneling also has quite common depictions like many of Shanai's other buildings, of boar, waves, and local plants painted in red, black, white, and orange. Inside, the cafe's aesthetic changes greatly, being a mix of local and Indian culture.   A porch wraps around the front of the cafe to the back, where there is shared seating with a local restaurant on a lower patio.

The Burman Cafe was built by Asher Burman's mother and uncle shortly after they moved to the City of Shanai, as a means cutting off ties with the rest of their family, who were members of Hilathu's cult. Ira Burman and Nirav Burman opened the cafe in 24,976, serving Indian style teas, coffees, and sweets, exploiting a niche not readily found in Shanai.   Their cafe has become a popular location for the locals due to the Burman's hospitality to them, easy going nature, and readiness to reach out to their neighbors. Recently the cafe was passed down to Ira's son, Asher, who now is the primary employee and manager. Asher also lives in the apartment above the cafe since Ira's retirement.   During the Pacific Eruption Disaster, the cafe suffered numerous damages from earthquakes, fire, and the volcanic eruption on the island. The cafe's roof suffered a partial collapse that has condemned the upstairs apartment due to heavy ash fall and has led to structural damage in the cafe itself. Due to fire fighting efforts, much of the cafe has extreme water damage and mold, despite the building not having caught fire itself. Looting for supplies, although encouraged by Asher and Ira themselves due to the disaster also resulted in the loss of multiple pieces of cooking equipment, the cafe's refrigerator, and much of the furniture for use in refugee camps. Although Asher plans on reopening the cafe once Shanai has stabilized, he stated to local reporters that these plans are "on the backburner", and will come whenever he sees fit. Despite this, there has been a small local movement to fund the cafe's reconstruction and repair costs as well as upgrade or replace missing equipment.

During the tourist season, the Burman Cafe advertises and promotes itself rather heavily, unlike the majority of the year. Most tourists come as a result of a 'rivalry' between the Burman Cafe and Latte Fairies, and for promotions between the two cafes to get cheap or discounted coffee from using the other store's cups and merchandise.