Me’s Café
The Café With a Heart Full of Hope
Catherine Lawson
Few things are more devastating to a family than the loss of a child and few things are more inspiring than a family who turns that grief into something positive. For Liz Fulton, owner of Me’s Café in Coylton, the loss of her baby nephew, Micah Eddie McEwan, was the start of a business venture which aimed to keep his spirit alive and raise awareness and funding for the condition which had taken his life so early.
Micah was born with CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia), a rare genetic condition which leaves a hole in a baby’s diaphragm. It’s a condition that occurs in the same percentage of babies as cystic fibrosis and spina bifida and yet most people have never heard of it before; something Liz is keen to address. Sadly, baby Micah was unable to leave the hospital after his birth, remaining in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow for six months until he passed on New Year’s Day 2022.
Having taken over the café premises prior to Micah’s birth, Liz had already started the long, hard process of converting what had previously been a bookies into a community café. However, initial plans shifted in light of the loss faced by the family and when the café opened two years ago the name, the décor and the focus reflected the spirit of the little boy who had inspired the changes. Me’s Café (named using the initials from Micah Eddie McEwan’s first two names) offers a beautiful baby blue space with pictures, love hearts and fundraising initiatives all honouring Micah’s memory and the family’s promise to raise funds for the charity which had supported them through some dark days.
Me’s Café has firmly established itself in the local community as a much-loved regular meeting place for locals and a welcoming hub for newcomers to the area. In addition to operating as a café by day, Liz and her staff frequently host charity nights and events to raise funds for families affected by CDH. To date they have raised over £20,000. It’s no surprise that Me’s Café recently won Ayrshire’s Best New Business in the Scottish Business Awards, an accolade that Liz is quick to attribute to the amazing staff who have been with her from the beginning and the valued customers who have become part of the Me’s family.
In addition to extensive fundraising work and a commitment to community, Liz is a keen supporter of young people finding their feet in the hospitality trade. 17-year-old Paige Gibson is just one of Liz’s success stories. Paige has now passed several Master Bakers of Scotland courses having been trained in-house to produce the tasty cakes, bakes and breads which have become so popular with customers. Me’s brunches and lunches are also a big attraction with some hearty feeds on the menu including specials such as the Balmoral burger and chips, tandoori chicken and cheese melts, beef chilli loaded fries and their very own Me’s stovies stack. Lighter bites including fresh salads and soups (favourites such as lentil, cock-a-leekie and chicken broth are regulars on the specials board) are also available and it goes without saying that a specialty coffee or a good old-fashioned pot of tea comes highly recommended and is always served with a smile.
The success of Me’s Café is a massive achievement for the family and staff who have worked so hard to make their vision a reality in the wake of such a devastating loss. For Micah’s mum, Nicole, it gives her a place where she can feel close to Micah and where, through the overwhelming support shown by staff and customers, she can feel hope for other families living with the uncertainty of CDH.
