Police have been called to intervene in a bizarre neighbourhood dispute at a trendy Perth coffee shop, after a furious local allegedly used a megaphone to heckle diners. The eight-month feud between Sam Kaye, owner of Side Piece Deli, and nearby residents in the affluent suburb of Swanbourne has escalated dramatically, with complaints about noise, traffic, odours, and customers blocking footpaths.
Background of the Dispute
Mr Kaye, a recent winner of the Business News 40 Under 40 award for his successful cafe empire, alleges that neighbour Kerry Wells screamed expletives through a megaphone at the packed deli, alarming customers mid-meal. Mrs Wells admitted she 'lost her cool' during the standoff and yelled 'shut the f**k up' toward the cafe. In an email to Town of Claremont councillors and The POST newspaper, she wrote: 'Mr Kaye banned me from the premises when I have asked for the cacophony in the rear alfresco to be toned down.'
Mr Kaye confirmed that two locals have been banned from entering his venue, alleging that residents retaliated by blasting disruptive static noise towards the venue for hours on end. Council records show that Ms Wells had earlier complained about 'noxious odours' from the cafe, which opened in August 2025, prompting an investigation by the council in February.
Legal Escalation
The extraordinary feud is now heading for a dramatic courtroom showdown, with the Supreme Court set to hear the latest twist next month. Luxury homeowner Ian Satchwell, who lives two doors from the cafe in a $5.5 million home, is pushing to shut it down, arguing that its council approval was unlawful. A writ application filed by Mr Satchwell calls for the planning approval to be overturned and for the popular cafe, which he claims is operating as a fast food restaurant, to cease operating altogether.
Mr Kaye said he never imagined his small cafe would end up connected to Supreme Court proceedings, describing his fourth hospitality venture as one of his most difficult to manage. 'What started as what we believed would be a typical neighbour concern, unfortunately, escalated over time into something much larger and more public than we ever anticipated,' he told the Daily Mail. 'From the beginning, our focus has simply been on creating a great local venue for the community while working closely with the Town of Claremont and complying with the relevant approvals and operational requirements. We've made several adjustments and operational compromises along the way to be respectful of surrounding residents and to keep the peace.'
Community Support and Costs
Mr Kaye said there have been some 'difficult and confronting' moments for staff and customers, and anticipated that the legal action could cost anywhere from $150,000 upwards to defend. 'What has genuinely surprised us has been the level of support from the broader community,' he said. 'We've had an overwhelming response from customers and locals who simply enjoy having a neighbourhood cafe in the area, and we're incredibly grateful for that support. We remain hopeful that, over time, relationships can improve and a more constructive path forward can be found for everyone involved.'
Council and Police Involvement
The council recently issued a permit allowing the cafe to have outdoor seating for four people on the footpath, addressing frequent complaints about long queues of customers spreading onto the footpath and neighbouring verges. The council has stated publicly that it would be premature to comment on the case, but has previously stated that the cafe is compliant under its local planning scheme. WA Police were contacted for comment but said they were unable to comment on the allegations or how many call-outs they had received to the cafe. Ms Wells has also not responded to requests for comment.
