Not a meme, 'husband day-care centre' exists

Husband Day Care Centre signage. [Caroline Kimutai, Standard]

You have probably seen a meme of a 'husband day care centre' circulating in WhatsApp groups and shared widely on social media. The sign tells wives they can (happily) drop off their husbands when they need time to relax alone, go shopping or have some 'me' time.

Well, the place exists. It is not a day-care centre, but an outdoor cafe known as the Green Towers, a description of its green copper roofing - popular in Denmark because of the copper metal's durability.

The cafe is one of two located in Copenhagen, the Danish capital that is home to only 1.37 million people.

Fascinating history

"The tower was built in 1896 and was originally used as a manned phone booth in Copenhagen," says Morten Malmros, the owner of the cafe.

It was the first telephone tower (what Kenyans call phone booths), in Denmark where people would pay to enter the tower and use the telephone. There was also the option of calling and giving a message to the operator who would then relay the message to the recipient by sending a messenger with a bicycle.

The cafe is open all year round including winter. [Caroline Kimutai, Standard]

Fast forward to 2018. Malmros converted the booth into a cafe and put up a sign that has gone viral around the world. "I wanted to have a sign that would put a smile on people's faces," he tells me. Every two to three minutes people stop at the sign and take photos.

"Husbands come here to sit and rest their legs. We keep husbands busy while their wives and children shop," says Antonne, the bartender who apart from working at the Green Towers cafe, is also a part-time student.

The cafe is run by one person, there are no waiters. [Caroline Kimutai, Standard]

Simple set-up

The sitting area is outdoors, made of tables and chairs under an umbrella.

A customer walks to the booth, orders their alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink and goes to sit, the order is delivered within two minutes. They also sell snacks like potato crisps and nuts, but mostly drinks. Once the order is ready, the bartender brings it to your table.

It is an outdoor cafe known as the Green Towers, a description of its green copper roofing. [Caroline Kimutai, Standard]

The cafe is run by one person, there are no waiters. "We also try to minimize all use of plastic. All our bottles are recycled and so are all our other waste products," adds Malmros.

Customers enjoy their drinks while watching people walk by on the busy street and listening to music.

It is not a day-care centre, but an outdoor cafe known as the Green Towers. [Caroline Kimutai, Standard]

Do wives really leave their husbands here?

"Yes, they do! And quite often. However, we do also have men that leave their wives with us," says Malmros.

The cafe is open all year round including winter when temperatures fall to -1 degrees Celsius. They offer warm blankets and heating for their customers. Drinks range from Sh400 to Sh1,200. A cup of tea costs Sh480.