Photo: Talor Browne
Nestled in the vibrant Bjørvika area, just steps away from the Munch Museum, Talormade donut shop has become a beloved spot for locals and tourists alike since its inception in 2020. However, the shop, owned by Australian-born Talor Browne (36), has found itself at the center of an unresolved conflict with some neighbours, leading to a series of complaints and hostile incidents.
Talormade opened its doors in Bjørvika in June 2020, blossoming into a local favourite with a community-centric approach. Browne, who worked in Paris before, aimed to fill a void she saw in Oslo’s food scene, stating, “Oslo can be painfully lonely. For me, making this place was about more than making delicious donuts and serving quality coffee, it’s about creating a community.” However, since late 2023, that community spirit has been challenged by a growing wave of discontent from some residents living in the upscale apartments above her cafe.
The Neon Lights Incident
The most significant flashpoint in this ongoing struggle was the complaint about Talormade’s donut-shaped neon lights. Initially installed on the outer window to attract customers from the nearby Munch Museum and brighten up the somewhat grey surroundings, the striking purple lights have now been taken down and relocated inside the shop following a series of complaints from 11 neighbours in 2021. According to Browne, the complaint didn’t stem from the brightness of the lights but rather from a contention that they broke local advertising standards. “When we put them up, the area was empty and lifeless. The neon lights were a joy, I would argue it’s more art than advertising,” she says. Oslo’s Signage and Advertising Plan doesn’t specify regulations related to art work, but it does mention that businesses in Bjørvika can only have outdoor advertisements (including light installations) after obtaining permission from the municipality, and it shouldn’t be disturbing to residents. Neither of those conditions were met. A spokesperson from Plan- og bygningsetaten, the city’s planning and building agency, states: “The illegal signs have been removed. Based on feedback from Talormade and others, we therefore consider that the illegality has ceased, and we have therefore closed the case.”
The neon lights outside Talormade in December 2022, before they were taken down. Photo: Instagram Talormade
Proving the neon lights were art, would have meant fighting the complaint and risking huge fines, which was not optional for Talormade. “We would have needed a lawyer. It costs a lot of money and it’s no guarantee that you are allowed to keep the lights. We’re a small business who can’t risk that, so we had to take them down,” Browne says.
A Series of Incidents
Trivial complaints have mounted beyond the neon lights. Browne recalls an incident during their move-in process in late 2023. Due to financial underperformance, Talormade’s other cafes in Oslo had to close down, which meant that their remaining shop in Bjørvika had to be renovated, including reinstalling the bakery there. She got permission from the janitor to use the residential elevator for a couple of hours to transport large equipment. Upon doing so, a neighbour confronted her employee, aggressively accusing them of damaging the elevator and blocking access for emergency vehicles. “He stood there yelling at my staff, saying someone would die if an ambulance couldn’t get through,” Browne explains. “I just don’t get it. Many people shortly park there car there to unload stuff. And why would they want us to suffer and take the stairs? Besides, there was no damage to the elevator. It was so unnecessarily stressful.”
Another striking incident involved an oil spill that occurred when a staff member accidentally knocked over a bucket while rolling it outside. Though fully cleaned up the next morning, a neighbour berated a staff member, demanding to close down the cafe and take immediate action to scrub the concrete, claiming the stain could leave a permanent mark. “He was so threatening,” Browne recounts. “People were watching from their balconies. It was humiliating.” Verified by The Oslo Desk, the same man later sent 10 aggressive emails back to back, even though she properly cleaned the concrete.
Talormade’s written response to the complaints about the spilled oil incident and threatening of her employee. Photo: Talor Browne
The tension escalated when another seemingly trivial matter—a pallet left outside for two hours—prompted yet another complaint, with Browne noting, “Nothing slips under the radar. Every single thing.” She fears that they must “walk on eggshells” to maintain good relations with neighbours who appear to be quick to anger over the slightest issues.
While those neighbours have kicked her out of the local Facebook group and would usually not set foot in the shop, when Talormade’s fastelavnsboller were voted best in Oslo, some couldn’t resist. Since the buns were so popular, Talor had to make a rule that they could sell only two per person, so more people could try them. “One of the neighbours wanted a third and shouted: ‘my mother is dying upstairs, do you want to deny her a bolle? Do you want me to get her out of her death bed so she can come down herself?!’” Browne says. “It’s a bun we’re talking about. I had to go outside and cry.”
Running a Migrant Business is Challenging
Talor is not the only one in Bjørvika experiencing hostile behaviour from its residents. A local janitor also voiced his disbelief at the aggressive behaviour from some residents. “He told me they threatened staff at nearby gastropub I Baren,” Browne recalls.
The question remains: why? The intense scrutiny has not only affected her business but has left Browne wondering about the underlying motivations for the complaints. She speculates, “Many of the people living here are extraordinarily wealthy. I come from a working-class family, and perhaps there’s a disconnect. They might have different expectations about how people should behave around them.” A staff member of a nearby restaurant, who wishes to stay anonymous, also immediately recognised the sentiment, calling some of the residents “entitled”. For this story we have reached out to several of the neighbours involved, but none have come out to share their side of the story.
Browne’s challenges reflect a broader narrative about the difficulties faced by immigrant, female business owners in Norway. “It’s interesting to see how running a hospitality business as a foreigner is different,” she notes, pointing to systemic barriers that seem to alienate non-native entrepreneurs. “You have to take the etablererprøven, the establishment test, in Norwegian. You can do anything else in English, but not this. It shows the xenophobia in this country.”
A Desire for Dialogue
Despite the negativity from some residents, Talormade has garnered a loyal customer base, good relations with the Oslo kommune and local council, and support from neighbouring businesses, as well as even some of the new neighbours.
Browne remains open to dialogue, expressing a desire to improve relationships with her neighbours, hoping for them to become regulars eventually. “When I moved into my own apartment in Grünerløkka, I brought everyone in my building coffee and donuts and said: ‘My name’s Talor, if there’s anything, here’s my number.’ That’s the kind of relationship with neighbours I have in my private life. I want it in my professional life too.”
