The aftermath of a recent sale sees several food stalls leaving the coffee shop.
Several stalls have vacated a kopitiam in Yishun following its S$40 million sale in July. On September 5, a member of the Facebook group Uniquely Singapore Hawker Food! shared an update on the coffee shop located at Block 848 Yishun Street 81, reporting that five stalls have moved out.
The original poster included photos showing four stalls that appeared to have been cleared out, with no indication of their new locations.
The stalls affected include a chicken rice stall, a claypot and herbal soup stall, a Hainan Zai stall, a western food stall, and a popiah stall. Only the Hainan Zai stall provided a notice stating that they relocated on August 30, 2022, and were set to reopen at a new location on September 7, 2022.
“It has been mentioned that the entire coffee shop will undergo renovations in September,” the original poster noted, expressing uncertainty about whether other stalls would also leave, as they were still operational at that time.
According to MustShareNews, “The remaining vendors have yet to disclose their future plans, leaving customers uncertain about the status of the stalls—whether they have relocated or closed permanently.”
Previously, Shin Min Daily News reported that the buyer of the kopitiam decided to finalize the purchase, believing the COVID-19 pandemic had stabilized. The coffee shop’s prime location within a densely populated neighborhood, coupled with proximity to an MRT station, enhanced its appeal.
The S$40 million price tag represents the highest amount the buyer has ever paid for a transaction. Regarding potential rental adjustments, the buyer acknowledged that such changes were “difficult to avoid.”
Meanwhile, comments from the online community indicated that the departure of stalls was anticipated. “Of course, the stall will move elsewhere to sell. There are no customers there at all,” remarked Facebook user Ande Liew.
Others noted that ultimately, it would be customers who would bear the brunt of any price increases. “It’s good to see empty stalls. Let these kopitiam owners feel the pinch. Next time, they shouldn’t throw money around and expect customers to be gullible and pay higher prices,” commented Facebook user Gilbert Chee.
