Fire at Yishun coffee shop that was sold for S$40 million under investigation

SINGAPORE: A coffee shop in Yishun that made the news after it was sold for S$40 million in June of last year caught fire in the early morning hours of Aug 31 (Thursday).

The fire incident, now under investigation, was caught on camera, and a video of the blaze was posted on TikTok on the account of @sgjeff007 on the same day.

@sgjeff007

Blk 848 coffeeshop caught fire! #yishun #fyp #fire

♬ 超劲重低音电鼓大炮 – MC暴徒

It shows smoke coming out of the building and a roof that was still ablaze, as firefighters had yet to reach the site at the beginning of the video.

A few men can be seen running around the building while others watch the fire’s progress.

However, less than one minute into the video, a police car and a vehicle from the SCDF arrived.

Then, police officers and firefighters can be seen around the building as multiple hoses are used to put out the blaze.

The video says the fire occurred around 2 o’clock in the morning.

According to news reports, one person sustained minor burns but declined further medical attention, and 19 others were able to self-evacuate the building at Block 848 Yishun Street 81.

The building was purchased by the Chang Cheng Group for a record $40 million.

Shin Min Daily News reported last year that the buyer of the coffee shop decided to proceed with the purchase as he felt the COVID-19 pandemic had stabilised.

The coffee shop’s convenient location in the middle of a neighbourhood with high flat density and a nearby MRT station increased the property’s attractiveness.

The S$40 million price tag was the highest the buyer has paid for any transaction, he added. /TISG

S$40M Yishun kopitiam spotted with empty spaces as stalls leave