Several stalls have moved out of a kopitiam in Yishun following the establishment’s S$40 million sale in July.
On Sept 5, a Facebook group Uniquely Singapore Hawker Food! member shared information on the status of the coffee shop at Block 848 Yishun Street 81, noting five stalls have moved out.
The original poster included photos of four stalls that appeared to be cleared out, with no information if they had relocated.
According to the post, the affected stalls are a chicken rice stall, a claypot and herbal soup stall, a Hainan Zai stall, a western stall and a popiah stall.
Only the Hainan Zai stall had a notice that they moved out on Aug 30, 2022, and transferred to another location. They were scheduled to reopen on Sept 7, 2022.
“It’s been said that the entire coffee shop will be closed in September for renovation,” the original poster noted.
“Not sure whether other stalls will also move out as they are still operating as of now,” he added.
According to MustShareNews, “The rest of the vendors have yet to announce their next moves, leaving customers in the lurch as they wonder if the stalls have relocated too or closed permanently.”
It was previously reported by Shin Min Daily News that the kopitiam buyer 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.
Regarding rental adjustments, the buyer admitted this was “difficult to avoid.”
Meanwhile, members from the online community commented that stalls moving out was to be expected. “Of course, the stall goes elsewhere to sell. No customers there at all” said Facebook user Ande Liew.
Others noted that, at the end of the day, customers would be the ones to pay more for their meals.
“It is good to have empty stalls. Let these Kopitiam owners know and feel the pinch. Next time don’t anyhow throw money and expect clients to be gullible and pay higher prices,” commented Facebook user Gilbert Chee. /TISG
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