It is sad enough that popular food stalls that have been around for decades are forced to close due to the age and illness of the hawkers. But imagine adding to this a sudden rent increase of over S$4,000 (that is even more than my monthly salary)! This has led to the closure of Zhong Xing Foochow Fish Balls & Lor Mee To 25 August 2024 at 148 Silat Avenue— that’s pure madness in my opinion.

The second generation owners of the 82-year-old family business were 68-year-old Ms Wang, her husband and her older brother. Zhong Xing Foochow Fish Balls & Lor Mee started from humble beginnings in 1942 as a street stall on China Street opened by her father. In 1995, the business moved to the Zion Road Food Centre before relocating to its Silat Avenue location.

In the past, the stall also had a second branch in the Maxwell Food Centre at number 01-62, where Jiang Nan Wei Dao currently lives. The menu included Lor Mee, Dried sesame Me, Foochow Fish Ball Soup And Wanton Sea.

Ms. Wang started the business after graduating from secondary school. The trio are no longer young and often suffer from aches and pains from long periods of standing, hard work and the effects of aging.

The coffee shop where the stall was located is set to begin renovations in September, with the landlord announcing a significant rent increase that will push costs to over S$6,000 per month. This was another reason for the landlord to decide to pull out and close the business for good.

We wish Ms. Wang all the best for her final years and hope that she can enjoy her well-deserved retirement to the fullest.

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