SINGAPORE - Japan Food Town, the cluster of Japanese restaurants on the fourth floor of the Isetan department store at Wisma Atria, closed down on Feb 29.
In a filing to the Singapore Exchange dated Jan 31, Isetan issued a notice to quit to Japan Food Town Development for non-payment of certain sums. The termination of tenancy was with immediate effect, and Isetan will exercise its right of re-entry to the premises on Feb 29.
Japan Food Town's website has posted a notice to say that it is closed, while its Facebook page lists promotions till Feb 25.
Sudden closure of 3 bridal studios leaves more than 60 couples high and dry, over $250k paid
Bride-to-be Chloe had been looking forward to her big day in November and preparations had been going smoothly.
Until she received a text from her friend on Tuesday (April 2) that left her with a pit in her stomach.
It led her to a forum on local wedding planning website SingaporeBrides, which was buzzing with news about the sudden closure of a bridal studio called Love Nest.
It was there that Chloe, who declined to give her full name and occupation, learnt that L'atelier — the bridal boutique that she and her fiance had hired as well as an associated entity of Love Nest — had also shut down.
The 27-year-old told AsiaOne that she and her fiance had purchased a bridal package — which included the rental of wedding attire, make-up and photography on the wedding day — for about $3,660 last December. The couple paid in full.
And at least more than 60 other couples have also been left in limbo by the shuttering of the two bridal studios and Love Story Wedding Boutique, another associated entity of Love Nest. All three are located at City Gate in Beach Road.
A check online by AsiaOne found that Love Nest Holdings, whose business address is listed at Parkview Square in North Bridge Road, was issued a winding up order on Jan 13, 2023, and is listed as being in liquidation.
Losses incurred by the affected couples could amount to more than $250,000. Reports have been filed with the police, and complaints with the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case).
The police said a 36-year-old man is assisting with investigations.
Chloe and her fiance last visited L'atelier for a gown fitting session on March 10 and made several appointments for upcoming sessions on that day. They were next supposed to pick out the groom's suit on April 27.
Like most of the other affected couples, they tried in vain to contact their wedding coordinators after finding out about the bridal shops' closures. Chloe's father also headed down to L'atelier, where he found the lights on but no staff in sight.
Financial loss aside, Chloe, who has made a police report, said: "It's a bit bothersome to restart the whole search process for the different vendors."
She added that she and several other people who were affected have tried requesting chargebacks from their credit card companies. But she was unsuccessful as more than 90 days had lapsed since she paid for the package.
Over $250,000 paid to the bridal shops
Another customer who has been stung is Ramsey Teo. He had made partial payment of around $3,500 to Love Nest for his $8,000 bridal package, which consisted of a pre-wedding photo shoot and photography on the wedding day.
The 30-year-old, who works in the cleaning services industry and is getting married in November, said that the first sign of trouble emerged in late March, when two employees from the studio's production team suddenly exited a group chat with him and his fiancee.
On Monday, another customer in a bridal group chat he had joined claimed most of the employees at the bridal shop had resigned as of March 31, and that the gowns and bridal displays in the store had been taken down.
Like many other Love Nest customers, he received a text message from the studio the next day, which said it was "temporarily closing its operations from April 2" because of "unforeseen circumstances and financial challenges".
The message also said all services will be temporarily unavailable, and that updates will be made via its website, email and social media pages.
According to a spreadsheet created by the affected couples, which AsiaOne saw, there appears to be more than 60 couples who have paid over $250,000 in total to Love Nest, L'atelier and Love Story Wedding Boutique.
Responding to AsiaOne's queries, Case said it has received 17 consumer complaints as of Wednesday night.
Case president Melvin Yong said consumers had engaged the companies for services such as pre-wedding photography, make-up and rental of wedding outfits, and had already made payment.
"However, they were notified on April 2 by Love Nest that it and its associated entities would be temporarily closed, without any clarity on when these companies would reopen and honour their contractual obligations," Yong added.
The total contractual amount for these affected consumers is over $58,000.
Other wedding vendors to the rescue
Several wedding service providers have stepped up to help, with some offering discounts to affected couples.
Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Evan Ong, co-founder of integrated wedding company Knotz, said he has contacted affected customers to match them to service providers such as photographers and bridal studios.
"There are some vendors that are willing to offer 15 to 50 per cent discounts," he added.
"This is not the first instance of a bridal shop suddenly closing and we have previously helped other couples [in the same situation]."
The SingaporeBrides website has also curated a list of service providers who are offering discounts to affected couples.
Employees allegedly owed wages
But it appears that it's not just customers that the bridal boutiques have left in the lurch.
According to the Shin Min report, one employee claimed that the company owes some 20 staff members around $100,000 in unpaid wages.
As for himself, he has not been paid for two months and could not contact his boss.
Another employee also told the Chinese newspaper that the company owes him nearly $3,000 in wages and that some full-time photographers are allegedly owed two to three months' salary amounting to over $10,000.
AsiaOne has reached out to the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management for comment.
https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/sudden-closure-3-bridal-studios-leaves-more-60-couples-high-and-dry-over-250k-paid
FYI.
Sin Heng Kee Porridge closes down its store at Toa Payoh after being in business for only a week!!!!
Nasi lemak hawker The CoCo Rice to shutter both Tiong Bahru and Punggol stalls after 3 years
Back in 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Aries Chan, the founder of The CoCo Rice, was one of the brave few people who decided to open an F&B stall.
After her first successful stall at Tiong Bahru, she went on to open another one at One Punggol Hawker Centre.
Sadly, both outlets will soon be shuttering for good.
This may come as a surprise as the hawker was just recently invited to participate in the Prime Minister's Chinese New Year Garden Party 2024, where she served food to more than 3,000 guests at the Istana.
Aries announced the news in posts on her Facebook and Instagram on March 6.
"We write to you today with mixed emotions as we announce a significant transition in our journey," she wrote.
"After three incredible years serving our beloved nasi lemak at Tiong Bahru Hawker, we have made the heartfelt decision to bid farewell to this chapter of our story."
The last day for the Tiong Bahru stall will be on March 27, while the Punggol stall's last day is on March 31.
Aries shared that the "decision has not been made lightly" and thanked her customers for their unwavering support and love.
She was also grateful to the platforms and influencers that have given her media coverage, as well as those who have given her awards and collaboration opportunities.
"Each accolade has served as a testament to the dedication and passion poured into every plate of nasi lemak we have served."
While she's sad to let both her stalls go, she understands that as the business evolves, there is the need for "a strategic shift".
"While bidding adieu to our hawker adventure is bittersweet, we are excited to embark on a new adventure that will allow us to explore fresh opportunities and avenues for growth," she wrote.
This also means that it probably won't be the end of the business.
Aries hinted that she will be back with some exciting news and urged her customers to keep their eyes peeled in the coming weeks as she will be sharing "updates on future endeavours".
Lack of manpower and other issues
In response to AsiaOne's queries, Aries shared that she made the decision to shutter the stall for several reasons.
One was manpower issues.
"The demanding nature of the hawker business, the environment of the working area, coupled with long hours can make it challenging to attract and retain workers. If we want to grow, we need more manpower. But is just so difficult to get someone on board and stay," she reveals.
Aries also explains that the "prevailing mindset that hawker food should be cheap and fast" has also affected business.
"While we wholeheartedly believe in offering value to our customers, we also recognise that the true cost of quality ingredients and the labor-intensive processes we undertake cannot always be reflected in our prices."
Lastly, she feels that the company needs a strategic shift as the industry and business evolves."I still believe in taste and experience. Our commitment and vision to delivering exceptional flavours and experiences will remain steadfast," she says.
"We will do rebranding and introduce new products. We are looking forward to having new venture and introduce new products to our clients. We want to be able to serve a wider crowd of audience as well. We want to bring and introduce the authentic taste, experience and convenience to each household."
For now, there are no plans in the pipeline to reopen the business elsewhere. But if there are, she will update everyone.
Customers can also still enjoy her nasi lemak by ordering her nasi lemak cakes from her home-based business, Nasi Lemak Indulgence.
From home-based business to physical stall
Before opening her physical store at Tiong Bahru Market in mid-2021, Aries, who hails from Malaysia, used to have a home-based business called Nasi Lemak Indulgence, which was popular for its nasi lemak cakes.
When she wanted to open her own hawker stall, she realised that she could not continue selling nasi lemak cakes and decided to sell just nasi lemak.
What made her nasi lemak stand out was its pretty and Instagram-worthy blue pea rice.
In January last year, she opened another stall at One Punggol Hawker Centre.
This venture specialised in something a little different — nasi kandar.
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/nasi-lemak-hawker-coco-rice-shutter-both-tiong-bahru-and-punggol-stalls-after-3-years
Singapore gym chain Ritual ceases operations, customers seek refunds
SINGAPORE: Singapore gym chain Ritual has ceased operations at all four outlets here, saying it has placed the company in provisional liquidation.
It informed customers of the decision in an email on Thursday (Feb 29), saying: “Unfortunately, despite our best efforts to continue operating, we have decided to close the business and have ceased operations at all locations in Singapore."
The boutique gym is known for offering 20-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Its four affected outlets are at Holland Village, Orchard Road, East Coast and Tiong Bahru.
Co-founded by former mixed martial arts fighter Brad Robinson and fitness coach Ian Tan, Ritual opened its first outlet in Boat Quay in 2013.
It also has outlets overseas, owned by franchisees, in Brazil and Spain.
"While we have placed the company into provisional liquidation, we are also exploring ways to get the Ritual experience back up and running as soon as possible," the company said in its email to customers.
CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS
Some members left comments on Ritual's latest Instagram post, expressing their disappointment at the closures and asking for refunds.
Some said they had already paid for their membership subscription two days ago or still have “credits” left unused.
“I have six months already paid up,” read one comment.
A member who only wanted to be known as Mrs Tan told CNA that she was “very sad” about the closures, which felt like the “end of an era”.
"I'll never find another gym like Ritual,” she said.
Another customer who wanted to be known as Kyle described Ritual as a “great homegrown brand” but said the announcement did not come as a surprise.
“The abrupt closure of their first branch which served the central business district (and) the community building events that did not appear to cohere with the core brand ... It did not come as a great surprise when I received the email announcement today,” said Kyle, who has trained at Ritual since 2015.
CNA has contacted Ritual for more information about potential refunds and how many employees would be affected by the closures.
In its email to customers, Ritual said that the appointed provisional liquidators are Cameron Lindsay Duncan and David Dong-Won Kim of KordaMentha, who will handle “all necessary proceedings” and write to members regarding the provisional liquidation process.
Members were also asked to contact the provisional liquidator’s office if they have queries.
“We are immensely grateful for the unwavering support you have shown us, and we cannot express enough gratitude for the community we've built together,” it added.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ritual-gym-chain-closes-singapore-customers-refunds-4160301
Bookstore chain Times closes Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point branches
SINGAPORE – Times Bookstores has shuttered its Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point branches, as the chain’s presence here and in the region continues to dwindle in the face of weak sales and low foot traffic.
The English-book retailer, which has been in Singapore for more than 40 years, has held moving-out clearance sales at both outlets, leaving a sole remaining store in Cold Storage Jelita in Holland Road.
The closures were confirmed by the owners of Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point, CapitaLand and Frasers Property.
Times declined to comment on its future plans in Singapore, and whether it had attempted a new bid to stay on in either locations.
The development marks the latest in a slew of Times closures over the past five years, as rumours abound over the chain’s future plans.
Times, owned by regional consumer group Fraser and Neave, recently also shut multiple branches in Malaysia.
In Singapore, its three-floor Centrepoint store wound up in 2019, before the bookstore chain ceased operations in Marina Square and Paragon in 2021, its woes compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Its Jewel store, Times Junior Jewel, also closed at the end of 2023. The space it had occupied now houses Japanese entertainment store Sanrio.
A Plaza Singapura spokesman thanked Times for the “strong partnership over the years” and said The Travel Store will take over Times’ fourth-floor space by the end of March.
Frasers Property did not reveal who its new tenant will be.
Singapore bookstores have been adversely affected by poorer sales, rising rent, and higher goods and services tax and printing costs, which have pushed up book prices.
Many stores have come up with new ways to attract buyers by offering more than the conventional bookstore experience.
Kinokuniya Singapore, for instance, sells merchandise such as Sonny Angels, a line of tiny cherub dolls popular among Gen Z, and in 2023 launched a Studio Ghibli pop-up.
Popular has evolved to focus more on stationery and textbooks, while indie spaces such as Book Bar organise book launches and reading club activities with food and drinks.
The Singapore Books Publishers Association, in a statement to The Straits Times, said it was saddened by the news, “given the small book landscape in Singapore and the loss of other prominent bookstores in recent years”, such as Borders and MPH.
“Every sales channel is increasingly precious,” it said. “This will adversely affect the accessibility of Singapore literature to our local community and the ability of our publishers to find readers.”
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/bookstore-chain-times-closes-plaza-singapura-and-waterway-point-branches
Le Matin Patisserie's last day of business at ION Orchard is on 29 Feb:
😥😥😥
Gram Cafe & Pancakes at VivoCity bids adieu permanently come 20 February 2024 👋
Stickies Bar abruptly shuts down outlets; 37 employees file salary-related claims
SINGAPORE - Popular watering hole Stickies Bar abruptly closed two of its outlets on Jan 15 and laid off more than 30 employees, amid workers’ complaints about delayed salary payments.
Former employees The Straits Times spoke to said they are still owed salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. They have since filed salary-related claims with the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).
In a joint statement on Jan 24, spokespersons for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and TADM said 37 Stickies employees have filed claims with TADM as at Jan 22.
TADM has arranged for mediation sessions between the company and the affected employees on their claims, the joint statement added.
Stickies is a popular local bar in Singapore known for affordable drinks. According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, the directors of Stickies are Mr Norman Then and Mr Chong Sing Yong.
In response to queries from ST, Mr Then said on Jan 24 that the bar has engaged insolvency practitioner Farooq Mann from Mann & Associates in the capacity of an interim judicial manager.
Mr Then added that this was to “protect the going concerns of the business and to look out for the best interest of all the creditors, including the staff”.
On Jan 15, two of the bar’s four outlets – in Aljunied and Keng Cheow Street – were closed with immediate effect, said Mr Calvin Chen, a part-timer at Stickies.
The 28-year-old added that prior to the closing of the outlets, Stickies had already started retrenching employees.
At the time of the interview on Jan 22, Mr Chen said Stickies’ outlets in Dhoby Ghaut and Sunset Lane were still operating.
However, Mr Then told ST on Jan 24 that only the Dhoby Ghaut outlet remains open, and did not provide further information on the one at Sunset Lane.
Mr Chen, who currently works full-time in administration, said that the majority of employees were not paid for the month of December.
He added that payment was supposed to come in on the 7th of every month, but since August 2023, delayed salary payments and wrong amounts of salaries credited had become the norm.
Explaining the situation in December, an employee who wanted to be known only as Cel said Mr Then had said on Jan 11 that employees would receive their December salaries on Jan 15.
However, when the day came, employees received a WhatsApp message that indicated that the company would be undergoing debt restructuring, or interim judicial management.
Mr Bryan Kuah, a 24-year-old part-timer at the company, said his pay came in two weeks late in September, and even then, he received only 10 per cent of his pay.
He added that the last time he had received his pay on time was in March 2023, and the last time he received his pay at all was in October.
“The delayed salary has affected me in my daily needs and spending as I am also a full-time student in university, and do not have much time to earn money for my monthly spending,” said Mr Kuah.
Ms Joey Peh, Stickies’ former marketing manager, told ST on Jan 22 that she resigned in December after months of not receiving her pay and CPF contributions on time.
“It was not just a one-off thing. It started to happen more frequently and that’s when the red flags started popping up,” Ms Peh said, adding that she had tried to raise this issue with higher management before she finally resigned.
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/stickies-bar-abruptly-shuts-down-outlets-37-employees-file-salary-related-claims
Hawker centre burger joint Hammee’s announces closure of Commonwealth stall
Hammee’s, a burger joint located in Commonwealth, will no longer be serving its signature cheeseburgers.
Its owners announced the closure of their sole stall on social media on Jan. 18.
Addressing their followers, the owners said the post was "a tough one to write".
"The past four years have been a fun learning journey," they wrote, recounting their experiences with popular menu items such as their original cheeseburger, french fries, fried chicken, and fish burgers.
"Most important of all, we are introverts, and being hawkers [has] allowed us to meet many people and form connections which we greatly treasure," added the owners.
From a hawker stall at Commonwealth Crescent Hawker Centre, Hammee's dished out gourmet burgers at pocket-friendly prices.
The owners' close attention to detail meant constant tweaks to ingredients — such as the burger patties, buns, and even the tartar sauce for their fish burgers.
They even made the tough call to stop selling burgers when supply issues during the Covid-19 pandemic meant that their usual beef source was unavailable.
While Hammee's switched to different suppliers, the consistency of the meat was not up to standard and the stall's owners decided to stop selling burgers.
A post from October 2020 reads:
Supply issues persisted for several months and Hammee's pivoted to selling nasi ayam goreng and nasi lemak for some time.
They eventually re-launched their burger items with improved recipes.
Market was closed in end-2023
The news may come as a disappointment for fans who were unable to patronise the stall in the later part of last year, as Commonwealth Crescent Hawker Centre was closed from mid-October till Dec. 31, 2023.
Addressing their fans, the owners wrote:
"Some options at the moment"
But this might not be the last of Hammee's.
"Our passion for serving good food remains strong as ever. 💪🏻" wrote the owners, promising updates if potential future prospects materialised:
Fingers crossed.
Heads up: Tai Wah Pork Noodle at AMK Ave 10 has shuttered for good.
Chocolat N' Spice at Tanjong Pagar Plaza closing down after 19 years due to high overhead costs
Chocolat N' Spice, an old school bakery in the heart of the central business district in Tanjong Pagar, is closing down after 19 years.
The business put up a notice at its ground floor store at Tanjong Pagar Plaza informing customers of its impending closure.
Its last day of operations will be on Dec. 23, 2023.
A photo of the notice was shared on Facebook.
Running at a loss in recent years
The reason cited was that the business was running at a loss due to high costs.
The notice read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that we will be ceasing our operations at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-18 after 19 years."
"It has been a very few tough years as costs and overheads are very high, and we have been operating at a loss."
However, operations at the other outlets will continue, the notice added.
"For now, our TP team will be relocated to Telok Blangah," the notice read.
"We will continue to handle all corporate orders from there. We will gladly help in co-ordinating delivery options from the Lalamove platform for all our regulars and customers."
There are currently two other outlets at Block 78B Telok Blangah Street 32 and Shunfu Mart in Sin Ming.
Known for its muffins
Chocolat N' Spice in Tanjong Pagar is known for its highly affordable muffins in the heart of the CBD.
Chocolate Chips Muffin (S$1.70), Blueberry Muffin (S$2), Orange Peel Raisin Muffin (S$1.70) and Mocha Muffin (S$2) are crowd favourites.
Also on sale are the Brownie (S$2.50) and Cheese Brownie (S$3.20).
The shop also sells whole cheesecakes.
South Buona Vista Braised Duck in Desker Road closing due to rental woes
SINGAPORE – It is with a heavy heart that the owner of South Buona Vista Braised Duck, Mr Ang Chiap Teck, has decided to close his eatery. Its last day of operations is Feb 7.
The 64-year-old says in Mandarin: “It is not a decision I take lightly because I have poured my heart into honing my skills at braising duck for the last 41 years.”
The new landlord of his rented shophouse unit in Desker Road wants to double the rental when his current lease expires at the end of February 2024.
Mr Ang says: “We have been grappling with the increasing costs of ingredients and a lack of manpower. With the rental increase, the business will not be sustainable.”
He also expects operating costs to increase, with the hike in the goods and services tax to 9 per cent in January.
He learnt to cook Teochew-style braised duck from his brother-in-law, Mr Lim Ah Too, who founded Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice Eating House in South Buona Vista Road in 1968.
Mr Ang, who had been working as a hawker assistant, joined his brother-in-law in 1982 as the eatery needed workers. He started as an apprentice and was promoted to head cook three years later.
When his brother-in-law decided to retire and close his eatery in 2013, Mr Ang sought his blessing to venture out on his own. He rented a coffee shop stall in Sam Leong Road and set up his business in that same year, calling it South Buona Vista Road Famous Teochew Boneless Duck Rice.
In 2021, he moved to his current location at 81 Desker Road, a standalone eatery which can seat up to 50 diners and has a sprawling kitchen space. The name was shortened to South Buona Vista Braised Duck.
Regulars love the tender slices of braised duck doused in a glossy and viscous jet-black sauce that is gently spiced with star anise, cloves and cinnamon. The backbone of the braising sauce is premium dark soya sauce, which imparts a light caramel hue to the duck.
Prices start at $6 for a one-person serving, with a whole braised duck priced at $45. Other popular items include sambal kangkong ($8) and sambal tofu ($8).
The eatery operates from 9.30am to 5pm, Fridays to Wednesdays. It is closed on Thursdays.
Mr Ang starts work at 4am, preparing his braising sauce and cooking the duck. His wife, Madam Lily Lim, 66, is in charge of taking orders and serving customers.
Mr Ang says he has turned down offers from investors keen to help him expand and open more outlets selling his brand of braised duck. “I am concerned about maintaining the quality of my braised duck,” he says.
Marketing manager Lee Boon Hong, 70, started dining at Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice Eating House in 1980 and subsequently became a regular at Mr Ang’s eatery. He says: “It is another sad reminder of how time flies.”
Mr Ang says he hopes to continue working in the food and beverage industry, although he has no concrete plans yet. He hopes to land a position as a consultant or trainer to teach others his skills in cooking Teochew-style braised duck.
https://www.straitstimes.com/life/food/south-buona-vista-braised-duck-in-desker-road-closing-due-to-rental-woes
Daughter makes final plea for Sinkies to go down to support her parents' hawker stall before it closes down tomorrow....
Coffee chain Spinelli to close all outlets in Singapore
SINGAPORE – The Spinelli Coffee chain will close its remaining six outlets here by the end of 2023, it was reported on Nov 29.
The two branches at the National University of Singapore’s campus will shut on Dec 15, while the outlets at Changi Business Park and One Raffles Quay are understood to be closing soon.
Spinelli’s website indicates that the remaining two branches are at International Business Park and the Singtel Building in Pickering Street.
Spinelli’s sister brand – A Spinelli Joint – has also closed all its Singapore outlets, including those at Aperia Mall, Galaxis, MYP Centre and Ocean Financial Centre, The Business Times (BT) reported. Another operating brand, Brewing Kakis, which specialises in local coffee, has a branch at Standard Chartered Bank in Changi Business Park Crescent, according to Spinelli’s website.
Spinelli incurred losses from 2018 to 2022, according to filings seen by BT.
However, the company narrowed its losses in 2022, posting revenue of $1.8 million, compared with $1.6 million in the previous fiscal year. It recorded a net loss of $839,638 in 2022, down from a loss of $1 million in 2021.
Spinelli Coffee was set up in San Francisco in 1983 and entered Singapore in 1996 through a master franchise agreement with YTC Corporation, a company that owns hotels here and in Indonesia.
A Spinelli spokesperson declined to comment when contacted by ST on Nov 29, while YTC had not responded to queries by press time.
In October, fellow coffee chain Flash Coffee abruptly closed all 11 of its outlets in Singapore.
The company filed notice on Oct 12 that it was unable to continue its business due to liabilities.
It filed for a voluntary winding-up and was placed under provisional liquidation.
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/coffee-chain-spinelli-to-close-all-outlets-in-singapore-bt
Taiwanese hawker who runs stall in Chinatown slashes menu prices, to close shop amid high rent
Several years ago, Lex Li packed his bags and left his home in Taiwan to come and work in Singapore.
The 34-year-old eventually set up a hawker stall called Really Something at Chinatown Complex Food Centre to sell authentic Taiwanese food.
But this will come to an end soon as Lex will be shuttering the stall by the end of the month.
He announced the closure in a Facebook post last Wednesday (Nov 15).
He explained that because of rising operational and rental costs, he had no choice but to close up shop.
"We thank everyone for your longtime support," he wrote in Chinese.
The stall will officially close on Nov 30.
Lex also will be lowering the prices of his menu items from now till the stall's last day.
For instance, the lu rou fan (braised pork rice), which usually costs $4.50, will now only be $3.
The fried chicken cutlet with egg fried rice will also go from $6 to $4.80.
Speaking to AsiaOne, Lex shared that the decision was not easy.
"Of course it is a tough decision. My passion lies in being a chef and I feel happy offering good food to people," he said.
He also told us that apart from operational costs and rent, the GST increase and inflation have also affected his business.
In the comments, several netizens expressed their sadness about the bad news.
In Chinese, one said: "What a shame, your food is really delicious. Thank you boss for the food."
In another comment, a netizen wrote in Chinese: "It's really a pity. My friends and I love your chicken rice and pork chops. I wish you all the best. If you reopen elsewhere, do let us all know."
Lex is not completely closed off from the idea of reopening somewhere else and told AsiaOne that if there is a "good opportunity", he would consider doing so.
He worked at several restaurants before setting up shop in Chinatown
Lex, who is from Chiayi City in southern Taiwan, moved to Singapore sometime between 2016 and 2017 because of his family and his Singaporean wife.
He initially worked at Din Tai Fung before deciding to open Really Something in 2019.
His menu features Taiwanese classics such as lu rou fan, fried chicken cutlet with egg rice.
He also sells chiayi chicken rice, which is a Taiwanese dish that is not commonly found in Singapore.
https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/taiwanese-hawker-who-runs-stall-chinatown-slashes-menu-prices-close-shop-amid-high-rent
Opened in March, closed in October:
https://www.todayonline.com/8days/ethan-my-prawn-noodles-hawkers-struggle-keep-prices-affordable-shut-stall-after-just-7-months-business-2297206