Singapore Democratic Party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan and his wife are opening a cafe at Rochester Mall.

The seasoned politician and now businessman made the announcement of the cafe's opening in a June 21 Facebook post.

Surprise announcement

According to the post, the cafe, Orange & Teal, will be opening on Friday, June 25, 2021.

The opening hours will be from 11am to 10pm.

Chee wrote that the business has been in the works for months now, but did not mention if he calibrated its opening just in time for Phase 3 (Heightened Alert), where the dine-in option has been reinstated from June 21.

The announcement also came as a surprise, as there was no prior indication that Chee the politician would be dabbling in business.

A place for Singaporeans

Chee added that he hopes the cafe will be a place for Singaporeans to get together to talk shop and enjoy a meal or drink.

He wrote:

It’s been a long-term dream of ours to have a place where Singaporeans come together to not just have a great meal or have that heart warming cuppa, but a place where we get together with our loved ones and friends and get to know each other all over again. A place where intelligent discussion, even impassioned debate, takes place. A place where the conversation’s even better.

“Where the conversation’s even better” – I’ve got that engraved above the doorway.

No pork, no lard

He also wrote that the cafe is currently not yet halal-certified, but it will not be serving pork, lard or pork-related items.

The chief of the SDP called on Muslim patrons to pay the cafe a visit.

However, Chee emphasised that the cafe will be serving wine and beer on the premises but the glassware for alcohol will be kept separate.

Chee added that he does not see himself as a businessman and called the cafe a "social enterprise" that supports causes close to his heart.

The menu will be disclosed at a later date, he wrote.

All photos via Chee Soon Juan