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Liang Ji, a stall known for its char kway teow, will be ceasing operations at Waterloo on June 30, 2022.
Ceasing operations on June 30, 2022
The hawker stall located at BGain261 Eating House at Block 261 Waterloo Street also serves fried rice, fried carrot cake, orh jian (fried oyster omelette).
It is also known for dishing up creative renditions of these dishes.
Image from @xintekka/Instagram.
Image from Andrew Ng/Facebook.
Image from Quan Teng Ho/Facebook.
The man behind it all is 48-year-old owner Dominic Neo, who announced the "end of Liang Ji" via a June 7 Facebook post.
Neo told Mothership that the stall's last day will be on the end of the month – June 30, 2022.
While he might have declared that the impending closure was "good news" in the post, do not be fooled by it, as things appear to be far from rosy for Neo.
He later explained his contradictory phrasing in the comments section and said it was "reverse marketing".
Image screenshot from Liang Ji/Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Neo alluded to his troubles rather cryptically and replied that he was in a "deep hole" a few times.
He added in the comments section that he has been left with no choice but to wind up Liang Ji's operations.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Location reportedly has low footfall
While Neo did not provide a reason for the closure, one of the primary reasons appears to be the hawker stall's location.
Based on the Facebook comments by Neo and other individuals, the coffee shop apparently has a low footfall, despite it being centrally located in the vicinity of Waterloo and Bras Basah.
Other commenters lamented on behalf of the stall that rental was "too expensive".
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
The culmination of these factors have perhaps put Neo in a tough spot financially, and could be the reason why he has decided to cut his losses by winding up the stall's operations.
In a separate Facebook post on May 31, Neo mentioned that two vendors that were selling Malay and Korean cuisine had upped sticks and left.
Neo also claimed that other vendors at the coffee shop are struggling, despite signs of business picking up.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Hopeful patrons expect stall to reopen
However, this will likely not be the last of Liang Ji, as many hopeful individuals have expressed that they expect to see Neo set up shop in a better location.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Liang Ji is known for relocating multiple times in the 20 or so years that it has been operating.
Before it settled down at the Waterloo coffeeshop, the stall was located at Xin Tekka at Tekka Place between 2020 and 2021.
Liang Ji at Tekka. Image from @liangjishiye/Instagram.
Neo also opened a second outlet on Sep. 2, 2021 at Block 119 Aljunied Avenue 2 -- a stint that lasted less than a month before it closed on Sep. 29, 2021.
It subsequently relocated a few blocks away to Block 115 Aljunied Avenue 2 and opened on Oct. 11, 2021, but the tenure was similarly short-lived and the second outlet shuttered quietly shortly after.
Second outlet at 115 Aljunied. Image by Steven Hee/Facebook.
Prior to this, Liang Ji was located in Bedok South Hawker Centre at 58 New Upper Changi Road from 2017 to 2020.
"I will be back"
The stall's foreseeable relocation was alluded to by Neo in his responses to other individuals in the comments section.
"I will not give up," said Neo determinedly, who added that he is in the midst of exploring options and looking for new locations.
He also promised Mothership that him and Liang Ji will make a comeback after the Waterloo stall closes: "I will be back."
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Image screenshot from Facebook.
Related story
Top image from Liang Ji/Facebook and @xintekka/Instgram