Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kuay Teow seller in Telok Blangah retires after 54 years

Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kuay Teow at Telok Blangah Crescent Market & Food Centre has closed down.

The 74-year-old stall owner, known for his delectable servings of stir-fried flat rice noodles cooked one plate at a time, has retired.

The stall had been in business for 54 years.

The veteran hawker Low Kwee Weng operated at Margaret Drive Hawker Centre in Queenstown for over 40 years.

In 2010, he moved to its last location at Telok Blangah Crescent Market & Food Centre.

News of retirement

News of the retirement was announced on Facebook on Oct. 23 by the hawker's son, Alvin Low.

Alvin Low wrote that his father is retiring and thanked all his supporters throughout “this incredible journey”.

The stall is no longer in business.

Had closed for a period of time in 2024

The stall closed earlier in 2024 when the market underwent repairs and redecoration work from May 2 to June 30.

Low was only back at the stall serving his food in September as he was recovering from a hand injury, it was explained in a Facebook post.

The Facebook page for the stall, run by the hawker's son, then announced on Oct. 9 that the stall would be closed till “further notice”.

Low’s retirement announcement soon followed.

Served customers dutifully

The stall was open from 5pm to 9pm on Mondays to Saturdays.

It stayed open till 10pm to meet the demand.

The waiting time in the queue could be more than two hours at times.

Low was one of the 10 recipients of the Most Outstanding Hawker Award 2022 at the inaugural Hawker Awards at the World Gourmet Summit.

One last gathering

To celebrate Low's legacy, a final meet-up has been organised for Nov. 22 from 7pm to 9m at his stall for one last gathering.

The former stallowner will not be selling char kway teow on that day, the post announcing his retirement added.

The post was met with well wishes, as those who had been eating at his stall since it was operating at Margaret Drive spoke highly of the fare.

Many also mourned the demise of yet another highly-rated hawker stall.

On Oct. 24, Shin Min Daily News reported that Low was seen cleaning up the premises and throwing out his wok.

He was helped by those around him who were at the hawker centre as his wok was heavy.

All photos via Facebook page