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‘Thankful to break even’: Vendors share what it takes to run a stall at Geylang Serai bazaar
Not an easy feat.
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As Ramadan comes to a close, so are the numerous bazaars that have popped up all over the island.
One of the more iconic Ramadan bazaars, of course, is the Bazaar Raya Geylang Serai.
This year, the bazaar runs for a total of 33 days till Mar. 31.
In 2024, a maximum rental cap of S$15,000 was imposed for last year's bazaar. For several vendors this year, however, that amount is just the tip of the iceberg.
Despite the daunting numbers, it has not stopped vendors — both new and seasoned — from participating in the annual affair.
Vendors spent at least S$15,000
Speaking to Mothership, several stall owners shared that S$15,000 does not include fixtures and other overheads.
To make it more comfortable for her staff in the blazing heat, vendor Raudhah Osman spent more on fixtures including a fan, bringing the total cost to S$19,000.
Raudhah sells pasta and sushi bakes at her Geylang stall. Photo by Livia Soh.
The co-owner of Korean-Japanese fusion hawker stall Yaksok said: "The greater challenge would be the heat because it's a confined space [and] with the human traffic, it's going to be pretty hot. Especially when we're fasting. So we got the contractor to install a fan because my staff need it."
While Yaksok is no stranger to pop-ups like the Kampong Gelam bazaar and events like Celebfest, this is the eatery's first time at the Geylang bazaar.
And for the first time, Yaksok will be having two completely different menus at the Kampong Gelam and Geylang bazaars.
"For the Kampong Gelam bazaar, we are focusing on our signature sushi bakes. Over here [at Geylang], we have pastas, sushi bakes as well as the viral pistachio cheese bomb."
Bracing for different experience
When asked if there are differences between pop-ups and Ramadan bazaars, Raudhah said: "What you can achieve [at a] three-day pop-up, you'd probably need about a week at a bazaar."
She explained that since pop-ups run over shorter periods, crowds are expected.
Meanwhile, as the bazaar is a month-long affair, the crowd "comes and goes".
Despite the differences, Raudhah remains hopeful.
"We are bracing ourselves enough for a different experience, even though we have been in other bazaars."
One man, 12 stalls
Mohammad Hussin (also known as Mangobossku), on the other hand, is a familiar face at the yearly bazaar.
Hussin (in red) standing in front of one of his several booths at Geylang bazaar. Photo by Livia Soh.
A regular vendor since 2022, Hussin is known for popularising "crispy kunafa" in Singapore.
This year, the 39-year-old hired over 30 staff and took up a total of 12 lots at the bazaar: eight F&B lots and four retail lots.
The straight-talking man told us that aiming for S$1 million is "enough already" for this year.
While some may be sceptical of his financial goals, Hussin shared that he has hit more than that amount in the past years.
How to do well in bazaars?
With over 54,000 followers on TikTok, he uses social media regularly to market his stalls and other vendors at the bazaar.
@mangobossku3 ALHAMDULILLAH SEE YOU GUYS TODAY, WEDNESDAY PROMOTION BUY 3 KUNAFA GET 2 FREE, BUY 6 KUNAFA GET 4 FREE , BUY 9 GET 6 FREE LEGIT ONLY ON WEDNESDAY PROMO! EVERY $20 DOLLARS CAN JOIN OUR LUCKY DRAW ON 29 MARCH 2025 8.30PM LIVE ON STAGE! #FYP #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fyp #trenddingvideo #mangobosskulocalsg #fypmalaysia🇲🇾 #fypp #thegodfathermangobossku #fypシ゚viral🖤tiktok #mangobosskukunafa #fypsingapore🇸🇬 #mangobosskunewborn #CapCut ♬ original sound - TheGodfather Mangobossku
Thanks to his social media presence, long queues are seen almost daily at his kunafa and air balang stalls.
On top of that, he is also running a lucky draw with 50 prizes, including several iPhone 16 sets, cash prizes, and even a car.
Another strategy to run a stall in Geylang bazaar, according to Hussin, is to bring in new types of food and drinks.
He said: "I think no one else in Singapore has brought it in yet — Turkish wet burgers. So this year, I brought this item in."
Beyond selling viral food, Hussin shared that pricing is also an important factor when it comes to surviving in bazaars.
"We have to sell items that are [not too] expensive and sell as cheap as we can, and sell in [large] volumes."
Bringing in new experiences
Another regular at pop-up events and the Geylang bazaar is 27-year-old Syed Shamroz Khan.
Syed (second from right) posing with his staff. Photo by Livia Soh.
Like past years, the Mr Pani Puri founder is selling pani puri, a popular Indian street food.
Syed also brought in his latest concept, Squid Dalgona.
Dressed like the guards from Netflix series "Squid Game", Syed drew inspiration from the series to bring the trendy sugary snack to the bazaar.
While he'd be "thankful" to be able to break even at the bazaar, Syed stressed that his primary goal is to bring new experiences to his customers.
"My main purpose of coming to the bazaar is always to bring something interesting and new for my customers. So at least [our customers] get to enjoy things that we bring in from around the world...
Like how I brought India here [with pani puri] and now I bring Korea here [with dalgona candy]."
To give back to his customers, Syed is also running a lucky draw for his customers with prizes like a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation 5.
"This lucky draw is also a way for me to give back for all the support they have given Mr Pani Puri."
The "heartland" of Ramadan bazaars
Photo by Livia Soh.
Goals and aspirations aside, all three vendors agree that Geylang bazaar is synonymous with Ramadan and Hari Raya season.
"This is the heartland of Ramadan bazaars," said Hussin.
"I'd say about 90 per cent [of the community] will still come to Geylang bazaar. The vibes over here is just different."
Resonating with Hussin's opinions, Syed added that the Geylang bazaar holds special memories for him and his family.
Smiling warmly, he said: "Why do I keep coming back? My parents are also in the industry, and they also started in Geylang many years back."
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Top image by Livia Soh.
