Over 30 patrons at AMK coffee shop buy 8 cakes, including 1 with S$160 inside, to celebrate beer hostess’ 37th birthday

On Oct. 2, over 30 patrons gathered at a coffee shop at Block 526 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 to throw an elaborate celebration for the 37th birthday of a popular beer hostess.

The celebration, complete with seven to eight cakes and cash hidden in one of them, packed the coffee shop to the brim and led to through-the-roof sales.

A birthday blast

According to Shin Min Daily News, clips of the celebration made their rounds online.

The hostess, surnamed Chen (transliteration), who also goes by "Cai Cai", shared that the reason for the celebration was her 37th birthday, Shin Min wrote.

Some of those who attended the festivities were invited by her, while others joined in on their own accord.

Most of those who attended the celebration were males, with two to three being female customers.

They gathered around a table and sang a birthday song for the hostess, who was dressed in her usual white uniform.

"The customers prepared seven to eight cakes for me, and each was so unique. One of them even had cash hidden in it. It was such a blast," Chen said.

A clip online showed the hostess pulling a line of cash from within one of the cakes, which amounted to about S$160.

One cake featured fondant icing in the shape of a beer can and glasses, while another had her name alongside three sets of four-digit numbers.

"We took photos and made conversation, everyone also took turns singing and had cake," Chen recounted the buzzing atmosphere as she spoke about her gratitude towards her customers.

Explosive sales on day of celebration

She sold 50 over crates of beer, Shin Min wrote.

To put it into perspective, she averages about 10 crates of beer per day on Fridays and the weekends, which are already considered good days.

50 crates of beer were equivalent to a week's sales, Chen revealed.

The hawkers at the coffee shop also gained from Chen's star power the evening of her birthday celebration.

"We average about S$800 of sales, but on Chen's birthday, we brought in S$1,100. Business is always good when there's a crowd," one mixed rice stall assistant told Shin Min.

The assistant also shared that evenings at the coffee shop were usually quiet.

Humorous and easy-going

Chen, who had been working in Singapore for 10 years, revealed that she had only transferred to the Block 526 Ang Mo Kio coffee shop a little over a year ago from another nearby coffee shop.

Some customers followed suit, moving with her from the previous coffee shop to patronise her current workplace.

At the coffee shop, most customers placed their orders with Chen, and she was familiar with each customer's usual order, Shin Min wrote.

She would also take the initiative and seat smoking patrons in the smoking corner.

One patron, 54-year-old Lin (transliteration), told Shin Min that Chen had a sense of humour and got along well with customers.

"She's like a friend with the patrons. Sometimes, during festivals or holidays, she would prepare goodies and treats for us. This kind of thoughtfulness is hard to come by," Lin said.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News