Yong He Eating House in Geylang closing by end Nov. 2025 after 39 years, owner willing to sell brand for S$300,000

Yong He Eating House, a 24-hour eatery in Geylang selling Taiwanese snacks, is reportedly closing after 39 years.

The third-generation owner, Dong Han Zhong, 46, said in an interview with vibes by 8world that the shop would be shuttering by end November 2025.

Dong cited increasing costs and a decline in business as reasons for the closure.

He added that he is willing to sell the brand for S$300,000 to a buyer who can take over the business.

Why they are closing

Dong, who has been running the Yong He brand in Singapore for 10 years, recounted that after the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a brief uptick in business.

But this only lasted for a few months, before the shop saw a decrease in footfall along with an increase in utility bills and rent, said Dong.

The 24-hour shop currently is manned by a team of four, including Dong, who said he would catch up on sleep in his car after lengthy work shifts.

Dong said his 76-year-old father, Dong Rong, who opened the Geylang eatery in 1986, has retired due to health reasons.

And due to the manpower shortage, his 78-year-old mother would also help out with tasks like washing dishes and wiping tables, Dong said.

However, Dong's mother was hospitalised two weeks ago with swollen feet, which Dong attributed to overwork.

This saddened him and made him realise that things could not continue in the same way, he said.

Dong admitted that he has floated the idea of closing the business to his father before, and also apologised for "letting the brand die with him".

He recalled his father telling him: "It's not a big deal. It's because the economic climate is not good, and this has got nothing to do with you."

Looking for buyer

Dong told vibes by 8world that he would be open to selling the Yong He brand for S$300,000.

He explained that he no longer has the energy or funds to manage the business, and is hoping a buyer can revitalise the brand, turn it into a chain concept or even look to venture into overseas markets.

As for the S$300,000 sum, it will help to cover the salaries of veteran employees as well as money owed to the manufacturer, said Dong.

"I really hope the brand doesn't die in my hands. After all, it's been passed down for three generations. I could try to cling on it, but I'm really tired, and my family has been affected too," said Dong in Mandarin.

Background

Yong He Soy Milk, a well-known breakfast restaurant from Taiwan, specialises in traditional Taiwanese fare such as sesame flatbread, fried dough sticks and salty beancurd.

The shop was first opened in Taiwan's Ximending district by Dong's grandfather in 1955.

Dong's father later took over the shop and also collaborated with a businessman to bring Yong He Soy Milk to Singapore.

It first opened in 1986 at Lorong 9 Geylang, but later relocated twice to different locations in Geylang.

The eatery had its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, according to comments on a Facebook post about its closure.

In 2021, Yong He Eating House expanded into three other locations, Toa Payoh, Sengkang and Jurong West, with the outlets branded under the name Yong He Toast.

However, by August 2024, all the Yong He Toast outlets had shuttered, leaving just the original Geylang store.

Top image from Google