Bedok fish soup stall owner takes over coffee shop for S$30,000 a month, lowers rent by 30% to attract new vendors

Wanting to boost the business of the coffee shop his stall operated in, a 39-year-old man took over the entire premises for over S$30,000 per month in rent.

At the time, Low Boon Chuan had been running Boon Keng Road Fish Head Bee Hoon at Block 416 Bedok North Ave 2 for close to two decades, Shin Min Daily News reported.

He noticed that three neighbouring stalls stayed vacant, attributing to the lack of stalls for half a year to high rent and competition.

"The owner of the coffee shop seemed uninterested in managing the business," Low told Shin Min. "I did not want this coffee shop that has been with me for so many years to decline, so I decided to take it over."

He did so on Oct. 1, and renamed the coffee shop with his last name — Lau Ka Kopitiam.

Reviving the business

After taking over the coffee shop, Low tried to attract new vendors by offering a 30 per cent discount on stall rent.

As long as the owner of the coffee shop does not raise its rent, he would also not raise the rent of the stalls, he said.

Nearly two months later, he finally found four new vendors.

They include a satay stall and a Western food stall, which helped to diversify the food offerings.

Having run his own stall in the area for about 20 years, he said he has become familiar with the preferences of the residents.

He also spent over S$10,000 to renovate the coffee shop, including repainting the walls and installing lights and a television.

Besides his fish soup stall, he also runs a drinks stall.

Through these businesses, he hopes to support the coffee shop's daily operations and break even.

"I don't seek to make a lot of money," he said. "As long as I can maintain the business, I'll be content."

When Shin Min reporters visited the coffee shop on Dec. 7, it was filled with many customers queuing up for dinner.

A warm welcome

The opening of Lau Ka Kopitiam was met warmly with about 100 flower bouquets from Low's friends, offering their well-wishes for the business.

Goh Pei Ming, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, was there on opening day to show his support, according to Shin Min.

The coffee shop also received flower bouquets from nursing homes, as Low's stall provides fish porridge to 15 nursing homes every month.

After taking over the fish soup stall from his mother in 2011, Low began a meal donation initiative in 2017, The Straits Times reported.

Over the years, with help from his friends, the stall has regularly delivered fish porridge to various nursing homes and senior centres around Singapore.

In 2021, Low was lauded for his efforts with the Friends of Community Care Award.

He has continued to encourage kindness with a pay-it-forward initiative at his stall.

According to diners online, the initiative allows people to buy coupons from the stall to give a free meal to those in need.

Top images from Serene Tan/Google Maps and Shin Min