88 Katong Laksa closing on Mar. 29: Stall started by man, 74, battling Stage 4 cancer, so wife can earn a living when he's gone

88 Katong Laksa will be closing on Mar. 29, 2026.

But before that, it will be holding its last event for seniors on Mar. 23 at 3pm.

The sponsored event was announced via a Mar. 21 "Hawkers United - Dabao 2020" Facebook post.

The announcement added that it will take place on a Monday despite it being the stall's rest day.

The event is expected to be attended by 50 seniors from the MacPherson constituency.

"The feeling of this happening gives us the happiness and satisfaction that no money can be bought with to see your wishes fulfilled," the post read.

It added that the owners are "looking forward" to seeing the seniors consume the laksa, otahs, and drinks at the event.

The stall is located at Block 79 Circuit Road.

'Painful decision to close'

The news of the impending closure came after what the stall said was its "painful decision to close", which was announced in a Mar. 19 Facebook post.

It stated that the stall's owner, Charlie Soh, 74, is still battling Stage 4 cancer, while his wife Irene had been "recovering from her second degree burns over her hands" and having gone for knee replacement surgery.

Set up by elderly hawkers

It was previously reported in 2022 that Soh had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and decided to set up the hawker stall so that his wife would be able to support herself after his death.

Doctors had told him that he only had a year left to live at the time.

However, he defied the odds and went for multiple treatments, including an operation to remove a tumour from his spinal cord.

He later shared that the procedure was successful, but he was in "great pain".

88 Katong Laksa had previously given away 50 bowls of laksa to senior citizens on Feb. 23, 2024, between 12pm and 2pm.

The food was sponsored by an anonymous customer.

Top photos via Hawkers United - Dabao 2020/Facebook