Toa Payoh coffee shop replaces almost all older stalls after renovation, owner says rent was not increased

Following the decision that most contracts for stalls at a Toa Payoh coffee shop will not be renewed, almost all of its older stalls will be replaced.

Shin Min Daily News reported that the coffee shop, located on the ground floor of Block 78C, Toa Payoh Central Road, had previously suspended operations on Feb. 28, 2026, and is currently undergoing renovations.

Adjustment

Its owner, Cai Yizhe (transliterated), told Shin Min that he decided to readjust the food choices at the stalls after taking over the management of the coffee shop earlier in 2026.

"Except for the fried chicken stall, the contracts for the other old stalls will not be renewed," he said.

Cai, 36, added that when he took over the coffee shop, two stalls were already vacant and the overall customer traffic was limited.

As such, he hoped to introduce more attractive and diverse options.

More stalls

He added that the coffee shop is expected to reopen on Apr. 1, 2026, after renovations are complete, with the number of stalls increasing from the original seven to eight.

In addition to a drinks stall and a mixed rice stall, Cai says he expects to add Japanese ramen, lok lok, hot pot, and even a Michelin-starred minced meat noodle shop into the mix.

Cai noted that there were posts on Facebook that suggested the stall relocation was due to rising rents, but said he did not raise the rent or charge any extra fees.

Residents worry about price increase

In light of the change in stalls, a 35-year-old resident said that with many food courts and coffee shops nearby, it would not be a bad thing if this coffee shop could introduce new or special flavours.

An 80-year-old resident said that if the shop rent is not increased, she believes that food prices will not rise significantly, as customers have many choices, and vendors should try their best to maintain competitive prices.

Other residents expressed their concern that prices would rise after renovations and wanted affordable food.

They noted that the coffee shop previously sold cheap noodles, which were "very popular".

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News