S'pore man who ran provision store at Rosyth Road for 70 years dies at 86

The owner of one of Singapore's oldest and last remaining provision stores in a landed residential area died at the age of 86 on Aug. 4, 2026.

Lianhe Zaobao reported that the man, Weng Liuxing (transliterated), died in the hospital on the evening of Aug. 4 due to pneumonia.

31 Rosyth Road

Before his death, he ran the store for 70 years until it closed on Dec. 31, 2024.

Located at 31 Rosyth Road, Tee Seng Store was one of the last grocery stores that remained in a landed residential area.

Its owner, who had worked in grocery stores since he was 15, later took over the store until it closed.

Devoted entire life to store

The eldest brother in a family of seven, Weng devoted his entire life to running the store.

His youngest sister, 72, shared about her brother's life with Zaobao at the funeral.

She said that to him, the small counter in the store was not just his livelihood, but also a home.

His sister said that her older brother started working at the age of 15, had tuberculosis in 1964, and was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 1996, but fully recovered later on.

"There is a big age gap between me and my older brother," she said.

"He was already working when I was studying. But I am always grateful and often tell my children that it is because of the sacrifices of my older brothers and sisters that I was able to study.”

She added that her elder brother was polite and tactful.

She shared that because migrant workers or domestic helpers often visited his shop, he specially learned a few words of their language to better communicate with them.

Woke up at 6am daily

Zaobao reported that he had started helping out at this grocery store after graduating from school at the age of 15.

After the store changed owners three times, he officially took over the business and changed its name before running the store for 70 years.

At the time, waking up at 6am every morning, working out nearby, and opening his shop at 8am was his "most comfortable and carefree lifestyle."

Having lived in the backyard of the grocery store for most of their lives, he and his wife never thought about travelling or selling the store.

"We'll do it for as long as we can, until we can't anymore," he said.

Fell, hospital

Zaobao reported that in June 2023, he accidentally fell at home, after which he depended on a walking frame to move around upon being discharged from the hospital.

Despite that, he continued to care for the store and would open it as long as he could still walk.

However, his family could not bear this and persuaded him to retire.

It had long become a part of his life, said his sister.

In September 2025, he slipped in a toilet at home and broke his leg.

He has been bedridden since getting discharged from the hospital in December 2025, Zaobao reported

His sister said: "Perhaps due to prolonged bed rest, he often had difficulty breathing due to excessive phlegm. About two weeks ago, we rushed him to the hospital because of his breathing difficulties."

On the afternoon of Aug. 4, his sister visited him in the hospital along with another brother and sister, before he passed away in the evening.

Though he is gone, his spirit will live on in the hearts of his family, she said.