Teochew meat puff stall to cease pasar malam business after 40 years, owners getting old

A family-run Teochew meat puff stall is ending its pasar malam operations after 40 years.

Teochew Meat Puff Pte Ltd announced on Facebook that it is running its last stint as a pasar malam stall at the open field opposite Fernvale Primary School in Sengkang, which is operating from Oct. 30 to Nov. 14.

The post added that the owners will be "retiring".

The stall is open daily from 12pm to 9:30pm, including Sundays.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the family decided to stop operating due to rising costs and getting on with age.

Founder approaching 90, still helps at stall

The family business is run by founder He Ying, his wife and their son.

Speaking to Shin Min, the 59-year-old son, He Qiangde, said the family had been considering closing the stall for the past one to two years.

Despite approaching 90, the founder still helps prepare and cook the fritters at the stall, Shin Min reported.

"My parents are getting old, and my father is almost 90," He told Shin Min, adding that he wanted them to rest after four decades of running the business.

Sales have fallen by over 50 per cent

Rising ingredient costs and rental expenses also contributed to the family's decision.

He told Shin Min that daily rental expenses could reach several hundred dollars, while the business sometimes only manages to break even.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the stall was still profitable.

However, He said sales have since fallen by more than 50 per cent.

He also attributed the decline to the increasing number of pasar malam events across Singapore, which made it harder for individual stalls to stand out.

He also observed that crowds at the pasar malam typically begin thinning out at around 8pm.

Final pasar malam until Nov. 14

In its Facebook announcement, the business encouraged customers who had yet to try its meat puffs to visit before its final pasar malam run ends.

The business also thanked customers for their support throughout its 40 years of operations.

He told Shin Min that the family was reluctant to end its long-running stall operations, but remained grateful to customers who have supported them over the decades.