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It is with a heavy heart that the hawkers behind the legendary stall China Street Fritters in Maxwell Food Centre announced their last operating day as 2 Jul 2023.
Rising rental prices, health problems, the absence of a successor willing to stand for hours behind the hawker stall, and a lack of appreciation from the younger crowd for traditional food items— these are the reasons we have heard from iconic hawker stall owners who have ceased operations.
This combination of reasons has resulted in the permanent closure of China Street Fritters.
The hawker stall which has been operating for over 80 years has a large fanbase for its handmade Hokkien-style Ngoh Hiang. Other fan favourites include their Liver Roll (S$0.90) and Egg Slice (S$0.80).
As with so many other traditional hawker stalls, the hawkers are required to stand for extended periods of time. This has inevitably taken a heavy toll on their health.
Hock Lai Seng (福来成): 23-year-old hawker whips up solid bak chor mee at Maxwell Food Centre
This is not the first time that the brand has considered closing permanently. In Mar 2022, they attempted to sell their business recipes for S$1 million dollars but there were no takers. They continued the business, but with shorter working hours.
Halving the price to S$500,000, the owners are still looking for buyers interested in the recipe. Previous tentative handover arrangements have fallen through due to conflicting interests between the parties involved.
After hearing that the business will be closed permanently from 3 Jul 2023, regular customers have cried out in despair. Most of the business’ clients have been patronising the stall for generations.
The owner mentioned that he was afraid of a hike in customer orders that may come with the closure announcement. Well, now that the cat is out of the bag, let us all have some patience when heading down to support the business one last time.
Zhen Zhen Porridge: Most flavourful Cantonese porridge sold in unassuming stall at Maxwell
