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Not many of us would be thinking of working into our golden years, but that’s just how committed the 79-year-old owner of Piao Ji Fish Porridge is to his business. But fans of this popular stall at Amoy Street Food Centre may not have long before owner Yar Choon Phiow considers shuttering it for good.
Piao Ji Fish Porridge started as a pushcart along Hong Kong Street in 1969 before being among the first stalls to operate in Amoy Street Food Centre in 1983.
His age isn’t the only factor that has spurred this sudden news. Speaking with Shin Min Daily News, Mr Yar shared that he had suffered heatstroke in May this year and that later developed into a lung infection and compounded things. He has since had trouble meeting demands during peak hours, getting “out of breath” while serving Piao Ji Fish customers.
He’s unwilling to “leave loyal customers behind”, stating that he would continue the trade if his condition allowed it.
As a result of these dire circumstances, the beleaguered stallowner has had to make a difficult decision. A Facebook post on the Piao Ji Fish Porridge page was made on 13 Oct announcing their search for a buyer with an interest in taking over the business. The value is said to be from S$700k to S$800k.
The successor will receive extensive coaching from Mr Yar and his brother over as many months as it takes for the Piao Ji Fish recipes to be perfectly replicated. If no candidates are found, the stall will likely close by the end of this year.
The stall’s opening hours and days have been changed from 5 days a week to just 11am to 3pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Still, the owner maintains he can barely cope with the shorter hours.
It’s inevitable that more people will be visiting Piao Ji Fish Porridge before the possible closure, but let’s hope the owner of this popular stall is able to stay on top of things until a successor is found.
