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In a heartbreaking turn of events, beloved speciality café Maxi Coffee Bar was forced to close their only outlet, located at 6 Ann Siang Hill, on 15 Jun. They received an unexpected notice to vacate just the day before, given mid-service by their landlord.
The café broke the news via an Instagram post on 14 Jun, revealing that despite weeks of earnest appeals to remain at the premises, they were ultimately not granted permission to stay. “It feels deeply unfair when we have only run our little business honestly and with all our heart,” the team wrote in their caption, calling the eviction a result of “events that have caused this situation through no fault of our own.”
Maxi Coffee Bar opened in 2018 and quickly made a name for itself as a cosy, hole-in-the-wall café tucked away in the buzzy Ann Siang enclave. Popular among office workers and peace seekers for their minimalist aesthetic and homely charm, this café drew loyal customers with their thoughtfully brewed coffee, like their signature Iced Cereal Milk Latte (S$8), alongside a comforting MortyD Ham Cheese Sandwich (S$15.50).
News of the abrupt closure has left fans and even industry peers stunned, with over 200 comments flooding the café’s social media with messages of support and disbelief. Fellow coffee brands like Asylum Coffeehouse and Round Boy Roasters were among the lot who offered to help, wherever possible.
This situation raises questions about the precarity of small businesses in Singapore’s ever-competitive rental landscape. Many talk of supporting local and nurturing homegrown brands, but the reality is that unjust treatments are placing these very businesses on the chopping block.
If we truly value our local, small businesses — cafés, bookstores, creative spaces — the ones that breathe life into our fast-paced society and offer more than just transactional convenience, then the conversation must go beyond consumer support. It has to include better structural support, tenancy practices, and protection for these small players in a high-stakes game.
While this chapter of the Ann Siang outlet may have ended on an unjust note, the team behind Maxi Coffee Bar isn’t calling it quits. “We will be here to stay,” they promised in their post, announcing that weekend pop-ups will continue at Wildcard, a café-bar concept in the same neighbourhood.
