The business, which regularly operates at pasar malam (night market) events, announced on Facebook that it had reopened following a month-long break and would likely be holding its final event in the Sengkang area through Nov. 14.
“For those who have yet to try our meat puff please kindly grab one to try before we retire from pasar malam and we won’t be operating forever,” the stall said.
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The Teochew Meat Puff stall. Photo from Facebook/Teochew Meat Puff Pte Ltd |
The family-run stall, operated by He Ying, his wife and their son, specializes in oyster cakes, which are deep-fried puffs filled with ingredients such as minced meat, oysters and cilantro.
Also sometimes called UFO oyster cakes because of their distinctive shape, the traditional snack originated in Fuzhou, the capital of China’s Fujian province, and is sold at some pasar malam events and hawker stalls in Singapore, according to CNA.
The stall’s second-generation owner, He Qiangde, told Shin Min Daily News earlier this month that the family had been considering closing the business for the last year or two, partly due to his parents’ age.
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Meat puffs at the stall. Photo from Facebook/Teochew Meat Puff Pte Ltd |
“My parents are getting old, my father is nearly 90 years old, and I want them to be able to rest properly. After all, they’ve been doing this for 40 years,” he told the local Chinese-language newspaper, according to AsiaOne.
He also cited rising ingredient and rental costs, as well as declining sales, as factors behind the decision.
The stall’s sales are down more than 50% from pre-pandemic levels, leaving the business barely breaking even, he said.
He added that he plans to look for another job and is also open to selling the family’s recipe.