GONE ARE THE DAYS
These days, if I happen to be out late (itself a rarity), the streets feel strangely subdued. The queues have shortened, many haunts have reduced hours and some have disappeared altogether.
For example, Haidilao will close its outlet at Clarke Quay, which for 13 years was a popular supper spot for clubbers. Soon Li Yong Tau Foo at Bukit Merah View Hawker Centre, a local gem that only opened after midnight, has shuttered for good.
I recently wandered around my HDB estate at about 10pm seeking a late dinner after I lost track of time while working from home. To my surprise and dismay, the options were limited, with an overload of heavy fare like barbecued chicken wings and deep-fried snacks. It did not feel particularly appealing, making me wonder if we have lost out on variety because of the challenges that the industry has been facing in the post-pandemic years.
Supper spots, long operating on thin margins like the rest of Singapore’s food and beverage industry, have struggled with rising costs, manpower shortages and a thinning late-night crowd. Food delivery apps have stepped into the void, making it far more common to end the night with McDonald’s delivery than with a plethora of local eats at a crowded kopitiam.
This week, a year-long trial to extend trading hours to 4am for liquor licensees in Boat Quay, Upper Circular Road and Clarke Quay will kick in. It is possible that these extended hours may have a spillover effect, boosting demand for supper spots, especially those in the vicinity.
