Recently, I heard that more and more shops in Holland Village are closing down. This was tragic news for someone who lived there for a short while and enjoyed visiting old shops run by equally old aunties and uncles.
Singapore is changing fast. Malls pop up overnight while yesteryear establishments struggle to cope with rising rents and vanish into thin air. On the one hand, we’re a society that frantically tries to preserve our history through the conservation of heritage buildings and murals. But on the other hand, we’re also losing some precious places and along with them, stories.
Nevertheless, tucked away in quiet corners are ageing hawker stalls and heritage shops that are still somehow battling the tests of time. They don’t chase viral fame, nor do they don flashy signs. Instead, they hide resilience, nostalgia, and a whole lot of classic Singaporean flavours and feels.
Here are some of our favourite old-school spots that might not be around forever. Visit and support them before they become another “last time, ah” story. 💔
01 • Redpoint Record Warehouse
Hidden in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it building in Ubi, Red Point is a crate-digger’s paradise with over 10,000 records stacked and sorted neatly. I’m talking everything from sultry ‘50s Chinese songbirds to head-banging rock ‘n’ roll legends and long-lost Singaporean bangers that deserve a comeback.
There are rows and rows of treasure waiting to be discovered. And, if you ask the owner — a certified music nerd and low-key archive wizard — for something specific, he’ll know if he has it and exactly which towering shelf it’s hiding on. 🤯
Even if you don’t end up buying anything (but c’mon, you probably will), it’s a great way to spend a lazy afternoon thumbing through music history in a store that’s probably older than you!
📍 Address: 80 Playfair Road, Kapo Factory Building Block B #06-11, Singapore 367998
📞 Phone: 6383 3955
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Sun, 11am – 6pm
🌐 Website: facebook.com/RedPointRecord
02 • Cheong Ann Watchmaker
Step into this time capsule of a shophouse, and you’ll be greeted by a chorus of ticking and chiming clocks. They come in all shapes, sizes, and centuries and fill every inch of this two-storey hideout. You’ll even find elegant old-school mantelpieces to towering grandfathers that have stood the test of time.
Behind the magic are David Lim and his son Shawn, a father-son duo who have dedicated their lives to fixing antique clocks. Some of the gems here came from collectors, some from overseas, and some were rescued from karung guni piles. They have so many clocks that at one point, the clocks even started spilling into his toilet!
It’s quiet work — slow, detailed, and oddly meditative. Listen to the tick of the tools and the occasional soft chime as David and Shawn bring a 19th-century clock back to life. If you’re in the market for a new timepiece, this is the spot to check out.
📍 Address: 4 Lim Tua Tow Road, Singapore 547714
📞 Phone: 6288 4603
⏰ Opening hours: Tue to Sat, 10:30am – 5:30pm
🌐 Website: facebook.com/Cheongannwatchmaker
03 • Kai Juan
Stepping into Kai Juan is like time-travelling into the ‘70s — rusty gates, vintage tiles straight out of ah ma’s kitchen, and friendly old people manning the humble kitchen. This restaurant, which has most likely stayed the same since day one, sells one of the best bak kut teh meals I’ve ever had.
The soup is clear and peppery and has all the elements that make it shiok. It’s a supper hotspot among both young diners and taxi uncles, who just seem to know all the good lobangs on the island. Kai Juan’s most loyal customers say the quality and taste of the food haven’t changed a bit over the past 50 years the restaurant has been around.
It’s open till midnight on most days, so you can show up bleary-eyed at 12am and still get a piping hot bowl of comfort food.
📍 Address: 395 Balestier Road, Singapore 329799
📞 Phone: 6253 7184
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 8 – 12:30am | Sun, 8am – 2pm
04 • Ana Book Store
Ana Book Store is the last-standing secondhand bookstore in Orchard Road. You’ll find it past the escalator, up on the fifth floor of Far East Plaza — quiet and unassuming, but a treasure trove.
It’s run by a spry 73-year-old known fondly as Mr Bean, who’s been in the book biz longer than most of us have been alive. He named the store after his late mother and arranges books in a system best described as organised chaos. But if you ask him for a title, his magical hands somehow pluck it out of the abyss.
At this bookstore, you can sell your old reads, buy a new one, or even rent books, like it’s 1999 again. Sure, e-books are convenient. But nothing beats holding a pre-loved book, its pages yellowing and sometimes even containing tiny annotations left by previous owners.
Books here start for as low as $1, and if you dig hard enough, you can find some special editions too!
📍 Address: Far East Plaza #05-01, 14 Scotts Road, Singapore 228213
📞 Phone: 6737 2385
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 12 – 8pm
05 • Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory
Before there was cold brew in a glass flask, $9 oatmilk lattes, and tattooed baristas, there was Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory — a good ol’ traditional kopi roaster that’s been around since 1959. The moment you walk in, you’ll be hit with the unmistakable scent of freshly roasted beans and about 6 decades of heritage.
Don’t underestimate this shop. The shelves are stocked with tins of Nanyang blends and single-origin beans from all over the world. Don’t know what to get? Just tell the uncle behind the counter what kind of flavours you like, and he’ll somehow read your soul. I once said “nutty” and walked out with a bag of Mexican beans that tasted like a hug in a mug. He gets new stocks regularly, too, so there’s always something fresh to discover.
Now run by the 3rd generation, Lam Yeo is still going strong, supplying kopi powder to hawkers and caffeine addicts across the island.
📍 Address: 328 Balestier Road, Singapore 329760
📞 Phone: 6256 2239
⏰ Opening hours: Mon and Tue, 9:30am – 6:30pm | Thu and Fri, 9:30am – 6:30pm | Sat, 9:30am – 5pm
🌐 Website: facebook.com/lamyeocoffeepowder
06 • Sing Hon Loong Bakery
Since the 1960s, Sing Hon Loong Bakery has been quietly preserving the art of old-school baking. There’s no fancy tech here — just time-tested recipes, skilled hands, and ovens that have seen decades of dough rise and fall.
The bakery’s crown jewel is the legendary Curry Bun, a fluffy bread pocket filled with potato chunks swimming in a cosy curry. The butter-sugar bun, sweet and indulgent, is another crowd pleaser. They also have fresh loaves and baguettes, but hurry because these sell out fast!
📍 Address: 4 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 327715
📞 Phone: 6256 0878
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Tue, 5am – 11pm
🌐 Website: facebook.com/singhonloong/
07 • 96 Kwai Luck Cooked Food
Some stalls build a full menu. Others just perfect one dish, and 96 Kwai Luck Cooked Food falls squarely in the second camp. This humble spot is known for one thing and one thing only — its super-addictive, super-slurpy mee siam. Every serving is decades-honed, umami-loaded, bowl-licking good.
Run by an elderly couple who’ve been behind the wok for over 40 years, this stall has quietly built a cult-like following. Day after day, they serve up bowls of their signature mee siam, with a gravy that’s tangy, rich, and full of that deep, savoury kick you don’t forget. It’s the kind of flavour you only get after decades of muscle memory and taste-testing.
📍 Address: Block 453A Ang Mo Kio Ave 10, #01-20 Chong Boon Market & Food Centre, Singapore 561453
📞 Phone: 9619 0196
⏰ Opening hours: Wed to Fri, 4am – 1pm | Sat and Sun, 4am – 2pm
🌐 Website: facebook.com/96kwailuck96
08 • Hainan Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee
(Photo:
Tucked in the basement of Golden Mile Food Centre, this old-school Hainanese Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee stall has been cooking up stormy plates of slurp-worthy goodness for what feels like forever. It’s one of those stalls where you know you’re in good hands the moment you hear that satisfying sizzle from the wok.
You’ll get a glorious mess of yellow noodles and thin bee hoon stir-fried with egg, crunchy bean sprouts, and chives — then topped with prawns, tender pork belly slices, and squid. The finishing touch is a dollop of punchy sambal, crispy lard bits (yes please), and half a zesty calamansi to add a zing to the rest of the flavours.
In other words, this stall is worth the queue. If you break your no-carb promise, let it be for this.
📍 Address: 505 Beach Road, #B1-34 Golden Mile Food Centre, Singapore 199583
📞 Phone: 6294 6798
⏰ Opening hours: Thu to Sun, 10am – 5pm | Mon, 10am – 3pm | Tue, 10am – 5pm
09 • Comics World
Stepping into Comics World feels like entering a portal back to the days when life was simpler and revolved around Saturday morning cartoons and superhero plot twists. Hidden inside the wonderfully retro Parklane Shopping Mall, this comic shop has been around since the 80s — and honestly, not much has changed (in the best way possible).
The walls are stacked high with comic books, manga, and graphic novels from every era. Some have lovingly aged, some freshly printed, and all of them are handled with the kind of care only true fans give. You’ll find everything from classic Marvel and DC to vintage Hong Kong comics and rare anime that would make collectors weep with joy.
It’s run by Uncle Sonny, who’s been manning the counter forever and can probably recommend a new series based solely on your vibe. It’s a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered. Whether you're a diehard fan or just here for the nostalgia, Comics World is a rare gem that feels like it’s frozen in time.
📍 Address: 35 Selegie Road, B1-22 Park Lane Shopping Mall, Singapore 188307
📞 Phone: 6339 6413
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Fri, 12 – 8pm | Sat, 12 – 6pm | Sun, 1:30 – 6pm
🌐 Website: comicsworldsingapore.blogspot.com
10 • Feder Sports
Feder Sports may seem meek and isolated without neon signs or a fancy front. But step inside and you’ll meet Jeffrey, the man who’s been quietly (and single-handedly) making walking and running a better experience.
He knows feet like a podiatrist-slash-mind-reader and, for decades, has been building a quiet reputation among runners and folks with all kinds of foot issues. He doesn’t need flashy tech or a long questionnaire. Just step onto his iconic blue gel pad, and with one look at your foot outline, he’ll tell you things even your doctor might’ve missed. He spotted my plantar fasciitis in 2 seconds without me saying a word and recommended the best running shoes I’ve ever owned!
Jeffrey doesn’t believe in hard selling or gimmicks. He’s all about that real talk and recommendations that actually work. Whether you’re a serious runner or just tired of shoes that hurt, Uncle’s got your sole.
📍 Address: 231 Bain Street, #02-25 Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231
📞 Phone: 6336 0626
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 11am – 7pm | Closed on Sun
(Featured photo: Book an Artist)
