Long Queue, 1.5 Hours’ Wait At Botak Jones’ Comeback Outlet Opening Day
Just like the old times.
Botak Jones, the popular noughties Western hawker chain, opens its first comeback outlet today (June 14) under its original founder Bernie Utchenik. The 68-year-old had parted ways with his company in 2011, and the chain gradually closed all its outlets in Singapore a few years later.
Bernie tells 8days.sg that since “there was no live business that owned the [Botak Jones] name and trademark,” he came to an agreement with his investors that they would revive the brand under the name The Original Botak Jones, and open a kopitiam stall at Depot Lane in Bukit Merah.
The menu remains “80 to 90 per cent” similar to the OG one, he says, with old favourites like Fish & Chips, U-Crazy-What?! burger, Cajun Chicken, Double-Baked Cheese Potato and Chili Con Carne on the menu.
Long queue on opening day
The stall officially started operating at 11am, though Bernie says a short queue had formed even before the opening. When 8days.sg did a crowd check at 12pm, the line had stretched out of the coffee shop. We saw a few NSmen from the Ministry of Defence’s Central Manpower Base (CMPB) nearby, and what appeared to be regular office folks and residents.
One-and-a-half hours’ wait
Shortly after 12pm, a Botak Jones’ staff announced to the line that the waiting time was “one-and-a-half hours”. This caused half the line to dissipate immediately, ostensibly because the office workers could not wait for so long.
Sold out by 3pm, closed for dinner service till Friday
In a Facebook update, TOBJ shares that its food was completely sold out by 3pm. “Today we were slammed from before we even opened and all our food was gone by 2-3 [sic]. We will NOT be open this evening so we can prep for tomorrow’s lunch. We will only start dinner from Friday,” states the post, which adds that “we would rather serve quality food the right way than serve food below the standards you expect from us.”
According to Bernie (pictured), pre-orders have been pouring in for TOBJ since last night. He shows us a stream of messages on his Facebook Messenger and e-mail account from his thrilled customers. “It’s better if you order and come by to pick up [at non-peak hours],” he advises, explaining that he had also gotten bulk orders that his kitchen would require time to prepare.
He recommends that people place their pre-orders via e-mail (enquiry [at] originalbotakjones.com (enquiry[at]originalbotakjones[dot]com)) or call 9380-5339.
Read our review of Botak Jones’ comeback menu here.
118 Depot Lane, S109754. Open daily 11am-8pm. Delivery available via GrabFood and Foodpanda. Full menu on www.originalbotakjones.com. Facebook.
Photos: Yip Jieying
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