Reimondo Congee Hawker Closes Supper Joint After $280K Loss, Opens Wonton Mee Stall Called Sure Come Back
The 34-year-old personally cooks at his new noodle stall in an attempt to repay his debts after battling “a suicidal moment”.
When we last spoke to hawker-turned-entrepreneur Raymond Tan in March, the 34-year-old had just opened his first standalone casual restaurant Super Supper in Little India. Bolstered by the popularity and media attention for his Reimondo Congee stalls, which included the original outlet at Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre and a branch at Timbre+ One North, Raymond had been hopeful about replicating the success of his hawker concept at his largest venture yet.
Instead, the first-time restaurateur found himself fighting a hard battle to keep the Western-Asian fusion 100-seat joint afloat. “We just couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. We could not even make enough money to pay wages,” he tells 8days.sg over the phone. Raymond decided to close the eatery in late August after only five months of operation.
No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
“Parking was the biggest problem”
He says business was untenable largely due to its location. “Parking was the biggest problem. I’ve had customers who wanted to come but were unable to find parking space even after driving around for 20 minutes,” he shares. Super Supper is located in a two-storey shophouse along Desker Road, where the nearest parking spots are limited to a handful of roadside lots.
The lack of steady patronage crippled the business. “The overheads and rental costs were too high. I had to top up with my own money [to pay my staff],” he says. Super Supper employed around six staff to work in shifts at the restaurant, which opened till 3am daily.
He estimates the total losses to be around $280K, including an initial capital of $200K – most of it came from a personal loan. “Thankfully, the landlord understood my situation and didn’t ask for compensation [for the early termination of lease] or reinstatement of the place,” he says.
Admits to having “gambler’s mentality”
Raymond spoke candidly about how his personal flaw contributed to the closure as well. “My [previous] downfall was because of gambling and I brought that gambler’s mentality into my business. I wanted to make a bigger bet to get a bigger return,” he confesses.
In his 20s, Raymond earned his first million from running a car rental biz and a car repair workshop. He soon gambled away his fortune and even ended up in debt due to his addiction. “The [most recent] experience has shown me how I’ve always been looking for shortcuts in life. I made a bad decision and jumped into opening a big eatery too quickly without proper planning. I’m very realistic now and will no longer take risks like how I used to.”
Had suicidal thoughts
In addition to his financial woes, the troubled towkay found himself battling suicidal thoughts at one point. “Everything was uncertain and [my problems] seemed so big and overwhelming. I had a suicidal moment when I thought of ending it all. I called out for help from God, who showed me that even if I chose the easy way out, someone else like my wife or my mum will still have to settle the problem. My loved ones would have been burdened by my cowardly escape. That was what motivated me to be honest about my situation and face it [directly],” shares Raymond, who is Christian.
He is especially grateful for the support from his wife, Vivian, 33. “I feel embarrassed because when I opened Super Supper, I wanted to give my wife a better life. Instead of making money, now we owe money.” Raymond and Vivian have two children – Vera, 10, and Vernon, 7. “[Instead of blaming me] she told me she’s glad that this happened while we’re in our mid-30s. I cannot afford to make a mistake like this when I’m older.”
Short-lived Sure Come Back Wanton Mee
To recoup his losses, he launched hawker stall Sure Come Back Wanton Mee in October 2022, alongside the sole remaining Reimondo Congee outlet in Pasir Ris. At the time, he believed that selling wonton mee would bring in a bigger profit compared to wok hei congee, which he felt was “not an everyday staple”. By June 2023, Raymond was disillusioned by the inconsistent business and long working hours as a hawker – he closed all his stalls and planned a return to his former job as a roadside assistance mechanic.
No regrets despite being "tired of F&B" biz
Reflecting on his journey as a hawker, Raymond says he has “no regrets” even though he admits he is “kind of tired of F&B”. “It’s been such an amazing learning journey – the joy of creating dishes, setting up the stalls, and the opportunity to meet so many nice customers along the way. It’s all been worth it!” he shares. “I am who I am because society has always been willing to give me a chance. The love and support from customers have sustained me until today, and I’m truly grateful."
Watch Now
Related Stories
Shopping
