Sudden Closure Of Beloved 2nd-Gen Toa Payoh Drinks Stall Serving $1 Kopi Shocks Customers

The stall is run by married couple Vernice and Bernard, who inherited the biz from the former’s dad. We’re told the stall has been operating for about 35 years and have relocated a few times within the hawker centre.

News of their impending closure was first shared on Facebook hawker food groups, where netizens lamented the loss of their “favourite kopi stall in Toa Payoh”. This sparked many tribute posts, including this user, who praised the stall’s superb brew and warm service.

Others chimed in on why the stall is their go-to spot:

Hawkers declined to share reason for closure

When 8days.sg’s intern visited the stall on Saturday morning to find out more about the closure, the middle-aged hawkers politely declined to be interviewed, citing a desire to maintain a low profile.

Although there were similar speculations shared by some regular customers she spoke with and in online discussions (see above FB post) about the reason for the stall closure, we were unable to verify the information.

Long queues in the morning

Regardless of the reason for its wind up, it’s clear that Seng Heng Coffee Stall is a favourite with many. During 8days.sg’s visit from 9am to 11am, the joint consistently had a queue of over a dozen customers. According to some regulars, these long lines are normal and not due to the impending closure. Typically, the queue subsides around lunch time, just before the stall closes at about 2pm.

Despite the long queue, our intern only waited for about 15 minutes for her orders. She observed Bernard taking orders while Vernice prepared the drinks, noting that both were friendly to customers. 

Possible relocation

With a handwritten sign at the stall declaring “We will post once we have a new stall”, it seems Vernice and Bernard are currently seeking a new location for Seng Heng Coffee Stall. Many of the regulars we’ve spoken to are happy to continue supporting the biz if they relocate to somewhere nearby. In the meantime, you can still pop by the stall tomorrow (its last day of operation) for your final cuppa.
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Drinks starting from $1

At just $1, the Kopi O is slightly cheaper than most hawker stalls. In fact, all of their brewed beverages are affordable – Kopi and Teh are priced at $1.10, while Kopi C and Teh C go for $1.20.

Customer Chen, whose go-to order is the Kopi O, says he likes the coffee here because it’s freshly brewed. Other regulars also attest to the freshness of the brew, noting that the hawkers frequently prepare new batches due to the demand from the long queues.

Our intern ordered a few of their popular drinks to try:

Kopi O, $1

She found the Kopi O to be strong, smooth and full-bodied, with a pleasant bitterness and light, fragrant sweetness. This was her favourite out of the three beverages she tried.

Kopi, $1.10

Similar to the Kopi O, the milk coffee is also very fragrant and smooth, and she liked how the brew is richer than the average kopitiam-style kopi. 

Teh C, $1.20

Compared to the coffees, our intern found the Teh C less impressive. The tea is pleasant and creamy, but nothing to shout about.

Seng Heng Coffee Stall’s last day of operation is on April 30. #01-73 Toa Payoh Lor 8 Market & Hawker Centre, 210 Toa Payoh Lor 8, S310210. Open 7am to 2pm.

Additional reporting by Chrisye Cheong

Photos: Chrisye Cheong, Fiona Kwek/Facebook, Yolin Zhong with 4 others/Facebook