Nearby kopitiam sealed the deal in our house-hunting. Then it closed

The coffee shop was a source of delight, not just for food, but as a shared space in the neighbourhood where residents could bond.

- Joanne Tan

It was a kopitiam like many in the HDB heartland: bare furnishing, red plastic chairs, shaky tables and a kopi-kia shouting orders to the drinks stall auntie.

My husband and I were worn out after an afternoon house-hunting. We had seen a flat in the area in the western part of Singapore and were toying with making an offer after a first viewing lasting just 10 minutes.

First impressions: We liked the nearby greenery, and that right beside the block, between it and the covered walkway to the multi-storey carpark, there was a kopitiam.

We needed a break to think things through. The property agent recommended the bak chor mee stall, renowned for its umami zhap (sauce, in Hokkien). True enough, the noodles were delicious. And that was us, sold. We would look no further.

Twenty years later, we are still here. The kopitiam is currently not, but a new one is being built in its place, much to the excitement of the neighbourhood.

OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

It’s been a delight over the years to get to know our neighbours, thanks to the proximity of the kopitiam. Rain or shine, we have walked past it on our way to, or back from, work or school. Often, we bumped into neighbours having a meal and would stop to catch up.

I’ve been grateful for the kopitiam providing an easily accessible source of food. Whether it was a rainy Sunday morning when I felt too lazy to make breakfast, or a scorching weekday afternoon while working from home, I would not have to spend 15 minutes walking to the next kopitiam.

Observing kopitiam patrons is the ultimate in people-watching pleasure, too. They range from residents to office workers from the nearby industrial offices, and from the single diner to the multi-generational family.