Shame Labrador Villa Food Centre had to go

Letter from Clair Elaine Jerusha Devan (Ms), Straits Times Forum 4 Sep 08;

I WAS sad to learn that one of my favourite breakfast haunts has closed, as mentioned in Tuesday's article, 'Farewell, Labrador Villa Food Centre'.

This place is just one quaint and rare joint my family, friends and I love to go when we are famished after a pre-dawn walk through Labrador Park. Labrador Park has come a long way since the days when my former college St Andrew's Junior College was located in Alexandra Road.

We had hoped the Government could find a way to renovate it without having to demolish it completely as it has such an old-time ambience where you can sit and have really authentic 1970s tasty food at great prices. Even my son finds the place a one of a kind.

It is the motivational force to wake up super early, drive from Yishun in the north to Labrador in the southwest for a two-hour early morning walk, knowing we can fuel up after with such humble delectables such as prata with fish or mutton curry, mee rebus, dosai and curry puffs, among others dishes.

What a shame to lose a place like that. It is something you can never recreate or replace.

Farewell, Labrador Villa Food Centre
It closes after 37 years to make way for future redevelopment
Ang Yiying, Straits Times 2 Sep 08;

MADAM Cheng Ah Tee has spent the past 37 years serving coffee from a drinks stall at the Labrador Villa Food Centre.

But that came to an end on Sunday when the run-down hawker centre near the corner of Alexandra and Pasir Panjang roads served its last meal.

The institution, popular for what patrons call its cheap food and old-world charm, has been closed to make way for 'future redevelopment', said a National Environment Agency spokesman.

Other sources say it is making way for the Labrador Park MRT Station, which is due to open in 2010 or later.

Speaking in Mandarin, Madam Cheng, 65, the longest-staying tenant, said: 'I definitely won't be able to sleep for at least a month or two.'

While watching movers cart away the refrigerator from her stall, she added: 'It is really very good here. For over 30 years, there has never been any quarrels.'

The 37-year-old food centre had just 10 stalls, but it was popular with local workers. On the haunt's last day, regulars turned up in droves for a last taste of their favourite dishes and to snap photos of the place and the stall owners.

Some said earlier they were drawn to it because of its rustic look.

'Where else would you see wooden planks being used to shutter up stalls at closing time, wire mesh used as ceilings and bamboo sheets as protection from the rain?' said one patron who only wanted to be known as Mr Meldi.

When The Straits Times visited Labrador Villa Food Centre at noon yesterday, five of the 10 stalls were boarded up and the tenants of the remaining stalls were busy packing their things. Pots, plates, bowls and cutlery covered the tabletops.

Old-timers at the food centre said they were reluctant to leave.

Madam Hajjah Sa'diah Abdul Rahman, 56, was dabbing her eyes with tissue before sitting down to sort through letters in front of her 16-year-old stall, which sold Malay dishes and snacks.

'Sayang, sayang,' she said about the loss of the food centre, repeating the Malay word for 'love'.

Another tenant, Mr K. Manokaran, 45, who runs the other drinks stall there, has fond memories of the place dating back more than 30 years.

'My school was very nearby, so I came by to help my mother,' he said.

Some tenants are unsure if they would continue with their business. Others are still hunting for a new location. It would, however, be difficult to find an equally good location at the same rent, tenants said.