In a surprising turn of events, local influencer Simon Khung, better known as Simonboy, and actor Peter Yu have unexpectedly shuttered their culinary venture, Singabola Chicken Rice, just a few months after its grand opening in June 2024.

Located in the bustling neighborhood of Yishun, this hawker stall quickly became the talk of the town, yet it has now become a vacant space within the Lepak One Corner @ Canberra coffeeshop.

On a recent visit, it was evident that the once-thriving stall is now permanently closed, as confirmed by large "Available for Rent" signs displayed prominently above.

A quick search online reflects this disappointing reality, marking Singabola Chicken Rice as "permanently closed."

The closure has sparked speculation among locals and neighboring stall owners.

One staff member at Kebab Bai mentioned that they hadn't seen Singabola open in "a few weeks," hinting that the stall may have ceased operations as early as late October of last year without any official announcement from its owners.

The lunchtime hour on that Thursday saw an unusual lack of customers in the coffeeshop, which some staff attributed to certain stalls, like Black Burn Woodfire Grill, not operating during the afternoon.

However, many are left wondering why the popularity of Singabola Chicken Rice didn’t translate into stable foot traffic.

Simonboy, when contacted, declined to comment on the closure, leaving fans and foodies alike in suspense.

Previously, Peter Yu expressed his enthusiasm for embarking on this food venture, driven by his love for chicken rice.

Unfortunately, this passion could not save the business from an early demise.

To add to the somber news in the local food scene, popular actor-host Ben Yeo is set to close his Chinese restaurant, Tan Xiang Yuan, on February 12, merely two years after its inception in Little India.

Yeo disclosed that the substantial renovation costs, which totaled around $800,000, were a major factor leading to the restaurant's downfall.

He and his partners had invested about $1 million into the establishment, but the financial strain proved too great to overcome.

As the local F&B landscape continues to shift, one can't help but wonder what these closures mean for aspiring restaurateurs.

The pressure of managing costs and ensuring consistent foot traffic looms large, epitomizing the challenges faced by many in the industry today.

What will be the next move for Simonboy and Peter Yu? Only time will tell, but it’s clear that they are not alone in this challenging endeavor.