Century-old Penang coffee shop to close [WATCH]
GEORGE TOWN: A 106-year-old Hainanese coffee shop will close on Sept 26 as no family member is willing to carry its three-generation legacy into the future.
![Century-old Penang coffee shop to close [WATCH]](/img/5870676)
A century-old coffee shop in George Town, Penang is set to close its doors on September 26 after no family members are willing to take over the three-generation business. Kong Thai Lai, located on Lebuh Dickens, will bid farewell to its final cup after the landlord decided to reclaim the property. The 68-year-old third-generation operator, Tan Jeng Seow, says the closure marks the end of a family legacy.
Tan, who has run the business for 14 years, noted that his son, who lives overseas, has no interest in continuing the family business. His nieces and nephews, who are working and have families of their own, also showed no interest in taking over. Tan himself never planned to take over the coffee shop when his brother passed away.
The business was started by Tan's grandfather in 1920 and moved several times before settling in its current location in 2022. Despite being a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike, including notable figures like Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew and Tan Sri Robert Kuok, the family may not persist the business any longer. Tan expressed his gratitude for the support and appreciation of customers over the years, saying he is looking forward to a well-deserved rest.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
