{
  "id": 1896270,
  "title": "57-year-old Canteen 398 near Seletar reportedly closing on Sep. 19",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/57-year-old-canteen-398-near-seletar-reportedly-closing-on-sep-19",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-19T08:50:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/08/canteen-398-piccadilly-road-closing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "After 57 years, Canteen 398 located at Piccadilly Road is set to permanently close its doors on September 19. A sign captured in a diner's TikTok video indicates the last day of operation will be September 18. However, the reason behind this closure remains unexplained. The proprietors of the canteen, a couple, informed an Instagram user that they had planned a break and retirement. The canteen, also known as Boh Geh Uncle Canteen, is believed to be Singapore's oldest surviving coffee shop, dating back to 1969. Originally serving as a Corporal Mess for British soldiers, it later catered to National Servicemen stationed at the nearby Seletar Camp. Despite changing its purpose over the decades, the canteen has retained its rustic, old-school charm with an outdoor dining area surrounded by overgrown greenery. Its three stalls - two for food and one for drinks - provide simple meals at relatively affordable prices, making it a popular spot for local workers. In 2012, the canteen was slated for closure to make way for the Seletar Aerospace Park development plans. However, it managed to survive these proposed changes.",
  "summary": "It will be missed.",
  "key_points": [
    "Canteen 398, Singapore's oldest coffee shop, closes on September 19.",
    "Established in 1969, it served British soldiers and later National Servicemen.",
    "Originally planned for closure in 2012 for Seletar Aerospace Park development."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The closure of Canteen 398 marks the end of an era for a humble, long-standing fixture of local dining, depriving workers of a popular, affordable meal spot.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}