'It's exhausting': Owners of Lao Liang Pork Trotter Jelly to retire after 45 years
A long-standing Singaporean hawker stall, Lao Liang Pork Trotter Jelly & Shark Meat, is closing after 45 years as the elderly owners retire. The couple cited the exhausting labor and the difficulty of maintaining traditional preparation methods as primary reasons for the closure.
Why it matters
The closure highlights the struggle of preserving traditional culinary heritage in modern urban environments where labor-intensive practices face economic and physical challenges.
Lao Liang Pork Trotter Jelly & Shark Meat, one of Singapore's last remaining hawker stalls serving the traditional Teochew dish, will close after 45 years in business.
The stall at Berseh Food Centre, run by elderly couple Yu Zhongrong (transliterated) and Lin Cailuan (transliterated), will cease operations on Oct 31, Lianhe Zaobao reported.
The stall owners, both 75, told the Chinese daily that they have decided to retire and have no intention of handing over the reins to their children.
When asked whether they felt it's a pity to shutter the business, Yu said: "Not really. You wouldn't know the hardships we've endured."
For decades, the couple have been starting work at 3am to prepare ingredients and cook the dishes before opening for business at 10am.
"It’s exhausting. Sometimes customers are already lining up to order before the broth is even ready.
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