Singapore rises from the ashes
Popular restaurant rescued from closure by loan, community
Wallace Chung, owner of the Singapore Restaurant & Lounge, knew it would take a complete reversal of fortune to save the restaurant after announcing its closure three weeks ago.
But when the news broke that the landmark would be permanently closing, the community rallied around Chung in his time of need to rescue the eatery, which will now reopen on Monday.
“This is a phoenix that rose from the ashes,” said Dirk Kiefer, a food consultant hired by the restaurant. “And it rose through the goodwill of the community that stood behind (Chung) in a really difficult time for all of us.”
Kiefer said the business was rescued in part by a timely $160,000 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program with the Small Business Association.
It was also assisted by people like Paul DiGeronimo, owner of Geronimo Commercial Properties, and city food inspector Stephanie Holinko.
Kiefer said he was able to facilitate the reopening of the res
taurant with their help.
“We negotiated new terms with the landlord and addressed any potential concerns from the Board of Health,” he said. “We’re ready to go.”
Starting next week, the Singapore Restaurant will be open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. with take-out options and socially distant indoor dining.
While the bar itself will be closed, bar service will continue for dine-in customers.
There will be hand sanitizer stations and masks will be required until patrons are seated at their tables.
Kiefer said the restaurant has undergone a metamorphosis in the past few days, including some fresh paint and improvements to the bar area.
“The place has been deep cleaned and refreshed,” he said. “There’s a whole new vibe now. The place is at the highest level it’s been at for many years.”
Kiefer, speaking on behalf of Chung, said the business first closed its doors back in May because of the COVID-19 crisis.
The cost of food at the time was skyrocketing and employees feared for their health; so the decision was made to permanently close about a month later.
“Workers didn’t feel safe,” he said. “There was no one there to answer the phone, cook the food, or wash the dishes.”
Kiefer, who has worked with Singapore since 2017, said there was a period of time when it seemed the restaurant’s story was at its conclusion.
“We had already put everything in boxes and the lights were out,” he said. “It felt like being in a vacuum because when you walked in there was no light.”
After placing an advertisement in the paper, which stated that the contents of the restaurant would be for sale, Kiefer said something changed.
Kiefer said he expected just a few residents but, to his surprise, dozens came the next day.
He said some people were looking for a bowl or a glass, but many more were there to show support for the business, which has been under Chung’s ownership since 1995.
“It just goes to show you how much this building means to people,” Kiefer added later.
The Singapore Restaurant & Lounge had been continuously operated for 20 years prior to Chung’s ownership, first opening back in 1975. It is the 45-year history in the region that made the restaurant such a multi-generational touchstone to the community, according to locals.