HDB-themed cafe Lou Shang to close on July 14
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Lou Shang, known for its unique interior design, has been in operation for three years.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM LOUSHANG.PRINSEP/TIKTOK
SINGAPORE – HDB-themed cafe Lou Shang, known for its nostalgic interior designed to resemble flats in the 80s, will be shuttering on July 14 after three years of operations.
In a TikTok video on June 15, the cafe’s owner, Sebastian Ang, said the decision was made because it is difficult to maintain Lou Shang’s business, given its location and the prices of items on its menu.
The cafe is located in a shophouse at 38 Prinsep Street, which he felt is relatively quiet and difficult to access without a lift to reach the second-floor eatery.
Ang also said in the video that the pricing of Lou Shang’s menu was aligned with that of restaurants, and this does not encourage recurring visits from diners.
Speaking to The Straits Times, Ang explained that it is difficult to convey the value of Lou Shang’s items to customers because of its focus on local cuisine.
“Customers may be willing to pay $20 for a sourdough or Korean jajangmyeon, but they are less willing to do the same for a plate of laksa linguine,” he said.
Mains served at Lou Shang are priced at around $20 each, according to the cafe’s menu on its website. A plate of Black Bean Mushroom Ragu “Chow Mien” is $18.90, while a Dry Laksa Supreme Aglio Olio is $22.90.
While the cafe has modified its menu over the years, Ang said it is not financially feasible to lower the prices of the items.
Lou Shang’s closure announcement, which has garnered over 80,000 views, drew a mixed response from netizens.
Some felt it was a pity that a cafe with a unique concept was closing down, adding that they were impressed by the HDB theme during their visits.
Ang said Lou Shang has seen some customers return since the announcement, though he currently has no plans to reopen the cafe at a different location.
He would prefer to focus on his other brands for now, which include Mama Diam, the popular restaurant and cocktail bar below Lou Shang.
There are no changes to Mama Diam’s operations, he said.
In the TikTok video, Ang expressed gratitude for the cafe staff, and the conversations that happened under Lou Shang’s roof.
“We might have gotten the numbers and business wrong, but all of this, I think they were all real,” Ang said towards the end of the video.
