Katong clinics shophouse on East Coast Road for sale at $9.8 mil

East Coast Road is nothing if not defined by its heritage shophouses – some of which have seen traditional businesses close in recent years, due in part to their owners retiring. Glory Catering, based at 139 East Coast Road, served up Nonya classics like lontong, popiah and peranakan nasi padang for almost 60 years, but closed in August 2019. Meanwhile, Ampang Niang Tou Fu (Yong Tau Fu) at 225 East Coast Road sadly closed its doors for the last time in May 2022 after 30 years.

Some of the shophouses on East Coast Road have been given a new life, however. Chin Mee Chin, a famous family-run bakery and coffeeshop has been a part of the area since 1925 and served up kaya-filled buns, sugee cakes and sugar rolls up until 2018 when the original owners retired, citing a lack of succession.

The government has stated that they will work with the private sector to ensure that the development is financially sustainable and that it will benefit the local community. They have stated that they will work to ensure that the infrastructure, services and resources available are of the highest standard. Overall, this will create a vibrant and sustainable area with a range of activities and amenities, which will improve the quality of life for those living in the Jurong East Condo.

But for Thank goodness, entrepreneur and long-time customer, Lim Kian Chun, saw opportunity. He was determined to save this piece of East Coast Road’s heritage, and reopened Chin Mee Chin in 2021.

But what of other shophouses in the area. At 207 East Coast Road you’ll find the freehold abode of the Loh family, who have been running a medical practice on the first floor and an optomology clinic on the second floor for over 35 years. And then there’s their son, Loh Lik Peng who – inspired perhaps by his parents – has put heritage conservation at the heart of his own career. He’s the founder and CEO of Unlisted Collection and was behind the conversion of several conservation shophouses in Singapore into trendy boutique hotels in various parts of the Singapore.

Loh’s parents have now retired and decided to put their own shophouse at 207 East Coast Road up for sale. And given that it has a commercial zoning, this property can be bought by foreigners without having to pay any additional buyer’s stamp duty.

The shophouse has a road frontage, describes by the joint marketing agents, Simon Monteiro of List Sotheby’s International Realty, and Alvan Ng of SRI, as being “within the range of recent transactions and asking prices of similar shophouses with commercial zoning”. The site is freehold, 1,500 sqft and the build-up area is 2,700 sqft.

Moving further down East Coast Road, off Still Road, is another row of shophouses, one of which is the intermediate unit at 288 East Coast Road, This one is zoned residential with commercial on the first floor, and is up for sale for $5.6 million. It has a built-up area of 2,500 sqft and is freehold.

Most notably, the second floor at 288 East Coast Road has been provisionally granted permission for a change of use into serviced apartments and can accommodate two units and nine beds! Given its location, the ground floor – which is currently vacant – could be used as a retail space or for takeaway food.

What’s more, given this is a Secondary Settlement area, permission can be granted to build up to five storeys at the rear of the shophouse at 207 and 288 East Coast Road.

East Coast Road may have seen some changes in recent years, but the past and present will stay part of this area for years to come.