73yo Peranakan café owners in Sembawang appeal for support after selling HDB flat to keep business afloat

SINGAPORE: The 73-year-old owners of a Peranakan café in Sembawang have appealed for public support after selling their flat to keep their business afloat.

According to a recent report by 8world, the couple behind Woody Family Peranakan Café is facing severe financial pressure, with business reportedly declining by up to 70 per cent after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jenny and her husband, Sam Png, opened the café in 2009 at Andrews Avenue, a quiet landed estate area. They said the restaurant once enjoyed brisk business and employed seven staff at its peak.

However, the pandemic forced them to dip heavily into their savings. They told 8world that business remained weak even after restrictions eased.

Jenny said there were days when only one or two tables were occupied, and sometimes none at all. The couple eventually sold their three-room Housing and Development Board flat and applied for a Build-To-Order flat.

They were initially due to receive the keys in April 2025. But delays meant the funds they had set aside were redirected to sustain the café.

Over the past year, they resorted to borrowing from several sources and now have outstanding debts of S$20,000. Their savings and CPF payouts have also been exhausted.

The couple currently live in the unit above the café premises. They told 8world that attempts to secure a rental flat through their Member of Parliament were unsuccessful because they are still registered as company directors.

Jenny noted that selling the café is also not straightforward, as doing so would leave them without a home.

The pair now operate the restaurant largely on their own.

Jenny, the main chef, begins work at 7am and continues until closing at 11pm. She prepares ingredients, cooks and serves customers throughout the day.

Sam, previously hospitalised for heart disease, now helps with kitchen work, maintenance, waiting duties and cashiering. He said he tries to stay near his wife at all times due to her health.

Jenny has reportedly fainted several times while working. She told 8world that she once collapsed in the kitchen and resumed cooking immediately afterwards because customers were waiting.

Sam described his wife as the “heart and soul” of the restaurant.

He said he worries deeply about her health and the future of the café.

In an effort to stay afloat, the couple recently turned to social media for publicity. They created a new Instagram account in July 2025 and posted an appeal on the “SG Food and Events” Facebook group on 18 September.

The post explained that they were unsure how many more years they could continue operating “Woody”, as the café is affectionately known.

Rising raw material costs, rental and wages were cited as ongoing challenges.

Their social media posts, however, have seen limited engagement and reach.

The café’s situation only gained wider attention after coverage by 8world.

Despite the setbacks, Sam and Jenny said they still hope to keep the café running for as long as their health allows.

They appealed for customers to visit the café, stressing that community support remains essential.