Why Your Neighbourhood Mamak Shop Isn’t Giving Up Yet
BY
LEE RUO HWEE
Admin
Hype Issue #81
Published on:
Dec 26
2025
LEE RUO HWEE explores how provision shops stay innovative in keeping up with the times.
When you walk past an old-school provision shop in your neighbourhood, you are greeted by familiar sights– bread, canned drinks, maybe even that nostalgic eyeglass chocolate – all tempting you to spend your spare change. But let’s face it: these provision shops, or better known colloquially as “Mamak Shops”, have steadily dwindled over the years.
According to an article by The Straits Times, there were over 3,000 of such shops in the mid 1980s. However, only circa 250 remain today.
With supermarkets being the main outlet for groceries for many, how do these traditional Mamak shops stay alive?
Going Digital With Parcel Collection
H3S+, an old school provision shop located in Hougang (Photo credits: Lee Ruo Hwee)
Just a couple bus stops away from Hougang MRT, H3S+ is tucked within the neighbourhood’s heartlands. Proudly owned by Edmund Tay and his wife, Lim Hui Hui, the couple has been running the shop together since 2018.
Mr Tay explained that the business was set up as a way for him and his wife to “slow down” in life, while still continuing to work. This decision was influenced by his declining health, caused by an accident in the past. In addition, he mentioned that Mdm Lim had long wanted to run her own Mamak shop, inspired by the one her grandmother operated at Outram Park years ago.
Along with being a Mamak shop that sells traditional products, H3S+ has adapted to changing consumer needs by doubling as a parcel collection point. For every parcel that is successfully dropped off and collected, the owners earn a commission of twenty cents.
Parcels awaiting collection at H3S+ (Photo Credits: Lee Ruo Hwee)
.
“When it initially started, it was very little everyday. Like ten, twenty pieces,” Mr Tay recounted.
Originally set up as a way to attract more customers, this service proved to be more useful than expected when COVID-19 struck. Mr Tay said that business was “badly affected”, and that parcel collection served as a “lifeline” to them.
“In the second month of lockdown, all of a sudden, there’s a huge surge in all these online [orders],” said Mr Tay, who recognised a change in consumer habits.
H3S+ Meets InstaChef
Despite parcel collection being a sustainable solution, Mr Tay and Mdm Lim wanted to further push the boundaries in what Mr Tay considers to be a “sunset industry”, which refers to a long established sector that is experiencing a decline in profit and success compared to its earlier years (Cambridge Dictionary).
InstaChef, an AI-powered automated food vending machine (Photo Credits: InstaChef)
Earlier this year, in May 2025, Mr Tay and Mdm Lim implemented an InstaChef vending machine at H3S+. InstaChef is Singapore’s first AI-powered automated vending kitchen, aiming to serve chef-crafted, fresh meals to consumers. Found in various tertiary institutions, the machine runs 24/7, with cooked food being served within minutes.
This idea came about when Mr Tay’s customers, who visited the shop to collect their parcels, said that there were limited food options in the area. Many of these concerns typically came from adults working irregular hours.
Mr Tay explained that they started with one InstaChef machine as a trial, with the hopes that his customers would grow accustomed to the concept. He has plans to partner with more vending machine brands, but would like to give InstaChef the opportunity to gain traction among customers first.
Maintaining Traditions
With the inclusion of an autonomous vending machine, striking a balance between preserving tradition and keeping pace with change can be challenging. To tackle this, Mr Tay
and Mdm Lim made the bold decision to renovate their shop, adding a partition to separate the vending machine from the shop area.
“We wanted to keep the feel of the old provision shop but at the same time, we want to bring in new business ventures, new ideas to sustain our business,” said Mr Tay.
“Eventually, we’re not going to survive as an old school mamak shop,” Mr Tay admitted. However, he believes that this is a business risk he has to take. To him, failure is not something to fuss over– what truly matters is the courage to venture.
Beyond the shop’s physical layout, H3S+ has preserved the “Kampung spirit” that Mamak shops are known for. They have placed a table outside the shop, serving as a gathering point for neighbours. On some evenings, the space turns into a wholesome potluck session, fostering a strong sense of community over shared meals.
So, don’t make the assumption that all Mamak shops are your typical old school vendors selling mere groceries and necessities. These staples may be old in name, but with a little bit of innovation, it shows that tradition and modernity can coexist under the same roof.
Give it a try, step inside your nearest Mamak shop, and you might discover something that piques your interest.
https://shorturl.fm/nTfgG
Pornhub: Free Porn Videos & Sex Movies – Porno, XXX, Porn Tube pornhub Pornhub: Free Porn Videos & Sex Movies – Porno, XXX, Porn Tube
Deluxe Promosyon | 2026 Promosyon ürünleri eşantiyon hediyelik, ajanda 2025, promosyon ucuz, hızlı promosyon ürünü, kalem yapımı promosyon
naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.
This content is really helpful, especially for beginners like me.
Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit Belenco tezgah seçenekleri arasından ihtiyacımıza en uygun olanı rahatlıkla seçebildik. https://egemermergranit.com.tr/
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
Kuvars tezgah tercihimizde yapılan yönlendirmeler ve Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit sayesinde mutfağımız daha şık ve dengeli bir görünüme kavuştu. https://egemermergranit.com.tr/
In the world of download free action games for pc, players are always searching for better experiences, especially when they try to gaming news today from trusted sources. Many gamers explore different genres such as best open world games 2025 pc or even deep story-based new free games for android download to discover new entertainment. As the demand grows, the trend of multiplayer online games continues to shape the gaming community and attract more users every day.
Many people today are increasingly interested in subjects like Artificial intelligence because of their major influence on global technology and financial systems. At the same time, the rise of markets such as Insurance attracts individuals who want to explore new opportunities and learn how digital economies operate. Others choose to study areas like Forex to understand long‑term strategies, risk management, and potential growth across different sectors.
AI TOOLS
You’re doing a fantastic job with this blog.
Şömine kaplama çalışması estetik açıdan mekânla uyumlu ve oldukça özenliydi. Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit https://egemermergranit.com.tr/
This was exactly what I was searching for. Thanks a lot!
This topic is so relevant right now. Thanks for the timely post.
Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit Akrilik tezgah uygulaması temiz işçilikle tamamlandı ve ortaya çıkan sonuç oldukça memnun ediciydi.https://egemermergranit.com.tr/
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you made https://heosexhay.net/
Great information shared.. really enjoyed reading this post thank you author for sharing this post .. appreciated
Best places to visit in Turkey Super friendly guide and driver! https://mobilephones.repair/?p=50296
Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit’ten yaptırdığımız porselen tezgah hem görünüm hem de kullanım açısından beklentimizin üzerinde oldu.https://egemermergranit.com.tr/
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
Wonderful post — practical and well-researched. Subscribed!
websitem için çok işime yaradı teşekkür ederim
Great post — concise, useful, and well-presented. Thank you!
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
Istanbul tour from Pamukkale Jacob W. Hot air ballooning should be on everyone’s bucket list. https://benhvientriducthanh.vn/?p=4630
Nice article! I especially liked the actionable checklist.
Appreciate the time you put into this — it’s packed with value.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
https://shorturl.fm/0T5XE
I love the practical tips in this post. Can you recommend further reading?
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I appreciate the honesty in your assessment — refreshing to see.
Düzce Egemer Mermer Granit Cimstone tezgah montajı zamanında yapıldı ve ölçü hassasiyeti gerçekten çok iyiydi. https://egemermergranit.com.tr/