Hidden in a corner of a quiet residential neighbourhood at Rosyth Road, it is easy to miss the Tee Seng Store. Stepping into the store, a village style sundry shop, has one taking a step back some 4, 5 or perhaps even 6 decades back in time.
The shop is set in a stand alone building – much like the village shops of old. Little changed since the 1950s, the inside of the store is fitted out with wooden ventilation grilles, louvres, doors and even wooden framed glass cabinets and is very much reminiscent of the shops in the countryside that for many a parched National Serviceman out in the field, were a lifeline.
Mr Ang Lu Heng, the proprietor of the store – who started work in the shop in 1955 and has run it since 1960.
The shop, owned by Mr Ang Lu Heng who is in his 70s, is possibly last of its kind in Singapore – there are several other “traditional” sundry or provision shops but not with a village shop like setting. It probably will be a matter of time before it becomes forgotten, much like the other reminders of the gentle days of Singapore that have been lost.
Nice. Very old school and nostalgic.
Thanks RX. 🙂
Hi Jerome
I was wondering if you did any guided tours?
Christine
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I used to live at Leith Road, at the cross junction with Rosyth Road. My parents used to call it “ah bu shop”, though I’m not sure why… I don’t quite remember how the shop looked like because the last time I was there I was really young! My primary school (Rosyth School) brought us to the shop as well when I was in Primary 1 as part of a school excursion around the neighbourhood, back when Rosyth was still at Parry Avenue.
Thanks for the photos!
Lived at 28A in 1962 for 15 years and this shop gave my parents credit terms, payable month end. Got bitten by his dog one night when I used the shop’s side exit, to buy mosquito coil and the towkay took me on his bicycle to Thangam clinic for a jab.
Mr Ang Lu Heng used to work at the engineering shop after he finished school.
Probably his father way of gaining exposure for his son….