So is the MCO going to be lifted? At the time of writing, no decision has been made as yet. Maybe we will know today. But I guess it doesn't really make any difference since everything seems to have returned to "normal".
Activities at Damansara Uptown is back full swing, parking problem is back hah..hah..and so is the traffic jam. In the midst of the MCO, a new shop has opened - Yees Yogurt. Perhaps I will check it out later.
I noted with sadness that Orale has shut down. Looks like I have to make my own burritos from now on.
Can Can Can HK Dim Sum has also called it a day. Its neighbor Xin Fu Tang also closed shop.
I see that there is a YSY Spicy Hot Pot along the same row of shops. Based on my recent hot pot experience, there might not be many fans.
There is a newbie, Face Bar, a place where you can have your face rearranged beautified. I wonder how will they survive.
Nuromen is closed and I noticed that their cow mascot is missing from their signboard. Has the cow been put out to pasture?
Black Whale bubble tea seems to be surviving.
There are another two bubble tea shops - Bawangchaji and Ji Long Tang in the same row (many more in the surrounding area).
This new place, Saba-Hae, sells prawns from Sabah. I have yet to step into the shop.
At the Starling mall, one shop closes and another is opening - Dr Hauschka. Must be a very pricey shop.
Two shoplots vacated. There are many more.
Truly Wine is still surviving.
Kam Kee Cafe is chugging along.
The shop next to Seafood Dynasty has closed down. I can't even remember what shop it was.
Two Sons Bistro remains closed.
While Red Kettle remains as strong as ever.
Teo Chew Lor is still closed but their other branch at the Damansara Uptown shophouse is open for takeaways.
This shop is open but I will only come here if they have a sale hee..hee... Got nice plates I want to buy.
Just like Teo Chew Lor, Nene Chicken is also closed.
Ooops another one bites the dust. What shop was this? I don't remember.
Mr Tuk Tuk is open for dine in. It has a big floor space, so social distancing is doable.
The space vacated by The Embassy is still not taken up yet and I bet it will stay that way for some time.
Ah! This place where I had the smallest chicken in the world is still kicking. In spite of the atas prices and kecil servings, their business was pretty good before the MCO.
The gym next to it was of course closed.
Pho Vietz and Nam Heong are open.
On my way to the pharmacy, I noted that Cafe 300 has called it a day like many shops around here. Very grim, eh?
Sad...sad...sad! I guess rent is high there and three months without income, it is difficult to pay in full and carry on the businesses as usual. So far, here, only one has called it a day but it has not been doing so well for a while now, even before COVID-19 - used to be so very popular, always crowded.
ReplyDeleteVery true and very sad. Some of these places were already struggling along way before the MCO. There will be many more succumbing to the aftermath.
Deleteso sad....the MCO has put many businesses to close shop and affected F&B & tourism industries so much.
ReplyDeleteThat's right. It's a terrible thing to happen and I feel for these people.
DeleteThis pandemic is like the survival of the fittest. Thanks for the update. I wonder when can I set foot in uptown. not for many many more months I think because I have not set foot in mid alley mall yet.
ReplyDeleteBest to stay put first as we are still not safe yet.
DeleteYesterday I went to jln lazat morning wet market. Looks like fully open. No social distancing. Cmco, what cmco!?
ReplyDeleteExactly, even in the supermarket, the moment people step inside, they don't observe social distancing.
DeleteTime really bad. Some cannot survive when close for 2 months plus. F&B depends on continuous cash flow, to cover expenses. The hotel, tourism industry also. Few hotels have closes down.
ReplyDeleteI read today that one of Sandakan's oldest hotels is shutting down.
DeleteSad to see so many affected... I have yet to survey Ipoh town but I heard many restaurants are gone for good. No more good authentic food to savour unless much much later, they open back again...someday.
ReplyDeleteIt would be some time before things get back to "normal". Very hard to keep up with overheads and operating costs at a time like this.
Deleteorale is now available for delivery-only if you're craving them - they have details on their instagram page at orale.my - mexican food delivered to your doorstep (hopefully the tacos will still taste super-fresh) :) but yeah, delivery-only businesses are now becoming more popular to avoid rent and save on wastage costs, etc ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and I did check them out. Yes! I can still get my burritos after all. I noted more and more restaurants are available on Grabfood.
DeleteMany businesses in Ipoh also not spared. Those surviving are also struggling to keep afloat. Many workers are losing their job. Sad time ahead.
ReplyDeleteVery grim and when I walk past these shops with banners of real estate agent's phone numbers, I feel quite down.
DeleteSad to see so many calling it a day (even popular boba tea names like Xin Fu Tang...I guess the 'bubble' has finally burst!)...or will call it a day soon. I think it's even more trying for those in shopping malls (because of high rentals). Small, neighbourhood eateries are the ones who can survive the best, I think, since they're, well, small and rent is not so high in housing areas. Coffee shops and stand-alone noodle/rice shops are holding on. I think those who were not doing so well before the MCO, the MCO was the final nail on the coffin! >_<
ReplyDeleteThe bubble has indeed burst. There are too many of them competing for the same customers (in Uptown/Starling there are 9 of them) and the bubble tea trend might be on its way out. Your are right, some restaurants were already struggling way before the MCO.
DeleteThis is sad.... It's a very hard time for many, not only the F&B industry~
ReplyDeleteYou are right. All across the board affected.
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