Fortunately for our sanity, many of the things taken away from us during the circuit breaker have been returned.
Bubble tea stores are open once again, and meeting your friends isn’t illegal anymore, as long as less than five of them turn up.
But there’s one more thing that Singaporeans are aching to have again.
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Reader: Leisure travel?
Okay, two things.
I’m talking, of course, about KTV sessions.
Gone are the days where we could belt out tunes with our friends, even though most of us sound like dying squirrels when we sing.
Since Covid-19 can spread through the mere act of talking, singing is considered a dangerous activity when done in groups.
Still, one famous KTV chain may reopen soon.
Lost $2 Million During Pandemic
For many businesses, losing $2 million would put the nail in their coffin.
But Jackson Teo, the founder of Teo Heng KTV, has managed to keep the business afloat.
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Speaking to 8 Days, Teo said he’s prepared to downsize his family home, a landed property in the Bayshore neighbourhood, to save the company.
At the start of the pandemic, Teo had prepared $2 million to tide his family-run business over.
“I figured this would be over in four months, like SARS,” he said.
Government grants have certainly helped, but Teo still expects to lose “close to S$2mil” of its own funds by the next month.
As you know, entertainment venues like KTV outlets were ordered to close before the start of the circuit breaker.
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While certain venues such as cinemas were permitted to resume operations, KTV outlets have not been given the green light yet.
After several months of closure, the family is running out of reserves.
As Teo’s sister, Jean, 54, said: “It costs $600k a month to run the business, and we are left with about three to four months of reserves to sustain ourselves. We can’t hold off the landlords forever, even though they have been helpful and reduced our rent.”
The family has already been forced to shutter two branches permanently in Sembawang and Katong Shopping Centre.
Despite this, Teo Heng has not retrenched any of its 120 staff.
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Joining Pilot Programme
While the owners initially declined, Teo Heng will be joining the pilot progamme for entertainment venues to reopen.
As part of the pilot programme, rooms will have to be cleaned and disinfected after every use, and will only be open to those who have done Covid-19 tests in the past 24 hours.
As Jean told 8 Days, it was the cost of tests that put them off at first.
Teo Heng, noted for its low prices, would have to charge an extra $50 for swab tests, or absorb the cost themselves.
“Sir, it’s not that we don’t want to participate. We can’t afford it. It’s not worth it for people to spend this much just to come and sing for a few hours,” Jean told a minister.
But she later changed her mind.
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“If we don’t join, I’ve no chance to prove that it’s safe to sing karaoke. We make it a Singaporean effort to participate in this.”
Teo Heng is currently looking for cheaper swab tests. If the pilot is successful, “pop-up swab test stations” may be installed at Teo Heng’s outlets so customers don’t have to go to clinics for a test.
Reader: Wait, so this means they’ll reopen?
Well, yes and no.
One Teo Heng Outlet Might Reopen in January 2021 After All
Teo Heng has applied to the government to reopen, but not as a KTV outlet.
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Instead, they will be converting their outlets to a snack bar-cum-working/study space.
That’s right, when your friends ask you in a few weeks to go to Teo Heng, it might be to do some Algebra.
Customers can rent the rooms to nap, study, or even bring musical instruments to jam. Board games will also be provided.
If everything goes well and the government approves the application, they could reopen in one to two weeks.
There will, of course, be no karaoke singing allowed.
Till January, that is.
In January 2021, Teo Heng’s outlet at Tampines West Community Club may reopen under the proposed pilot programme.
How much it will cost residents is still uncertain.
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Whatever the price is, you can bet your plane tickets to Hong Kong that Singaporeans will be lining up to sing there.
Featured Image: Facebook (Teo Heng Trading & KTV Studio)
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