From Boom to Bust: The Unraveling of Mentai-Ya

Once a vibrant part of Singapore's food scene, Mentai-Ya, the beloved Japanese hawker chain, has sadly closed its doors for good. At its zenith, the chain boasted nine bustling outlets across the city, all under the stewardship of 38-year-old Khoo Keat Hwee, who had high hopes and even ventured into the café business.

But in a shocking twist, just weeks after announcing plans to reduce his number of stalls to three, Keat Hwee declared on April 13 that all remaining outlets would close, citing profound losses of approximately $550,000 over two tumultuous years.

A Personal Plea: The Pain of Losing Everything

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Keat expressed his emotional turmoil: "It hurts, losing everything. This failure has been a nightmare, and it's damn painful. I feel like I've let everyone down—my loved ones, supporters, and staff. I tried too hard to make it work." He pledged to face his consequences and find a way to recover.

A Journey Marked by Regret and Reflection

Since March, Keat has been candid about his struggles, openly lamenting the burdens of high rental rates and the burdensome costs of registering for GST, which he believes contributed to his business's downfall. Reflecting on his unfortunate journey, he admitted to regretting the delay in cutting his losses, a decision that could have spared him from financial ruin.

The Next Chapter: Consulting and Content Creation

Looking ahead, the resilient entrepreneur is pivoting his focus toward becoming a food and beverage consultant. He stated, "I want to help others avoid the mistakes I made. I've failed, but I want to share my experiences so that others don’t have to." Keat is cautiously considering content creation aimed at guiding fellow food entrepreneurs as he takes time off to 'reset and recuperate'.

Passion Undeterred: The Love for F&B

Keat's journey in the F&B market began in 2015 with Tenryu Japanese Dining but crumbled in 2018, leaving him $120,000 in debt. He had to drive for Grab to pay this off before daring to embark on Mentai-Ya's venture in 2020. Despite his setbacks, Keat insists that F&B remains his passion. "I love food—delivering accessible, quality meals is my calling," he said.

Hope Amidst Defeat: Support in Trying Times

Although he feels defeated now, Keat draws strength from messages of support from fans and customers. He is deliberating on a home-based venture moving forward but acknowledges the emotional toll of his fall. "I poured my heart and soul into this business. I felt I failed my team, suppliers, and everyone else. But I know this experience will make me stronger."