Refreshing treat: Tan (right) preparing chendul at the Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul stall in George Town.
GEORGE TOWN: Many famous hawker stalls in Penang are closed, even for delivery or takeaway, as the movement control order (MCO) enters its 14th day.
Many famous hawkers have also not caught on with using Foodpanda or GrabFood for delivery.
The Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul stall in Lebuh Keng Kwee here is still operating as usual but what’s missing is the long line of customers. Owner Tan Chong Kim, 61, said he lost 70% of his customers due to the MCO.
“I have to reduce my operating hours as well. I usually open at 9.30am and close at 6.30pm but now I open at 9.30am and close at 4.30pm. There are still people but it is not like usual and I understand why it is quiet, ” he said.
“Our branch in Gurney Plaza is offering delivery service but for now, we will still open the stall here and offer takeaways.
“We do not expect to see business picking up until the MCO is over, ” said Tan, whose family has been running the business for 84 years.
All his workers wear masks as a precautionary measure.
Other famous hawker stalls and popular food haunts in the state such as the popular char koay teow in Lorong Selamat and the Swatow Lane ice kacang shop at New World Park in Burmah Road were closed.
