Morning scene at Ho Kow Kopitiam, Lorong Panggung.
by gan.marco
Kopitiams ( “kopi” is the local Malay word for “coffee;” and “ tiam” is the Hokkien word for “shop”), serving strange but delicious hybrids of British and local cuisines. The English breakfast of eggs and toast was the inspiration behind today’s iconic soft-boiled eggs (eaten wobbly with soy sauce and pepper) and toast (with a thick slab of butter and kaya coconut jam in between).
Established by Ho Kee Soon in 1956, the shop was operating at an alley, Lorong Panggung. The alley also known as “Little Ghost Lane” because there were gambling halls, opium dens and brothels during the early days.
This shop was initially called Soon Kee. When Ho Kow took over the business, he changed the name to Ho How Kopitiam. He was selling Hainanese food like tea, soft boiled eggs and toasts.
Fate intervened when the shop at the alley received an eviction order to move out, and Ho Kow decided to continue his father’s legacy by taking over the shophouse next to the original one.
In this Ho Kow MOC, I used black, grey and white instead of original green, red and white colors to indicate that the shop has been demolished in mid May 2018.
Ho Kow used to stay in a small room built right above the main entrance. The left side of the shop has the sitting area, altar, fridge, steam bun machine and the coffee making area. The right side has the basins area for washing, cooking and storage. Back of the shop was able to place 2 extra tables for customers and a place for laundry.
Peoples used to live in the abandoned houses next to the original Ho Kow shop, and they hanged out at Ho Kow Kopitiam for breakfast and gather with other neighbour to chit-chat.
The abandoned building was built around 1884-1906. The unique of this building is A LingNan triple door (岭南式三重门). Although worn out, the ancient triple door or XiGuan door (西关门) is still visible. Triple door normally comprises of the outer screen door (屏风门), the middle sliding iron door (趟栊) and the inner wooden door (木门).
As you can see, the screen door was no longer there but the sliding iron door and the wooden door are still intact. These are the real Petaling Street, those livelihood hidden in the alleyways.
