Yao Wenlong’s JB Pao Fan Eatery Sees “20% Increase” In Business After M’sia Border Reopens
It has been a tough two years for Yao Wenlong’s F&B venture Sun Gourmet Kitchen — the veteran actor opened the pao fan specialty restaurant in Johor Bahru to much fanfare in late 2019, only for the Covid-19 pandemic to hit just months later.
Due to an absence of diners, with borders closed and people quarantining indoors, Wenlong saw his business plunge by a steep 90 per cent.
To save their restaurant, Wenlong and his business partners dipped into their reserve funds and came up with takeaway-friendly dishes to tide through the pandemic.
They were also the victims of loanshark harassment in Dec 2020. Although there was no debt owed, an unknown perpetuator desperate for money decided to extort Wenlong and his partners by splashing the restaurant’s entrance with red paint and sent a message demanding payment.
But business is better now with relaxed travel measures
Fortunately, Wenlong has seen an improvement in business since Malaysia and Singapore opened their borders for holidaymakers, despite seeing “few visitors [to JB] compared to the past”.
Wenlong's wallet-friendly pao fan with 'golden' seafood broth. Prices start from RM15 (S$4.80) for the most basic fishball pao fan that feeds two pax.
He shares with 8days.sg: “My business increased by a bit - about 20 per cent - but it’s still not back to like it was before. Covid-19 is still an ongoing thing, and tourists need to apply for things [like vaccination status approval] in order to travel here. Some people might think it’s too challenging to make travel arrangements, or they don’t dare to go overseas due to the coronavirus.”
Singaporean travellers are not rushing to JB for now
He notes that the hordes of Singaporeans, once a common sight in JB pre-pandemic, are also not back (yet). Wenlong observes: “Although the border has reopened, there aren’t a lot of Singaporeans travelling there. There was only heavier traffic on the first few days of reopening, but there isn’t much traffic now.”
Optimistic about returning crowds
Wenlong, a native Johorian who shuttles between JB and Singapore for work, was back home last week to film an episode for Mediacorp’s online lifestyle series #justswipelah. “I saw some Singaporeans there and took photos with them,” he laughs, adding that some of his recent customers also include “Malaysians who returned home - occasionally they will bring their families [to my eatery] for a meal when they have a day off”.
He’s optimistic that his restaurant’s business will pick up further once travel fully resumes. He chirps, “We are still very optimistic. I think once Covid-19 goes away, people will visit.”
For our review of Sun Gourmet Kitchen and what to order, click here.
Sun Gourmet Kitchen is at 7 Jalan Austin Heights 8/3, Taman Mount Austin, 81100
