Inside Singapore’s VANISHING Trade.. First Time Visiting Mamashop!

Inside one of Singapore's most traditional yet vanishing trades. Mamashops have been existing since the kampong days in Singapore, however, they are vanishing. I wanted to visit a Mamashop for the first time and taste some of the nostalgic snacks and candies there and also have a chat with the owner. Why dive into this business? What does he think about the current situation? Why do some customers prefer visiting his mamashop instead of supermarkets?
👴 Uncle Lim's Mamashop
- Address: Bedok 113 North
- Opening Hours: 6:30am-6:30pm (closed on Saturdays)
Thank you Uncle Lim for accepting this interview. Please stay healthy and happy always!
Chapters
00:00 What is a Mamashop?
01:54 Trying Mamashop Snacks & Candies!
05:03 Interesting Facts about Mamashops
06:34 Why Start This Business?
09:00 A Regular Visits!
12:26 Eating More at His Mamashop
14:50 Dreams of Uncle Lim and his Future
Looking for an app that can save you some cash? Download Singapore Airline's Kris+ and use my referral code S602586 and we will both receive a $5 sign-up bonus upon completing your first transaction! krisplus.app.link/Ghib
🍿 BEHIND the scenes & EXCLUSIVE Content on Patreon / ghib_ojisan
Follow my adventure!
👤Facebook / ghibojisan
📸Instagram / ghibli_ojisan
♪ Tiktok vt.tiktok.com/ZSJn5LFhK/
🐦Twitter / ghibli_ojisan
👕Ghib Ojisan Merchandise（アパレル）:
SE Asia | ghib-ojisan.secure-decoration...
Japan | suzuri.jp/ghib-ojisan
Business Enquiries
✉️[e-mail]
You are welcome to send fan mails but I may not be able to respond to all of them. But I immensely appreciate your support. Thank you!
#Singapore

[@cheezsg]

That ah ma's generosity is so typical of a grandma taking care and pampering her grandkids (or her neighbours' kids/grandkids) in the old days. Too heartwarming. ❤😊

[@GhibOjisan]

Yes her kindness touched my heart❤️

[@seowchunkoh4057]

I just went to this shop 2 hours ago because of this video 🤣🤣🤣. And I bought some nostalgic snacks there for my students . The uncle is a very kind , polite and gentle uncle . Strongly recommended to visit his stall . ✌🏻

[@ey8296]

Grandma is so sweet, reminds me of my late grandma. There’s something about the old generation. They don’t have a lot but they have a lot to give. ❤

[@willie8452]

My generation grew up with mamashops. As a kid, it’s a haven for us especially after school! Love the icecream, snacks, and also they used to sell ‘tikam’ where u can buy and randomly win a small prize 😅 So fun last time, literally a huge part of my childhood. Love this video a lot! 😍

[@ixactan69]

the tikam in the black flimsy bag. It always feel fun to be surprised by the small treat

[@impopquiz]

Collect some toy stickers in a book for bigger prize. 😅

[@Mew77778]

Thank you Ghib for always showcasing the easily overlooked or hidden parts of Singapore to others.

[@gladknowingu9338]

Brings back nostalgia thanks

[@ralfkhoo2164]

Very meaningful episode

[@lazyjane1223]

The uncle is so kind and sweet and positive. Really hope these don’t disappear.. It makes Singapore 😢 Thanks for the quality content again Ghib! :)

[@obiwan88]

"Really hope these don’t disappear", Sorry to burst your bubble kid, true kindness dies with his generation.

[@paecpc]

Oh Mr Lim was once a handsome young man! With the fact that the prices of the merchandise is so low, he is providing a service rather then profit to the community, ❤

[@sgmei]

Yes.. as a 90's kid, every day after school, every weekend after tuition, the must go to place is Mamashop!! Buy ice pops, ice cream, candies while walking back home. Back in the days things were simple and fun. Thanks for bringing us back to memories 🙂

[@Aviclex]

Thank you so much Ghib. I really appreciate you capturing these old gems of Singapore that no or few Singaporeans do so. It really brings back nostalgic, precious memories for me here in Tokyo. I guess the ice-pops equivalent here in Japan is Papico!❤

[@GhibOjisan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hipposamadesu]

This mama shop is like a heaven for preppers 😎 so much food to survive in an apocalypse 😍

[@frogheadflan7416]

I live very near to this place. He pretty much watch me grow up for 20 years. Come in the morning and he also have a variety of breakfast food like nasi lemak, nasi sambal goreng, mee Siam, burger and many types of Kueh .

[@zueinder89]

I hope the younger viewers can see beyond the colourful display is a the beauty of that level of discipline, compassion & sincere friendliness that is so rare to find in this super technologically inclined world.

[@paullow6807]

When young love going to visit mama shop downstairs my hdb. The owner is Indian uncle, very nice to young kids. He even allows us to take anything without recording and trust the residents to come back repaying what was owned to him. He even helps to "babysitting" when schoolchildren waited for parents to return from work while we played at void desk near his shop. My mum often told me to seek mama shop uncle for help if encountered strangers. They are more than a shop to us!

[@shaoyfan]

Brilliant!! Brings me back to old times. This is truly a hidden gem now, kudos to Ghib for unearthing this

[@hiroyukishinichi9873]

Mama-shops are nostalgic❣ That is a great way-of-life "Accept Everything" similar to “一切随缘”/ “let it be...” of 佛法

[@ruminatingenigma4649]

True story, i used to grow up in bukit batok and visited a chinese mama shop almost everyday, unfortunately i moved out around 9 years old. A bit more than a decade later i came back and they're still there, but the shop reduced its size to half. The owner saw me and recognized me and said smt like, walaoeh! You came back!

[@eliseww13]

Mr.Lim is a national treasure! Such a humble and nice shopowner. Thanks Ghib for featuring this and spreading the wider message on vanishing trades and human re-connection! Love videos like these from you/wifey. 本当にありがとう！😊🌈

[@benyeech]

National treasure indeed 😊👍

[@jozechee9927]

So heartwarming to see a thriving mama shop holding its own against bigger convenience chains like Cheers, 711 etc. Mr Lim's shop has a story and soul behind it. Hope such shops receive more supports to keep going as they are a part of our culture. A part of us perish along with them if they disappear. Good job Ojisan for bringing attention to these mom and pop shops.

[@xllvr]

I genuinely don't think convenience stores in SG are the main competition. I feel like supermarkets are. I would much rather buy from a mama shop than a convenience store if there was one nearby

[@mys7ix]

It’s actually quite sad that kids these days won’t see much of the mama shops around. Definitely a tradition that needs to be preserved. Not everything should always be about maximising profit.

[@eatdriveplay]

Problem is, nobody will want to run these shops with net profit of just $2-3k a month. They are still available for open bidding when someone gives up a store and u can get it at whatever bid price if nobody competes… even $2.

[@ILUVBAKKUA]

I don't think they can make 2-3k per month maybe struggling to make a few hundred dollars to 1k+ depending on location but how good it is also cannot fight with convenience chain or big supermarkets who can offer competitive discounts and prices. If you take over from somebody I've seen the asking price is around 15k-20k then the rent to gov tc or hdb is 1.5k to 2k then you need to add utility for all the lighting heating for snacks or refrigeration for perishables at least a few hundred also. In the old days in the 80's I remember people were more sociable, kids will run here run there play soccer and other games at the void deck after that hot and sweaty they buy drinks, old timers will hang cages with song birds buy drinks sit whole day chit chat smoke cigarettes, drunks will buy cheaper beer from these shops and drink all nite long at void deck. but nowsaday all the kids guai guai wan stay at home study or play online games, smoking kanna banned in void deck and the old timers with song birds mostly gone aready and even very few pet shops have any song birds for sale which points to a dying hobby. And the drunks are still around but frowned upon, nowsadays if residents see drunks downstairs they call police aready. This thing will be gone because we the society made it so, we don't patronise they cannot earn a living they will close shop eventually wad.

[@eatdriveplay]

@@ILUVBAKKUA lol. U think they are not smart meh? They bidded the stalls themselves… if make $1k might as well stay home to shake leg, the town council cleaners already make $1.5k. ROFL.

[@ILUVBAKKUA]

@@eatdriveplay precisely might as well drive taxi or grab better if is so good it will not be "vanishing" wad why is it vanishing?

[@impopquiz]

The inventory checks is enough to be stressed out 😅

[@chenyinmei6466]

Hope you bring people back to buying from mama shop now..thank you ghib😊

[@thereisnoaddress]

I love that the story of this video is based on the idea that our society is moving so fast and fragmented! It's so true, especially in a fast-paced society like Singapore where efficiency is everything and taking time to build connections with people is not really thought about. Thank you for covering this segment!

[@thewalk7816]

Would love to visit uncle lim’s shop one of these days! And the old ah ma scene is cute 9:29 😊

[@wakatai8232]

まんま日本の駄菓子屋みたい。文化の壁を越えてるようで感動しました😆

[@angelaangie88]

Grandma is so sweet 🥲 heartwarming. And nice of Ghib brought him some Japanese snacks too.

[@simbeekuan4056]

Its not often that we see such shops around anymore. We should continue to support such small business

[@orangenomore6199]

Really enjoyed watching this episode. There were so many nice people like the shop owner, his thoughtful customers that became his friends. That is really touching. 👍👍👍 Thanks Ghib for making this video 👍👍👍

[@chenyinmei6466]

Wish him continued good biz

[@muhddanial1]

Hey Ghib! I love this unique feature of the mama shops. I remembered when I was young I would always frequent the mama shop to buy my favourite snacks and goodies. Sometimes they have gacha and trading cards, and those were my memories. I love how humble the uncle is and really philosophical one too! Loved the quotes, the hidden toilet and the ladder. I didn't know they had so much in there! Thank you for letting me revise my childhood and giving me joy today. 🙏

[@Bao-cb4dx]

Thank you for featuring the mama shops! Uncle Lim is such a kind uncle, wish him good health and happy life!

[@hairil.sukaime]

10:58 Ghib going with a huge bite of that layer cake 😂

[@JohnJohn-kw3zx]

great Ojisan u nail it again mamashop n i almost lost it , gd job 👍

[@annew5380]

It's a total different experience buying from mama shop, it's the kindness and familiarity with the shop owners, with lots of smiles. I really dont see any mama shops near me. I wish I do, and I will support them if I see them. Thanks Ghib for making this content! These are the little things in Singapore that tend to get forgotten.

[@GhibOjisan]

Absolutely!!

[@mini_rou]

Wow, uncle too kind. pricing didn't go up. Tat pricing is 22yr ago pricing. My neighborhood mama shop pricing already when up to $0.7-$1 for lolipop/icepop/snack. uncle pricing really should go up so he can afford his rental. Kids this day have more money than 20y ago kids.

[@isaiahjoshc]

Loved this, Ghib Ojisan. Arigatou gozaimasu! It sure brings many of us on a journey into the past where, as kids, we'd look forward to visiting one under our block after school for that sweet snack. I used to love those Japanese chewing gum that have wrappers with a transferable "tattoo", mostly with Doraemon on them. Oh, let's not forget that amazing snack "Kaka" that went for 20 cents that often contained a toy in it. Sad to see another facet of Singapore disappearing. Thank you, Uncle Lim, for persevering with your business!

[@Rinazalelos]

Wow this is the best and touching video ever! Thank you Ghib buddy!

[@calvincheecs]

Thanks for rekindle my memories. Sadly, due to the advancement of modern society, many age-old traditional trades have vanished or left a few handful, with the younger generation showing little interest in continuing these businesses. This transformation comes as a cost of progress towards becoming a first-world country. In the 1960s and 1970s, I used to frequent places similar to today's 7-Elevens. Opening and closing his shop, u can imagine how long it took to do it. I m very sure this uncle see his shop as a magnet for gathering of his neighbour..kampung spirit.

[@dxdx5638]

When the fruit is ripe, it will fell off the tree…and let nature takes its course… Inspiring proverbs from uncle Lim..

[@rolandc85]

Thanks for showing the hidden gems of Singapore. So nostalgic.

[@sleepandrelaxation3395]

To what I remember, in earlier days, HDB allocates space for 1 mama shops for every 3-4 blocks of flats and 1 hawker centre for every 10 blocks. Housing estates built in the earlier years will have these features. These policies change over the years so the newer estates does not have so many mama shops or hawker centres. Back in the days, wet markets only operate in the morning, so after lunch time, we can only get stuff from these little convenient shops. All the stuff in this video is really nostalgic, with the convenience of supermarkets, younger people hardly visit mamashops.

[@jessicahan6274]

Uncle Lim is a good looking and kind older gentleman❤

[@estellawong365]

I love the mamashop. It was part of my childhood memories getting ice snacks and little biscuits with freebie toys. 😋

[@lynnanntay1378]

Thanks Ghib , for sharing tis losing charm (of mama shop)of Spore's life.....Uncle Lim is really very kind & fill with Kampong Spirit of neighborhood😘

[@wyattearp88]

New HDB don't have any of these anymore , because the "need" is gone , my house and my mum house still have it , is so convenient, just go down and buy drink and snack , the trouble of not walking a few more block to get your stuff

[@liahalim1671]

Thank you for doing these episodes. These are hidden gems that tourist should be made aware of and support them where possible. I will definitely visit Uncle on my next trip to SG. Long live Uncle 🙏

[@chenyinmei6466]

Wish you good health and good biz Mr.lim

[@AK8901]

Ghib, your videos are so nice to watch. It seems like you are always encountering nice and wonderful people

[@Wylethorn]

This uncle is the best lah. I used to always buy my Isotonic Drink from.him before I head the CC for basketball.

[@thestaringenclave]

Very wholesome video. You managed to capture the kampung spirit in this video. Thank you!

[@haruhi7745]

Welcome Back. Ah this shop is so cool and convenient to have everything is so nice. 😌👍💙🤍

[@AK8901]

Ooh this is so nice to see. Brings back memories....

[@zake8710]

This is a very heartwarming video~ brings back a lot of memories when I was young and the strong spirit within neighbours. I hope these kind of mama shops will last as long as it is ❤

[@isaaclow8571]

Really great and wholesome video! Mamashops are honestly a unique part of being Singaporean and it is indeed sad to see that there are lesser Mamashops nowadays due to modernisation. Really do hope they dont die out and that HDB's will still have a few remaining ones in the future

[@ngkokwei6114]

Wow, this is classic. I Salute this Uncle. Really takes a lot of hard work & dedication to run this Mamashop. Am surprised this model of shop still exist. Really an eye opener.

[@user-mm9cw8oo7n]

和みました✨実家の集落にも一件だけこのようなお店があるのを思い出しました。 なくならないでずっと残っててほしいですね。

[@eye0807]

Love this episode. 👍

[@theartist2766]

Excellent video.. kids this days have no idea what they are missing.

[@emalejack]

Please support local business in the neighbourhood 🙏🏼

[@Akira-888]

Thanks Ghib. Will visit Uncle soon. 🙏👍💐

[@egrzx925]

Love the episode!

[@ckgoh]

Thank you for doing a video on this vanishing trade in Singapore ❤❤❤

[@ToldByAbe]

watched this yesterday ❤

[@sunnis0107]

you visited my neighbourhood once again.. Thank you for showing Bedok to the world. 🙂

[@kellly445]

Grewing up with mama shop mans! Missing it alot.. dun think the new bto estate has a shop for it 🥹🥹🥹

[@ivyinocencio6115]

Another great content!👍

[@markshen3280]

It’s GREAT 👍 you are learning a few simple Mandarin short phrases, and at the same time, you are picking up some Singapore 🇸🇬 accents and habits of speaking 😁😁😁👍👍👍👍

[@binaryten]

Last time lot of mama shops under the void deck. Think now mostly left are at Bedok. 7-11 is too expensive comparing. Miss the mama shops under my old place where I can always get my snacks after school. Miss the curry puff you're eating, hard to find it nowadays. Last time they sell this "mystery pack" which you can win cash, useless stuffs or snack. Nice video 👍.

[@gohmagdelene7855]

Very good video! Well done👏

[@alanbingham7045]

Damn it! Reminded me of those awesome black and grape Hacks I loved as a kid, Now I gonna go find some.

[@mikaneko1]

自分が社会や地域と繋がっているという感覚は今の孤独を感じやすい時代だからこそ大切ですよね 友達未満他人以上の気軽な会話ができる人がいると良いですね

[@momotaka2650]

ジブさん、懐かしい気持ちになる動画をありがとう！ 在星時、住んでいた古いコンドにママショップありました！ 子ども達のおやつや朝食の牛乳やパンを買うのによく通ってました！ I miss Spore！

[@olivertheparrotletfamily]

Ghib, I can see how much you had acclimatised and so much Singaporean in you now. Thank you for such great content! I can predict a great social media future for you, esp in SG. Even our govt bodies and ministers are taking notice of your content now! You are gonna be v famous v soon!

[@Sze4j]

Very well done video!

[@songtreemusicandwellness]

What a heart warming video❤

[@PaperPlay_]

Ghib reminding us what it is like to be a Singaporean again. 🙏

[@south5tarr]

Great video. This is how we grew up with.

[@bearykitty]

Sadly, most have their place taken over by Buzz, 7-11 & Cheers, etc which are mere extensionsof the faceless supermarkets.

[@ckxy7681]

Wow. Still 20 cents for ice pop. Same price 20 years ago when I’m still in pri/sec school. I used to visit a mama shop while waiting for my SBS bus 155 which takes forever to arrive 😄.

[@NazreeNazzeer]

I used to stay at uncle lim’s block! Very nostalgic shop.

[@sushisin377]

I saw coca cola sweet! I don't get to see it any more.

[@darrylk808]

Beautiful story. Now, I feel that I should stop the next time in Singapore rather than just passing by. No more 7 Eleven.

[@dianaahakim2001]

I grew up with this. I would go down and my neighbourhood would have two or three of it, if not more. I would get newspaper, my mom would get magazines. It is so sad if it were to go away! So nostalgic!

[@eugene8902]

mama shop is like 7-11 in the olden days

[@chenyinmei6466]

Interesting video..ghib. yes I really find the mama shop very interesting.. used to be run by Indians..

[@dawnho7744]

Some people say 'mamak' instead of 'mama'. I missed those days where I used to play with son of the lady who managed the mamak shop when I was very young. There was this warm-feeling whenever I visited that place. Used to buy lots of old-school candies and snacks there. It's a pity that it's now a dying trade as people prefer to go to supermarkets and convenient stores where there are more choices and where they are all air-conditioned.

[@Wazzit2ya]

mamak shop like uncle lim have strong and close bond with the neighbourhood residents. I went to a mamak shop at shunfu there near marymount mrt . Friendly guy and he been there for quite long liao.

[@hermitcrabpurple6944]

勤勉でフレンドリーで、素敵な人生観もお持ちのオーナーですね。ジブさんも仰っていたように、長く店を続けてほしいと願うばかりです。12:27日本の駄菓子も見れて嬉しかったです＼(^o^)／

[@pringlessourcream9527]

I remembered no cashiering machine, only use a tin can, suspended from ceiling.

[@rajkumarvelupillai1447]

Mama (means Uncle in Tamil), so its traditionally called Mama (Uncle) Shop.. quite convenient, as can be found under the block.😊

[@dansharpe2364]

Wonderful video.

[@iAxianguy]

Thank you for telling the mama shop stories, new estates do not make space for little shop under block anymore. It would be great if HDB could continue to make space for little enterprise like the mama shop, just like the Singapore version of 7-11. 🥰👍👍❤

[@johnwig285]

Nowadays they make HDBs an integrated "hub" so there's always one block which has everything from clinics to supermarket to "modern" mama shops n hardware store. This is more convenient than going to the mall. But yea sadly the old school mama shop wont be able to survive with such competition

[@johnwig285]

Some are used to the pronunciation "mamak". Just a fun fact, "mama" is a tamil word for uncle. There's no "k" in both spelling & pronunciation. Locals back in the days mispronounce & adopt the "k" till today. Just like how Thosai & Prata were originally Dosa & Paratha. But what's interesting is the difference in reference between MY & SG. In MY, it is more of indian coffee shop (where the word mamak with a k is more common).

[@rogeryap5108]

Mamak shop(store) usually run by Indian and Chinese operated are called "杂货店”. The real (early) stores were set up along corridors or shetlered walkways along the buildings and the Indian manning the store usually wore white singlet and sarong. They will also sleep at the store at night. The common things they sell were, cigarettes, chewing gums (before banned), sweets, newspaper & magazine & comics, etc....I still remember we can hv 3 "Hacks" sweet for 10cents.😂😂😂

[@andhikamuksin]

Thanks!

[@huihuangloh5030]

这店是我们一代人的记忆 希望能够继续保留下来🥰

[@chenyinmei6466]

Wow..he took over the job..

[@ylein6508]

Really good content ghib, :)

[@GhibOjisan]

Glad you think so!

[@beakermeepmeep]

I know where this shop is. It's survivable primarily due to great location: at the junction of 2 main roads, opposite a busy bus stop, is next to a church (as well as near a community centre & a Chinese temple), & with 4 schools within walking distance as well. The 2 HDB blocks upstairs are 2-roomers (both rental & leasehold), so the residents are mostly seniors & less well-off. Won't say they are destitute, but they are used to mingling downstairs & outside all day (even cycling to either Fengshan or Bedok Central). The community bond there is ironically stronger than the bigger-flat NIMBY types, with social services encouraging them to go to activity centres & charity groups also delivering food to their flats. Unfortunately, social life in that part of Bedok North is gravitating towards Bedok Reservoir & the enonymous MRT Station, driving business away from Uncle Lim's shop.

[@konggg]

Great memories. Buy toys and snacks from the mama shop. Buy cigarettes for dad and cooking oil/rice for Mum. The tikam tikam are the best! They also sell Beano & Dandy comics!

[@kohjunkee3309]

Ghib..u are a good guy..humorous..kind..courteous..lovable...lol

[@TF_NowWithExtraCharacters]

Oh yeah those Hacks spicy sweets! They're throat lozenges (we just call them cough drops here). It's the mint/menthol kind of spice and it's strong (or at least back when I last tried them). When I was a kid it wasn't fun when I got a cough, but if it got worse I'd be looking forward to these as a treat