62-Year-Old Wing Wah Cafe in Cha Kwo Ling Closes as Village Faces Demolition
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
Wing Wah Cafe (榮華冰室) in Cha Kwo Ling Village held its final day of business on Monday, October 5, 2026, after 62 years of operation. The closure comes as the government reclaims the land for development, forcing the shuttering of one of Hong Kong's oldest remaining cha chaan teng establishments . Owner Keng Sau-leung (鏡叔), who fell ill during the recent Mid-Autumn Festival, could not personally attend the last day of operations, with his daughter Ah Suet (阿雪) stepping in to manage the shop . The cafe, which opened in August 1962 and was founded by Keng's father, became famous for its unique three-layer French toast and hearty traditional breakfast items . On its final day, the shop was packed with customers, with some waiting in line for over an hour to savor the restaurant's classic dishes one last time .
Key Points
- Wing Wah Cafe first opened its doors in August 1962, making it over 62 years old at the time of closure
- The shop was founded by Keng's father, who instructed him that success required honesty and hard work
- Daily bread usage for French toast surged from 3 loaves to 8 loaves as customers rushed to bid farewell
- Keng's daughter Ah Suet helped manage operations since her mother passed away in 2017, treating the cafe as her father's "spiritual sustenance"
- One customer spent about 140 Hong Kong dollars and kept his handwritten receipt as a memento
Why It Matters
The closure of Wing Wah Cafe marks another loss for Hong Kong's rapidly disappearing traditional cha chaan teng culture, as large corporations increasingly dominate the food and beverage industry . The outpouring of emotion from customers—some of whom brought their families spanning four generations—underscores how these neighborhood establishments served as social anchors for communities facing displacement . As Cha Kwo Ling Village becomes the latest casualty of urban renewal, the dissolution of decades-long bonds between shopkeepers and patrons illustrates the human cost of Hong Kong's relentless development drive.
The closure of Wing Wah Cafe marks another loss for Hong Kong's rapidly disappearing traditional cha chaan teng culture, as large corporations increasingly dominate the food and beverage industry . The outpouring of emotion from customers—some of whom brought their families spanning four generations—underscores how these neighborhood establishments served as social anchors for communities facing displacement . As Cha Kwo Ling Village becomes the latest casualty of urban renewal, the dissolution of decades-long bonds between shopkeepers and patrons illustrates the human cost of Hong Kong's relentless development drive.