Singapore has lost another one of its heritage businesses.
Kalanidi Curry Spices — a traditional Indian spice stall at Tampines Round Market and Food Centre — quietly shuttered on Sunday (Aug 16).
The closure comes after 53 years in the business, following the retirement of the stall’s second-generation owner A.K. Kalanidi, also fondly known as Uncle Kalanidi.
Taking to Facebook on the day of the closure, Uncle Kalanidi shared a photo of himself at the stall, which he said was taken by his “last customer”.
“This marks the end of my business for the last 53 years. Happy and grateful I was supported by all my customers all these while. Thanks,” he wrote.
The 75-year-old’s journey in the spice trade first started in 1973, when he took over his late father’s stall at a market in Geylang — a decision he had made despite having other job offers lined up at the time, he told Our Grandfather Story in an interview in 2021.
He had decided to try his hand at the business following his father’s death, though he initially did not want to take over the stall, he added.
A decade later, he shifted operations to Tampines Round Market and Food Centre in 1983 — where it stayed until its last day.
Kalanidi Curry Spices was one of the market’s first stallholders and became a popular spot for customers over the years — with long queues often seen forming at the stall.
Among those who have patronised the stall is Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who visited Kalanidi Curry Spices during a visit to the market in April.
Fellow spice business Jeya Spices also paid tribute to the stall following its closure, describing Uncle Kalanidi as “one of the OG spice masters in Singapore”.
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“His legacy will remain unmatched,” it wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “I vouch to keep the magic going as much as possible with my own rendition of my curries, and to recreate the magic that you have bestowed on all of us Singaporeans, young and old alike.”
The closure announcement drew heartfelt reactions from customers, with many taking to the comments to share their well wishes.
“Happy retirement uncle… Going to miss your curry paste,” someone commented, while another said: “You are the best. Definitely going to miss you and your curry paste.”
Meanwhile, others regretted not visiting the stall before its closure.
“Oh my god, I didn’t know [it] was your last day. Should have went down,” a commenter wrote.
Read another comment: “Uncle, today is the last day of your business? You are retiring? Oh dear, I didn’t know or else I will stock up [on] all your different types of curry paste.”
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