Despite a slow start, James says business has picked up and is “not bad”, selling more than 100 bowls daily. In fact, the first time we visited the stall on a weekday afternoon, we saw James taking a nap at one of the tables. Even when I worked on board a vessel, it was not as tiring as this,” reveals James. I tried running the stall alone, but I couldn’t manage. I have to cook, prepare ingredients and wash dishes. “I work 15-hour days now and am constantly standing. It doesn’t help that he just had surgery for a bulging disc in the neck a month ago. Though he knew what he was getting himself into when he decided to switch careers, he admits that the hawker trade is a lot tougher than expected. James handles the cooking, while his stall assistant helps with the food prep and takes orders. They invested around $30K to open Fish Joy in mid June and plan to set up more outlets if things go well.īeing a hawker tougher than working on ship I also have a good friend, who is a fish supplier so I know I will get a consistent supply of good quality fish,” explains James, though he wouldn’t have considered venturing into F&B if not for his biz partner. “I know fish well because I enjoy cooking and fishing. He wanted to start a new concept to diversify his business, and the pair decided on fish soup as the local dish is loved by many, themselves included. His business partner, who prefers not to be named, is the “boss of an established noodle chain”. So when my friend, who is in F&B, approached me to start a new venture together, I decided to give it a shot,” James tells 8days.sg. I also realised that this was not a forever job ’cos I wouldn’t be able to climb a vessel when I am 60. “After about six months, I found the job very stagnant. He spent most of his 16 years in trade support operations, and when the local company he worked for closed down in 2021, he got a job as a cargo officer which required him to work offshore on board a vessel. The stall is run by first-time hawker James Ong, 44, who was previously from the oil and gas industry.
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