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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhen Shin Min Daily News visited the container park, there were still a number of diners despite the hot weather, with several stalls drawing a steady crowd. Many operators said they planned to stay until the final day and make the most of their remaining time there.<\/p>\n
Tenants reluctant to leave<\/h2>\n
Nurnisa Jonson, 35, owner of halal Filipino food stall Tara na!, said she had only opened her first physical outlet at the container park in mid-May.<\/p>\n
She had operated a home-based food business for about six years, and this was her first attempt at running a physical shop. After just four months, she is now preparing to move out.<\/p>\n
Although she knew the lease was originally due to expire at the end of December, she did not expect to have to move out so soon.<\/p>\n
Nurnisa said business had been better than expected since she opened, with some customers making trips from across the island and even Johor, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
What she would miss most, however, were the people.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter spending so much time together, the operators have become like family. I hope that even after everyone moves to different places to operate their businesses, we will still have opportunities to get together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Ne Hang, owner of Vietnamese restaurant Pho Thin SG, also said she was reluctant to leave.<\/p>\n
She and her husband opened their stall there in November 2025 and are still looking for a suitable new location.<\/p>\n
Some customers had told her they would continue visiting the stall every week until its closure, she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cDinner has clearly become busier recently, with many regular customers coming back to support us before the place closes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regulars mourn loss of kampung community<\/h2>\n
Regulars at the container park also said they were sad to see it go.<\/p>\n
Nearby resident Chen Guan Yi (transliterated), a 29-year-old software engineer, said she had frequently visited the container park since moving to Punggol in 2016.<\/p>\n
It was only a five to 10 minute walk from her home, and she described it as a \u201cmini paradise\u201d within the neighbourhood, which felt like a \u201csmall kampung\u201d.<\/p>\n
While she acknowledged that redevelopment of the site was necessary, she hoped a similar space could be created in the future where residents could relax and unwind.<\/p>\n
Another customer, Peng Hua Jian (transliterated), said he visited the container park with his wife to dine and take photos as keepsakes.<\/p>\n
The 54-year-old manager said it was a pity that such a warm and close-knit community was disappearing so suddenly.<\/p>\n
Up to 8,000 new homes could be built<\/h2>\n
According to a report by The Business Times<\/a>, five plots stretching from the TPE towards Tebing Lane and along Sungei Serangoon have been earmarked for residential use under the Urban Redevelopment Authority\u2019s Master Plan 2025.<\/p>\nPunggol East Container Park currently occupies one of the plots. Residential developments built there will be required to retain commercial uses on the ground floor.<\/p>\n
The report also estimated that the plots could yield over 8,000 new homes on the residential-zoned sites.<\/p>\n
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