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When Hani Isnin-Racine had to close her hawker stall for nearly two months to care for her frail parents, she knew she would lose income
But according to Berita Harian Singapura (BH), that wasn't what kept her awake at night.
Instead, the 41-year-old worried about the elderly residents and families living around Jalan Kukoh in Singapore who had relied on her affordable meals for years, including some who ate at her stall before taking their daily medication.
Rather than locking up her stall and disappearing, Hani continued waking up each morning to cook.
As reported by BH, she prepared dishes such as nasi lemak and fried noodles before leaving them outside her stall at Kukoh 21 Food Centre with a simple message inviting anyone to take them.
The meals weren't for sale.
They were free.
She continued doing this every morning throughout the nearly two months her stall remained closed, until it reopened on 6 July.
"I am more worried if they have no food," Hani told BH.
"I've known them for years. Some rely on my stall for their daily meals before taking their medication, and some live alone. So, if I close completely, what will they eat?"
For Hani, feeding the neighbourhood had become more important than keeping her business open.
Her stall was never just about selling food
According to BH, community service has always been the reason behind the stall named "The $2.50 Shop".
She started the stall around six years ago to make sure residents around Jalan Kukoh could still afford proper meals despite rising living costs.
The stall originally sold favourites such as nasi lemak, nasi rawon, mee rebus, mee soto, chicken rice, and lontong for between SGD3 and SGD4.50.
But in November 2023, Hani made a decision that drew widespread attention.
She reduced every item on the menu to a flat price of SGD2.50, regardless of the dish, after seeing more residents struggle with the increasing cost of living, BH reported.
More than two years later, the price hasn't changed.
She explained that charging SGD2.50 was about preserving people's dignity.
"I want them to still have dignity and freedom of choice. With SGD10, they can still buy four meals. They won't feel like they are begging."
However, the publicity surrounding her affordable meals hasn't translated into higher earnings.
Hani said her income has actually fallen since the stall was first featured in Singapore media in 2023, adding that there are many days when she earns nothing at all.
She also said Singapore's GST increase to 9% in January 2024 has made running the stall even more challenging as food, utilities and other operating expenses continue to rise.
Despite the mounting costs, Hani said she still refuses to increase her prices because even the current flat rate can be out of reach for some people.
