Tripling of rent forces closure of popular 'Snake Home' coffee shop

The beloved coffee shop in Central known to its regulars as 'Snake Home' served its last pineapple bun yesterday, as it closed after more than 60 years because of sky-rocketing rent.

Fans thronged the Lok Heung Yuen Coffee Shop throughout the day, with many patiently waiting in long lines to enjoy a last taste of its famed Hong Kong-style pastries, drinks and hospitality.

The family-run restaurant got its nickname from its popularity among office workers, who like to take a break during office hours - or 'eat snake' in local vernacular - at the restaurant with a snack and a chat.

Business had swelled by 40 per cent in the past week, restaurant staff said, after regulars learned it would close because it could not afford the rent, which nearly tripled from HK$128,000 a month to HK$360,000. Business peaked yesterday, waiter Kwong Kui-wing said, with orders for chicken and mixed pies flooding in by the thousands.

Many eager customers were turned away in the afternoon because the restaurant had 'run out'.

'My hands are tired after collecting so much money,' owner Kwong Yut-sing, the father of Kwong Kui-wing, said. 'But even with the amount of business we're doing today, we won't be able to pay the new rent.' He is looking for a cheaper site in Wellington Street and hopes to reopen by Lunar New Year, keeping the existing staff and traditional decor.

'A lot of us will wait for the reopening and not seek new jobs,' said Kwong Kui-wing, out of breath from bellowing orders to the kitchen staff.