Now imagine this: If all our local food places were shut down, one by one, because of high rent… where are Singaporeans going to enjoy a meal outside of home?

It’s not just about losing our favourite hawker stalls, cafes, or family-run eateries, but about losing the heartbeat of daily life.

So when rising rents start pushing F&B businesses out, it becomes a genuine concern. Yet some say that the increasing rents are part of a healthy, growing economy because it reflects demand, drives property development, and rewards landlords and investors. 

On The Hot Seat, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Fabian Lim, Co-owner of JOFA Meepok, JOFA Grill and JOFA-Oji Donburi and Zoey T., Senior Associate Director, Propnex in order to find out whether raising rental prices, even for F&B businesses, is essential for economic growth.