Yesterday ( 26th September 2026 ) was a memorable day for old-timers of this Kopitiam. Nostalgia filled the air as the loyal and faithful customers of Kong Thai Lai came together to bid farewell to one of Penang's oldest Kopitiam.
Located at Dickens Street( 32 Lebuh Dickens), this Kopitiam had moved several times. From its original place at Hutton Lane, where Penang's millionaire Dato Loh Boon Siew used to patronize, then to Leith Street, before its final location at Dickens Street.
Patrons came from as far as the US just to meet up and have a last reunion with old friends.
As early as 7am the crowd built up to the surprise of Gary Tan, the proprietor.
Its signature Roti Bakar with half- boiled eggs and kopi O was the standard order of most customers. The atmosphere felt like the good old days of Penang when it was a laid-back island back in the 60s.
This legendary old Kopitiam had seen better days when Penang's millionaire Loh Boon Siew - Honda King , was a regular customer there. Seated at his usual century-old table surrounded by his ordinary friends, he would have breakfast and talk shop till lunchtime. Everyone was equal with this humble philanthropist who built the Lam Wah Ee charity hospital.
Having accompanied Penangites for over a century, Kong Tai Lai Kopitiam welcomed its last day of operation today.
Customers rushed to visit and check in before the doors closed for good, leaving the entire shop completely packed during the Saturday morning hours.
One regular customer and three friends even ordered more than 10 cups of coffee in one go just to drink to their heart's content before the day when they could no longer get it.
With the 3rd-generation owner, Gary Tan Eng Chye (68 years old), deciding to retire, this legendary coffee shop—which has survived over a century has officially closed its doors after finishing business around 3:00 pm.
Like our Mamak stalls, this traditional Kopitiam holds shared memories for countless Penangites, especially the senior citizens. It was exceptionally lively and emotional today.
A Nostalgic Farewell
Some patrons have been drinking coffee here since childhood, viewing Kong Tai Lai as part of their upbringing; some made a special trip just to have the "first and last cup" of Kong Tai Lai coffee, while others gathered with their regular friends on this final day to enjoy traditional Hainanese coffee and kaya toast, leaving behind a precious last group photo.
It was observed that many non-Chinese customers, foreign tourists, and social media bloggers also came today after hearing about the closure, grabbing a cup of coffee to bid farewell to the century-old establishment.
Relocations & History
Kong Tai Lai was originally located at Hutton Lane. In 2016, because the landlord wanted to sell the property to a Singaporean buyer, the shop relocated to Leith Street.
In 2022, the landlord at Leith Street also wanted to sell the property, forcing Kong Tai Lai to move to Dickens Street. Unbelievably, history repeated itself 4 years later, with the current landlord wanting to sell the property as well. Facing a potential 4th location, Gary Tan, the proprietor, decided to call it quits and retire.
Kong Tai Lai is not just a coffee shop, but a legend in the minds of older generations in Penang.
It was not only Penang tycoon Loh Boon Siew's favorite Kopitiam, but it was also visited by "Sugar King" Robert Kuok once when he came to buy coffee powder. With Kong Tai Lai closing its doors today, a legendary era comes to an end.
“Wong Fei-hung Closes Shop”
Owner Gary Tan used to play various nostalgic Western songs in the shop daily. On Saturday (Sept 26), his final day, he chose to play the classic theme song "A Man Should Better Himself" (男儿当自强), jokingly remarking, “Wong Fei-hung is closing up shop!”
Interviewed while brewing coffee, Mr. Tan said that many regular customers knew Kong Tai Lai was closing soon, so they flooded in over the past week to say goodbye, keeping him and his staff extremely busy.
He mentioned that customer numbers peaked on Saturday. He expressed deep gratitude to all the regulars for their steadfast support over the years. When asked if he would get used to retirement, he laughed and said he would no longer need to wake up in the dark to brew coffee and could sleep until he woke up naturally:
“I used to have to get up at 6:00 AM every morning to brew coffee. Now I can sleep until noon and take a good rest after retiring.”
He originally planned to retire at age 70, but since the landlord was selling the property again, he felt tired and decided against looking for a new place.
Customer Stories
Ho Jun Teik (51): Has been visiting since he was 6 years old. Over the past decades, Kong Tai Lai was more than just a place to drink coffee—it was a venue that witnessed him growing up, starting a family, and establishing his career. “My father brought me here when I was a kid; when I grew up, I brought my girlfriend; after getting married, I brought my wife. I came 2 to 3 times a month.”
Shi Liang Te (Lawyer): A 3rd-generation customer whose grandparents and parents brought him here. Over the past two weeks, he visited constantly and brought friends along. On the final day, he and three friends ordered over 10 cups of coffee while sitting at “Loh Boon Siew's Table.”
Fina & Shirley (29, from Thailand): Learned about the closure on social media and came to taste the famous Hainanese coffee and toast before it was gone forever, praising the quality of the food and drink.
As the saying goes:
Time waits for no one. The old will be replaced by the new. What is left are memories to fondle. All good times must end.
Goodbye Kong Thai Lai. Wishing Gary Tan, the owner, a happy and peaceful retirement.
And to all the customers who still yearn to have fellowship and meet up there is a chat group set up by Albert.
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