Source : The Strait Times, Dec 04, 2007
A COFFEE shop in an HDB parking building has sold for a record-breaking $12 million.
The eatery called VariNice is just a stone's throw from the Jurong East MRT and bus interchange.
TOP DOLLAR: Bought by foodcourt operator Koufu, the sale price for the 4,700 sq ft VariNice coffee shop in Jurong East works out to $2,553 psf - well above the old record set by a coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio, which sold for $2,225 psf in 2004. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
Its huge catchment area of residential blocks and business parksnearby makes it a prize location, said property analysts.
The eatery - which boasts 12 stalls selling a variety of food from duck rice, to seafood and western food - has been going for about 20 years.
It was sold off by the Government in the 1990sand changed hands again in 2000 for about $10 million.
Its latest buyer is well-known foodcourt operator Koufu, which runs 37 food and beverage outlets across Singapore.
Lianhe Wanbao reported yesterday that Koufu was believed to have paid $13million for the premises, and is collecting $12,000 a month in rent from each stall.
But Koufu founder and managing director Pang Lim told The Straits Times last night that the price tag and rental were less than that. The firm paid about $12 millionand collects monthly rent of $6,000 from each stall.
The sale price works out to $2,553 per square foot for the 4,700 sq ft premises - well above the old reported record set by an 8,000 sq ft coffee shop in Ang Mo Kio which sold for $17.8 million, or$2,225 psf, in 2004.
The payback period for Koufu's latest buy is about 13 to 14 years.
Mr Pang said the deal was its biggest purchase but added that it was a long-term investment.
'It was a high price, but we need good locations and in the longterm, it'll be worth it,' said Mr Pang.
PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail told The Straits Times that the value of coffee shops depends purely on traffic. 'Good business locations will always command a premium,' he said.
Mr Nicholas Mak, headof research and consultancy at Knight Frank, said bullish market expectations paved the way for the record deal.
This was especially so as the recent slowdown in residential property has not touched the retail and food and beverage scene.
'This islikely to be few and far between, however,' he added, 'as few shops get transacted at such a high price.'
Earlier this year, a coffee shop in Block 501, Jurong West Street 51, sold for $9 million.
Three coffee shops - in Tampines, Yishun and BukitBatok - are on the market for $15 million apiece with no takers to date.
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