Opening of Polar Cafe

Best known for its curry puffs,^[1] the original Polar Café was opened on 30 November 1925 by Chan Hinky, an immigrant from Hong Kong who had arrived in Singapore in the 1920s with only 90 cents in his pocket.^[2] With dreams of starting a café, Chan saved enough to open Polar Café at High Street.^[3] Located near the old Supreme Court and Parliament House, the café  became popular with lawyers, judges and politicians who  frequented  the area.^[4] It was one of the few places that had remained in business during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–1945).^[5]

Following the government’s acquisition of the entire stretch of shophouses at High Street for the new Parliament House complex, Polar Café closed its doors on 31 December 1985.^[6] At the time of its closure, the cafe was producing some 500 to 600 of its famous puffs each day.^[7] Polar returned a year later in December 1986 with its first takeaway outlet at the OUB Centre in Raffles Place ^[8]  and larger production  facilities at Leng Kee Road^[9] (it has since relocated to Woodlands).^[10]

The original café concept was revived when Polar opened a sit-in café at Suntec City in 2001.^[11] Today, Polar has more than 30 outlets,^[12] and its curry puffs, chicken pies, assorted pastries and cakes are also sold at ExxonMobil petrol stations islandwide.^[13]

References
1. A grand old lady dons new clothes. (1987, December 20). Sunday Plus, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Polar Puffs & Cakes. (2009). History. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from Polar Puffs & Cakes website: http://www.polarpuffs-cakes.com/about-founder.aspx
3. Page 6 Advertisements Column 3: Announcement: Polar Café opening day. (1925, November 30). The Straits Times, p. 6; Page 7 Advertisements Column 2: Polar Café. (1926, October 15). The Straits Times, p. 7; Page 16 Advertisements Column 5: Polar Café. (1926, November 23). The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Leong, W. K. (2006, July 30). Eighty years and it’s no puff. The Straits Times, p. 26; Hoe, I. (1986, January 15). Polar Café closes shop. The Straits Times, p. 34. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Gan, E. (2006, August 5). Flavours Singapore. Today, p. 24. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. The Straits Times, 15 Jan 1986, p. 34; The Straits Times, 30 Jul 2006, p. 26.
7.  A year later, the proof is in the puff. (1987, December 20). Sunday Plus, p. 4. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. The Straits Times, 30 Jul 2006, p. 26.
9. The Straits Times, 20 Dec 1987, p. 4.
10. Tan, J. (Ed.). (2009). Superbrands. Volume VI: An insight into many of Singapore’s strongest brands (p. 72–73). Singapore: SB Asia Pte Ltd. Call no.: RSING 658.827095957 SUP.
11. Lum, M. (1996, April 14). Fountain brimming with food. The Sunday Times, p. 6. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
12. Polar Puffs & Cakes. (2009). Polar franchise. Retrieved September 30, 2013, from Polar Puffs & Cakes website at http://www.polarpuffs-cakes.com/polar_franchise.aspx
13. Tan, 2009, p. 72.