Khiam Teck

A rare find among the Holland Village stretch. This is probably the only old school shop left in this area apart from the magazine stand store. Hope this shop will continue to survive. Brings back memories of all the traditional lanterns hanging outside during mid autumn festival.

Loved retro shops like these and they are a vanishing trade, so I walked in with my 3 yo to support local businesses like these. The old uncle was extreme unfriendly the moment we walked in but I attributed it to perhaps a gruff personality so I ignored. He then proceeded to take photos of me and my daughter. I ignored the first time, perhaps someone had stolen from him before. The second time he did it I asked him about it, this was when he raised his voice at us. He said this is his shop and he can do whatever he wants, and secondly, people steal from him so he wants to take photos of people coming in, and lastly he hates it when people enter his store but don’t buy anything. Basically being a total gangster towards us for totally no reason. My daughter almost started to cry so we left. Have not bought from him and will definitely not support his store anymore. Will not recommend anyone to even browse because he faults you for browsing.

It was my mother's 80th birthday and we wanted to decorate the home party with some helium balloons. Hence, I went to Khiam Teck Party and bought two number balloons. They were huge and were in a pretty rose-gold colour. The aunty at the stall was friendly and helpful and told me that it will cost $25 each. My mum loved them and it brightened up the party. Three days have past and mum said that the balloons are still up and inflated! Thank you Khiam Teck for the lovely balloons!

This is a vanishing commodity in Singapore. A traditional general store that sells party supplies and stationery. A family-owned business that’s changed with the times. They used to carry Chinese medicine and then did photo and film processing. Just before festive seasons, especially before the Lantern Festival is a good time to visit, the store front bedecked with all kinds of traditional bamboo and cellophane lanterns for sale.

Rare store to find traditional lanterns

Super overpriced. They bought a 500yard ribbon from their supplier at $2.90, and they charged me 20 bucks for it?! Even online at most $5?! I needed it urgently so I paid for it. Seriously, the math is completely off man.

Very rude and unprofessional shop owner do not support them and let them close down for good

Few cheap items for such a big floor area. Poor service experience, unfriendly owner.

You should visit Khiam Teck at Holland Village just for the sheer pleasure of having visited an institution of Holland Village commercial culture. It has been around since the 1960s when first existed as a mom-and-pop provision shop. They soon discovered that the novelties that they sold on the side were doing a brisk business and switched to doing this trade in earnest about 30 years ago. They've been supplying Halloween supplies to the expat community since the 80s. They also do party supplies and you can call and inquire about what the fine folks at Khiam Teck can do for you; ask for Mr Steven Ang (hp:83361077). You don't just have to drop by because you're out hunting party supplies, it's just cool to be inside a honest to goodness traditional Singaporean shop house with pretty much the original interior. This could be the interior of a provision shop, a traditional Chinese herbalist-apothecary, or an old-worldy stationer. As I mentioned in the tip, a very good time to visit would be during the Chinese Lantern Festival. The front of the store is festooned with traditional lanterns made of rice paper or colored acetate paper over wire frames. You actually have to put a candle in these lanterns and unlike these modern LED abominations, it's actually pretty cool carrying these around during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Drop by sometime, it's nice to just browse through the store especially after a good meal which you are more than likely to have had at Holland Village.

Super overpriced. They bought a 500yard ribbon from their supplier at $2.90, and they charged me 20 bucks for it?! Even online at most $5?! I needed it urgently so I paid for it. Seriously, the math is completely off man.