Although it is not permanent, the operator, Ang Kak Seong, 72, said he does not know when he may be able to open his shop again.
He added that he was forced to close his shop indefinitely as he was facing harassment from debt collectors.
The Air Itam Market Laksa, which has been in existence for the past 66 years, shocked its regulars and fans across the country when it posted on Facebook that it would “close” indefinitely from tomorrow.
Ang said the closure was inevitable because he had to pay off the debts accrued by his 47-year-old son, who had since “gone missing”.
“I have been forced to pay off my son’s loans again and again,” he said.
Ang added that he had disowned his son due to the tremendous losses the family incurred from the latter’s “multiple” debts.
However, he did not reveal how much debt his son had accrued nor how much he has had to pay over the years.
According to Ang, the Covid-19 pandemic did not help, as business also dropped sharply since last year with travel restrictions across the country. As a result, they were unable to stay afloat.
He said some creditors were also constantly harassing him in the shop, making it impossible for him to carry out his business in peace.
He thanked all his customers for their support over the years, especially the “generations of customers” who had come to his shop since it started in 1955.
“I hope you all can understand our pain and suffering,” he told reporters.
This morning, many braved the wet weather to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles in a spicy savoury broth, a much-loved comfort food.
Despite their predicament, Ang and his family worked non-stop as a long line grew to have one last bowl.
Meanwhile, Air Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng said it was a pity that an important piece of Penang would cease to exist, adding that it would be felt across the country and the world.
He hoped that Ang would take a short break and change his mind and restart his shop in the near future.
“The impact of the movement control orders has made the life of traders difficult, and Ang is no different,” he said.