Tan Boon Hai, founder of Singaporean Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon hawker chain, dies at 51

Tan transformed his parents' modest economy bee hoon venture from a single stall in Yishun Town to a thriving empire of 90 outlets across the island, according to The Straits Times on Monday.

A Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon stall. Photo from its Instagram

With only secondary school qualifications, Tan had ambitions to expand his parents' hawker business since the age of 18, reported the Asia One.

After completing national service, Tan invested his earnings from the family business to open the first Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon stall in Woodlands Town. From there, he expanded his enterprise, setting up three additional hawker stalls and even establishing a factory to streamline the production of chili sauce, marinades, and bee hoon used throughout the chain.

Over a decade, the business burgeoned to encompass 90 stalls.

In February 2022, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Despite medical interventions, Tan's health declined, leading to a loss of appetite and persistent coughing in his final days.

Tragically, he suffered a cardiac episode while en route to a hospital check-up. Although medical professionals briefly managed to resuscitate him, his blood pressure remained dangerously low, and he eventually passed away.