Clementi’s popular Emerald Bakery reopens in Bukit Panjang, owner secretly struggled with eye ailment

The Emerald Bakery is a familiar name in Clementi; the patisserie with a charming Tudor-style look has been in the neighbourhood since 1998.

It was well-loved for its old-school buns, tarts, cakes and Swiss rolls, all priced reasonably. Last December, its owner, Dennis Lim, 55, made the decision to close his bakery and retire.

“My parents just thought it’s time to take a step back. They are getting to a certain age and value time with their family and are concerned about their own health,” Dennis’ son, Benjamin Lim, told 8days.sg earlier this year.

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Reopened in Bukit Panjang

But surprise, surprise, The Emerald Bakery is back: Dennis and his wife recently restarted their business at a new location at Senja Close in Bukit Panjang.

Speaking to 8days.sg, Dennis shares that his retirement was only meant to be temporary, as he had been secretly struggling with an eye ailment that required surgery.

“Last year wasn’t a good year for me, health-wise. I had an eye infection that caused some damage to the cornea. I couldn’t see clearly. I was advised by my doctor to undergo certain surgeries,” he says.

His vision impairment forced him to gradually scale back at work. For instance, he stopped making his powdered sugar doughnut balls a year before closing shop, even though they were one of the best-selling items at his bakery. “The hot oil from frying the doughnuts irritated my eye, so I had to stop,” he explains. A young Dennis working with his then-toddler son in his bakery  But he kept his ailment from his customers. “I have been in Clementi for over 26 years, since I was 29. The people there became my friends. I didn’t even know how to tell them I had to undergo this kind of surgery,” says Dennis.

His son persuaded him to take a break from working while he was tending to his health. Dennis recounts: “My son was the first one who told me, ‘Pa, you need to stop’.”

To simplify matters, he told his customers he was retiring. “My customers called and asked what happened to me. I just said I was taking a break. I didn’t know whether my surgery would be successful. If it was not, I wouldn’t be able to carry on my business in the future,” he says. Dennis at his original The Emerald Bakery in Clementi Fortunately, the surgery went well, and Dennis recuperated at home for four months. He shares: “My eye has improved quite a bit. One day, I happened to see this shop unit at Senja. I told my wife, let’s get back to business. We have something to be busy with!”

The new Emerald Bakery is smaller than before, but Dennis still offers the same range of buns and cakes that he used to make at Clementi. “We also have some new items, because there are many students and young couples with babies living in Senja. They need different kinds of products,” he says.

To cater to younger customers, Dennis and his wife are coming up with “new things like apple crumble and durian puffs, plus old recipes like our banana cake, chiffon cakes and buns”.

Price-wise, there is a slight increase of about 10 cents a bun, to cover rising ingredient costs. “We have to make a price adjustment, but at a reasonable rate. We still stay as wallet-friendly as we can. Most items are still $2 and below, to be economical. That has always been my business [model],” Dennis says.

His customers’ children, now grown up, have also called him to express their excitement at his reopening. He recalls: “I was so happy when my young customers called and said, ‘You’re finally at Senja!’ Some of them used to stay at Clementi with their parents and moved to Senja when they grew up. It makes me very happy that after so many years, these young kids still remember me.”

The Emerald Bakery is at 643 Senja Cl, #01-09, S670643. Tel: 9185-7818. www.instagram.com/theemeraldbakery

Photos: The Emerald Bakery/ Yip Jieying

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