Hai Ge Ji Hainanese Chicken Rice, the halal culinary brand founded by Singaporean rapper Sheikh Haikel and his wife, Anna Belle Francis, is set to reopen its flagship outlet on Bussorah Street in early July 2026. The move follows the abrupt closure of their North Bridge Road location on June 7, after their landlord declined to renew the lease.
According to 8days.sg, the business owners were given only one month to vacate the premises earlier this year. Anna Belle Francis stated that the sudden notice caused significant operational strain, noting that the lack of legal protections in their initial rental contract left the business vulnerable. “It made me realise how vulnerable you are as a tenant, always at the mercy of your landlord,” Francis said.
Despite the setback, the couple has invested in a larger kitchen space on Bussorah Street to accommodate both their chicken rice and beef noodle offerings. While the new location entails higher renovation and rental costs, the couple remains committed to expanding their footprint in the Kampong Glam area. In the interim, they have been operating a pop-up collaboration with IncuBaker at 21 Media Circle to maintain operations.
Francis emphasized that the experience highlights the need for better resources for small F&B entrepreneurs, including improved access to legal and financial advisory services. The brand continues to manage its existing beef noodle outlets in Yishun and Plaza Singapura as it prepares for the July relaunch.