biG passion
SERENDIPITOUS Rozman Mashor
“I
have a thing for origin stories, and should the resulting byproduct be a one that was not the goal aimed for when the endeavour initially began, well, that just makes the journey that much more interesting. Allow me to rewind and provide context as we delve slightly into one of the minds behind the formation of a culinary collective of independent food brands. Officially appearing on the Singapore food scene in 2014/2015, but inadvertently in the works since 2012 – The Black Hole Group – is an aptly named entity that traces its roots to a time when it’s director and co-founder, Kamal Mustafa, was in the early stages of operating a boutique hostel, and never considered venturing into this industry.
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Borneo.Insider’s.Guide
“I didn’t know anything about the Food & Beverage industry,” Kamal begins, adding that, “Hospitality is actually my area of specialty.” This was prior to his co-founding an entity so analogous to its namesake that he can count himself as merely the first of many to be sucked into this new reality. Elaborating further, “I think it was about 15 years ago when travel was made cheaper in the region for people who usually can’t travel, and I believe that is when hostels began cropping up here. Just basic set ups you understand. A simple building not in a posh area, with a safe room for visitors to stay in and lock up for the night that they would pay $10 for. So, I thought to try and elevate this experience a little bit in Singapore with The Shophouse Boutique Hostel. Just because it’s a cheap room doesn’t mean it has to be ugly. It can be thematic, beautiful, and a fine experience.”
