01/12/2025
【Announcement: At Twenty Closing】
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support of At Twenty.
I have an important announcement to share with you. Due to various circumstances, At Twenty will be closing around mid-January 2025. (Note: We are currently looking for someone to take over the space. All fixtures and kitchen equipment, except for the artwork displayed in the restaurant, will be available to anyone who needs them. Please reach out if you're interested.)
■ A Restaurant I Built from the Ground Up with My Own Funds
This restaurant was built entirely with my own money, without relying on any external investment or capital. I took full responsibility for every detail myself. That's why I have such a deep attachment to everything—the grain of the wood on the counter, the warmth of the lighting, even the texture of the paper our menus are printed on.
■ An Opening Swallowed by the Pandemic
Around 2019, news of the novel coronavirus began to emerge around the world, and by early 2020, Singapore was already feeling its impact.
"It will settle down quickly, just like SARS"—that's what I believed as I pressed forward with preparations for At Twenty. Together with my dear friend, Chef Takuma Seki, Project At Twenty began.
We had our soft opening in December 2020 and our grand opening in January 2021. But as you all remember, COVID-19 hit full force immediately after, and we faced day after day when normal operations were simply impossible.
Chef Takuma's work visa could not be renewed due to the pandemic, and suddenly we found ourselves without a chef.
What followed was a relentless wave—constantly changing regulations, alcohol service bans, capacity restrictions. It felt as though we were being swept away by forces beyond our control. Eventually, I even found myself standing in the kitchen, cooking the dishes myself.
Yet precisely because of those difficult times, I held onto one belief: "There are people who need this place." And there was also a stubborn refusal within me—I didn't want to give up so easily on this space I had worked so hard to create.
■ The Time We Shared Is My Greatest Treasure
After restrictions began easing in 2022, smiles returned to the restaurant once again. The conversations shared across the counter, the relaxed moments where adults could simply be themselves, the many connections that were born here. People who met at At Twenty went on to start new businesses together. All kinds of wonderful things happened. With all of these memories in my heart, I continued to hope that At Twenty could be "someone's special place. "That At Twenty made it this far is without a doubt thanks to all of you.
■ An Unavoidable Conclusion
As our lease approached its end, I struggled time and again over whether to continue.
However, considering:
・Ever-rising rent
・Increasing operational costs, including labor
・The rapidly changing business environment
I ultimately concluded that in Singapore's current F&B landscape, it would be difficult to maintain the ideal space I had originally envisioned.
It was an agonizing decision, but for the sake of this restaurant, I chose to end it this way. Many restaurant owners are still out there fighting hard every day. Having spent five years on the operator's side, I have the deepest respect for all the F&B business owners in Singapore who persevere in this challenging industry, as well as the suppliers who support them behind the scenes. The fellow restaurant owners I've grown close to during this time are a precious gift in my life.
■ Until the Last Day, with All My Heart
There's still some time before we close, but I know it will pass in the blink of an eye. I want to welcome every guest who visits with the care they deserve.
I'm also involved in various other business ventures, so I won't be able to be at the restaurant nearly every day like before. But if you let me know in advance—"I'm coming on such-and-such day"—I'll do my best to be there.
Chef 木村 誠志 Kimura, who has supported At Twenty since the post-COVID days, and our staff will also be here. If your schedule allows, please do come by one more time. It would mean so much to me.
At Twenty may be closing, but the time and connections that were born here will remain a cherished part of my life forever.
Thank you, truly, for everything.
At Twenty
Yasuji "Jay" Seki
