WHEN Stephen Tong chanced upon an advertisement to lease a conserved wet market building in Queenstown, he was intrigued. He immediately drove over to see it and fell in love with the premises and its neighbourhood.

Known for its vaulted ceiling, the building at 38 Margaret Drive is the site of the former Commonwealth Avenue Wet Market and Food Centre that was built in 1956. It is the only remaining market in Singapore constructed by the Singapore Improvement Trust.