Cathay cinema at Jem shopping mall closes, operator owes landlord S$4.3 million in rent

SINGAPORE: The Cathay cinema at Jem shopping mall closed on Thursday (Mar 27), with the operator mm2 Asia owing the landlord about S$4.3 million (US$3.2 million) in rent.

In a Singapore Exchange filing on Thursday, the company said it was shutting the outlet "in view of the challenges facing the cinema industry since the onset of COVID-19".

“This is a result of ongoing negotiations with the landlord for more than a year,” it added.

Cathay Cineplexes received a notice of termination from DBS Trustee Limited – as a trustee of Lendlease Global Commercial REIT – the landlord at Jem.

The cinema operator said it had been "actively engaging" the landlord to negotiate and resolve issues related to the occupation of the premises and the rent arrears.

However, the landlord decided to terminate the lease agreement and is seeking to recover the rent, among other things. The company said it would continue to work with the landlord to settle the outstanding sums.

This is the sixth cinema closure by mm2 Asia in less than three years – the Cathay Building, Orchard Cineleisure, Parkway Parade, AMK Hub, West Mall and now Jem. 

"Cathay Cineplexes remains committed to realigning and rightsizing its cinema business in anticipation of the market and audience shift post-COVID," said the company.

"The painful process is inevitable but will allow the cinema to explore new opportunities based on current market demands and ensure long-term sustainability."

It also thanked Lendlease for its support throughout the COVID-19 period and after the pandemic, during which the cinema business saw "significant challenges and unprecedented difficulties".

In an exclusive interview with CNA last month, mm2 Asia’s founder Melvin Ang said he is not giving up on the silver screen and remains optimistic about the chain’s future.

Last month, the company said it had received letters of demand from the landlords of its Century Square and Causeway Point cinemas for S$2.7 million (US$2 million) owed in rent and other costs.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/cathay-cinema-jem-outlet-closed-rent-mm2-asia-5026871

Filmgarde Cineplexes exits cinema industry after closing last outlet at Leisure Park Kallang

SINGAPORE: Filmgarde Cineplexes said on Tuesday (Mar 25) that it had exited the cinema industry after the closure of its last outlet at Leisure Park Kallang.

The announcement was made in a post on social media with an image that read: “It has been a wonderful 18 years and it is finally time for us to dim the lights. Thank you for having been part of our cinematic journey. We will see you again.”

In the post, the home-grown cinema operator added: “It has been an absolute journey marked by non-stop learning, countless memorable occasions, and even little moments of pride that helped keep us going over the years!”

Filmgarde previously operated three cinemas but closed two of them in 2022. The two outlets, located at Bugis+ and Century Square, were shuttered following the expiry of the company's leases at the two malls.

Filmgarde first opened its doors in 2007. According to its Facebook page, it was established to “provide an interesting and quality alternative” to the local moviegoing scene at that time.

Smaller than other chains like Golden Village and Shaw Theatres, Filmgarde screened independent and lesser-known Asian films alongside mainstream blockbusters.

It was also a supporter of Singapore films and showcased films that were part of the Singapore International Film Festival.

“We have been moved by the dedication and determination of our local film community towards their profession and craft and have been privileged to screen some of the most captivating local films exclusively at our theatres,” Filmgarde said in its post.

Despite its exit from the cinema business, Filmgarde teased a comeback.

“We have dimmed our screens for now so that we may embark on a new chapter of development and adventure, with film and culture still rooted firmly at the centre of our personal mission,” it said.

“Until then, please keep watching movies, and stay tuned to this space!”

RECENT CINEMA CLOSURES IN SINGAPORE

The closure of Filmgarde highlights the ongoing challenges faced by cinemas in Singapore.

In February 2025, the owner of Cathay Cineplexes said that the slow recovery of the cinema industry following the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted its ability to make timely payments.

That same month, Cathay Cineplexes closed its West Mall outlet.

Cathay Cineplexes also shut down its outlet at AMK Hub in June 2024.

Eng Wah, a cinema operator that had been in business for nearly 80 years, closed its last outlet in October 2024, while Shaw Theatres shut down its outlet at Seletar Mall in December of the same year.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/filmgarde-cineplexes-exits-cinema-business-after-closure-last-outlet-leisure-park-kallang-5022326

KFC at Hougang Mall mati liao, Qiji to follow soon after

British wellness brand Holland & Barrett shutters all 12 Singapore stores

SINGAPORE - British health and wellness retailer Holland & Barrett has closed all 12 of its outlets in Singapore, marking an exit for the brand after more than 15 years.

The closure was officially announced on its Instagram page on March 10, although it is believed that its physical stores across different malls had already begun shuttering as early as March 6.

When The Straits Times visited five outlets that day – at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 313@somerset, Isetan Scotts, Suntec City and Nex – the store shelves were either already emptied or workers were in the midst of packing up.

The store at Nex was subsequently boarded up on March 7.

Meanwhile, the outlet at AMK Hub had a sign put up on March 7 informing customers that the store was “currently closed”, redirecting customers to hollandandbarrett.com “for the latest news in health and wellness”.

That same day, a Facebook user, who identified herself as an employee at Holland & Barrett, said her co-workers were all surprised and unprepared for the closure.

“Everything happened so quickly, and it feels like a nightmare,” she said, adding that she had worked at the retailer for 12 years.

Customers were also not told in advance, said one regular, who did not want to be named.

He told ST that he had renewed his membership – worth $88 for the year – and received two complimentary vouchers, valued at $150 each, which can be used until July.

Expressing his unhappiness on the Complaint Singapore Facebook group on March 4, he said Holland & Barrett should not have allowed new membership sign-ups or renewals for 2025 if it had planned to shut down.

The member also said that he suspected something was amiss when he noticed that items were not being restocked during a visit to an outlet on March 3, although the staff could not give him any details.

Asked by ST if he had filed a complaint with the Consumers Association of Singapore, he said he had not, adding that he was concerned most about the welfare of the employees.

Queries sent to Holland & Barrett Singapore on March 6, including how many employees had been laid off, and if customers had been informed beforehand, were unanswered as at March 10.

ST has contacted Jay Gee Enterprises, which owns a subsidiary, MA Supplements, that brought Holland & Barrett to Singapore in 2009.

On March 7, an announcement on the Government’s e-gazette said the directors of MA Supplements had made a statutory declaration of its inability to continue the business because of liabilities.

The declaration, made on March 4, marks the first step for a business to wind down, with meetings between the company and its creditors scheduled for March 18.

A search of MA Supplements’ file with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority also showed that it was in the midst of liquidation as at March 4.

At its peak, there were 27 Holland & Barrett stores in Singapore – according to an April 2014 The New Paper report – which carried a range of health products from vitamins, minerals and other supplements to more unique products such as healthy snacks, organic food and organic toiletries.

Founded in 1870, Holland & Barrett started out as a grocery store, and according to its website, it has 1,368 stores in 16 countries worldwide.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/british-wellness-brand-holland-barrett-shutters-all-12-singapore-stores

Eggslut closes Scotts Square outlet in S'pore after over 3 years in operation

United States (U.S.) egg sandwich brand Eggslut has closed its remaining Singapore outlet at Scotts Square after less than four years in operation.

The closure, while not officially announced by the company, was noticed by netizens and shared online sometime around Mar. 9.

Eggslut had also withdrawn from South Korea in 2024 and Hong Kong in 2025 due to rising costs and changing spending habits in the two countries, according to South Korea news outlet Chosunbiz and South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Singapore outlets removed from website

Eggslut, which launched in Singapore in September 2021, offered egg sandwiches starting from S$11 each.

A photo provided by a reader of what used to be the Scotts Square outlet showed a vacant store, with no closure notice in sight.

The closure of its Suntec City outlet, which opened in December 2022, was also first noticed by netizens in June 2024.

A check on the Eggslut website showed that the Singapore outlets have been removed from its international locations.

At the time of writing, only stores in Tokyo, Japan and London, United Kingdom are listed as the company's overseas outlets.

A quick check on archival site, Wayback Machine, showed both Suntec and Scott's Road outlets being listed as recently as 2023.

Eggslut's Singapore website also appears to be down.

Exited South Korea and Hong Kong

The egg sandwich brand had started to withdraw from its overseas market, starting with South Korea in 2024.

Industry reports in 2023 indicated that the food service industry in South Korea were met with increasing material and labour costs after the Covid-19 pandemic, reported Chosunbiz.

American brands with a "brunch" concept also have a "higher dependency" on imported ingredients, and were affected with such costs and fluctuations in exchange rates.

The brand also closed its outlets in Hong Kong in February 2025 after less than two years in operation amid changing spending habits by locals and Chinese tourists, reported SCMP.

Burger & Lobster at Jewel Changi Airport closing down on Mar. 10, 2025

Burger & Lobster at Jewel Changi Airport will be closing on Mar. 10, 2025.

The announcement of the impending closure was put up on Facebook by the restaurant:

As part of the announcement, the restaurant is offering a buy one get one free lobster roll deal.

The promotion is available now for dine-in customers at the Jewel outlet.

Diners will have to say "Roll on" to the wait staff before ordering a lobster roll to get the next one free.

The promotion is on a first come first serve basis and limited to 200 sets per day.

Sides, which include fries and salad, are not included in the promotion.

Hawker, 76, closes Serangoon vegetarian stall after rental allegedly rises from S$930 to S$3,000​

A 76-year-old man and his wife decided to close their vegetarian food stall at a Serangoon coffeeshop after the new operator allegedly raised their rental from S$930 to over S$3,000 per month.

However, while he was moving out of the coffeeshop on Feb. 28, the exiting operator allegedly "kept rushing him and even cursed at him", reported Shin Min Daily News.

When the man, surnamed Liang (transliteration from Chinese), asked the exiting operator for a refund of two days' rental as he closed his stall on Feb. 26, the latter apparently rejected his request.

Eventually, Liang alerted the police, and the matter was resolved with the help of police mediation.

Upon learning about the incident, the new operator of the coffeeshop also arrived at the scene and refunded Liang two days' rental, which amounted to S$62, from his own pocket.

Stall in operation for over 10 years

According to Shin Min, Liang was the owner of Shang De Vegetarian, a food stall that had been in operations for over 10 years.

Liang told the Chinese daily that he initially operated his stall along Circuit Road before moving to its latest location at 566 Serangoon Road coffeeshop.

Before running the stall, Liang joined his older brother in Denmark and worked in the food and beverage industry for over ten years before returning to Singapore.

Liang's account of what happened on Feb. 28

Liang shared with Shin Min that he decided to close his stall after learning that the new operator will be renovating the coffeeshop and that his new monthly rental might triple.

"I am just running a small business, and I only earn enough to get by. I can't afford such rent. I may bid for a stall at a government-owned hawker centre to continue running my business," he added.

As the coffeeshop would be handed over to the new operator on Feb. 28, Liang said the exiting operator asked him to empty his stall by then.

However, as he and his wife are both in their 70s, they "fell slightly behind schedule" in cleaning up their stall on Friday.

He was taken aback when the exiting operator allegedly "rushed him" while he was moving his belongings in the morning.

"I already informed him that I would be moving everything away by 6pm. [At that time,] there was only one refrigerator left waiting to be taken away. I don't understand why he was so aggressive," said Liang.

Response from exiting operator

In response to Liang's allegations, the exiting operator told Shin Min that the coffeeshop had informed all stallholders that they would need to empty their stalls before Mar. 1 so that the venue can be handed over to the new operator for renovation.

When he noticed that Liang had yet to empty the vegetarian stall on Feb. 28, he became worried that he might not be able to hand over on time and decided to "approached Liang to find out more".

"However, he told me, 'It's none of your business' and said he would liaise directly with the coffee shop owner. These comments made me feel disrespected.

Although I am only the operator of the coffeeshop, the stall owners pay their rentals to me, and they also signed their lease with me," added the exiting operator.

He also admitted that he had spoken "inappropriately" on Friday, adding that he was caught up in the heat of the moment.

As for why he did not refund Liang two days' rental, the exiting operator said that all stalls were closed on Feb. 26, but the coffeeshop owner did not return the rental to him.

"How can I give back the rental to the stallholders?" he asked.

Diners patronised Liang's stall on its last day

According to Shin Min, many old customers patronised Liang's stall for one last time on Feb. 26.

One of these diners was Workers' Party chief and Leader of Opposition Pritam Singh, who also posted a photo of himself with Liang and Liang's wife on Instagram.

Liang said he was touched by the support from his customers.

He added that even though he and his wife are in their silver years, they enjoy good health and are "young at heart".

Hence, they do not plan on retiring and will reopen their stall for business after a bit of rest.

Manhattan Fish Market closes its last outlet in S'pore

Seafood restaurant Manhattan Fish Market quietly closed its last outlet in Singapore.

According to a Google Search, the Northpoint City outlet has been listed as permanently closed.

A user on Reddit also shared a picture of where Manhattan Fish Market was situated in Northpoint City, which is now behind scaffolding.

On the restaurant's website, an error message is displayed on the outlet locator page.

The restaurant's social media accounts have also been inactive since November 2023.

Previously, Manhattan Fish Market operated 10 outlets across Singapore before its numbers slowly dwindled.

Tokyu Hands at Jewel Changi Airport is rolling down its shutters on 10 March:

Prata Wala has died, RIP.

Cathay cinema at West Mall to close on Feb 20

SINGAPORE – The Cathay Cineplex outlet at West Mall in Bukit Batok will close its doors on Feb 20, just eight months after the cinema chain shuttered its AMK Hub outlet.

In a Feb 17 Facebook post, Cathay Cineplexes thanked patrons for their support and said its other outlets will remain open.

Operator mm2 Asia said in a press statement on Feb 17 that the closure is due to the expiry of its lease at West Mall, and was mutually agreed on by the company and the landlord.

“This also aligns with the cinema chain’s rightsizing strategy to optimise its operational footprint,” it said. “The cinema has been undergoing the post-Covid rightsizing exercise for the past two years.”

The cinema at West Mall features six halls and was previously operated by WE Cinemas. Cathay Cineplexes took over in November 2012 and reopened the multiplex in February 2013.

It will undergo reinstatement works after the closure.

Cathay Cineplexes closed its AMK Hub location in June 2024 as the mall was due for refurbishments.

With the latest closure, Cathay Cineplexes will have five outlets – Causeway Point in Woodlands, Downtown East in Pasir Ris, Jem in Jurong East, Century Square in Tampines and Clementi 321 in Clementi.

On Feb 14, the cinema chain introduced a promotion for a set of vouchers.

Priced at $100, it includes 10 vouchers which will allow the holder to redeem one standard movie ticket, one tub of popcorn and one bottle of water at any Cathay Cineplex.

The vouchers can be redeemed from Feb 21. It will be valid on any day, including the eve of public holidays and public holidays.

Earlier in February, it was reported that Cathay Cineplexes had received letters of demand from the landlords of two of its cinemas for about $2.7 million in rent, legal costs and other monies owed.

The landlords of the outlet in Century Square have asked for payment of $479,185.74 in rental arrears and other monies, as well as $893.80 in legal costs.

Meanwhile, the landlord of the chain’s cinema at Causeway Point had asked for $1,000,000 to be paid to its trustee – HSBC Institutional Trust Services – by Feb 3, and $1,203,677.85 by Feb 10. This comprises rental arrears and other monies. It must also pay $555.90 in legal fees.

In response to queries from the Singapore Exchange, mm2 Asia said in a Feb 6 filing on the bourse that it is not disputing the payment amounts, and explained that a portion of its $10.1 million cashflow has been allocated or deployed for use in other businesses within the group.

mm2 Asia said in the same statement that it “is of the opinion that it has sufficient financial resources to fulfil the claims under the letters of demand”.

It added that it is working with the landlords to resolve the issue and will work on a payment schedule. mm2 Asia also said it is looking at how it can strengthen its finances, including engaging potential investors and securing short-term loans.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cathay-cinema-at-west-mall-to-close-on-feb-20

Several Parkway Parade mall tenants leave or downsize amid rising rents

SINGAPORE - British retailer Marks & Spencer will be closing its Parkway Parade store on Feb 16, marking another major departure from the 42-year-old mall in Marine Parade.

Its impending closure after more than two decades at the mall comes amid rising rental costs and ongoing concerns about foot traffic among tenants at the shopping complex, which opened its doors in 1983.

At least seven other tenants have vacated in the past year, with at least one citing rental increases of up to 30 per cent, following the opening of Marine Parade MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line in June 2024.

These are Ole Ole, a Malay kueh stall that had been at the mall for more than 30 years; home-grown restaurant chain Putien, which closed in September 2024 after 15 years; eatery Go Noodle House; household appliance firm Dyson’s demo store; convenience store 7-Eleven; restaurant Treasures Yi Dian Xin; and Gadget Solution, which sells game consoles and mobile phone accessories.

Despite the increase in foot traffic reported to some of the retailers by the mall’s management Lendlease, they told The Straits Times they have not seen a corresponding increase in their sales.

The ongoing construction of an underground linkway to Marine Parade station from the mall’s basement, due to be completed in 2027, is also expected to affect business further, said the tenants.

Marks & Spencer, which opened its second-floor store at Parkway Parade in May 2004, told ST that its upcoming closure is part of an ongoing effort to refine its store portfolio and focus on key locations and the online business in Singapore.

Although the company did not specify how many staff would be affected, a spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting all affected colleagues through this transition. This includes offering opportunities for redeployment to other stores or roles, where possible, as well as providing resources and assistance.”

Mr Xu Hwa Heng, 41, owner of Gadget Solution, which was on the basement level, said his rent was raised to about $14,000 – a 30 per cent hike – when his lease expired in January 2025.

After nine years of running the business at Parkway Parade, he decided to close shop, citing the unsustainable rental costs.

“Even after the MRT started operation, I didn’t see a rise in footfall. Now, with the basement entrance facing my shop closed (to facilitate the construction of the linkway), my business would have suffered. It would be hard for me to survive if I had to pay such high rent,” said Mr Xu.

Next door, Mr Tang F.Y., who runs Pavilion Optics & Contact Lens Centre, said: “Each time my lease is renewed, the rent goes up. For older businesses like mine that rely on loyal customers, a significant rent increase is a real struggle.”

Mr Tang, 69, said that since he started his business in December 1983, his rent has climbed from $3,500 a month that year to more than $15,000 now.

Responding to queries from ST, Ms Jenny Khoo, head of retail and workspace management at Lendlease, said rental adjustments take into account factors such as market demand, tenant performance and overall economic conditions.

“Responding to changing market preferences, Lendlease aims to strike a balance between supporting long-time tenants and ensuring the mall remains vibrant and competitive, with a tenant mix that caters to the evolving needs of shoppers,” she said, without confirming the extent of the rental hikes reported by tenants.

The Lens Men was among the first shops to open at Parkway Parade in December 1983. It moved to Block 83 Marine Parade Central, an HDB block directly opposite the mall, after Lendlease raised its rent in December 2019.

Isetan department store, which also opened its store at Parkway Parade in 1983, exited the mall in 2022, after saying that negotiations with the landlord for a further extension of the lease “did not yield a positive result”.

Nanyang Optical, located at the basement of the mall for more than 40 years, downsized to a smaller unit on the same floor, with its former corner space taken over by food outlet Beard Papa’s since June 2024.

Officially opened in 1984, Parkway Parade was one of Singapore’s first major and biggest suburban malls at the time. The integrated office and retail development has more than 250 stores located across seven levels.  

The mall, a strata-titled development with multiple subsidiary proprietors, is indirectly owned by Parkway Parade Partnership (PPP), which holds 77.09 per cent of the retail strata lots. In 2023, Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (LReit) acquired a 10 per cent stake in PPP. 

Income Insurance is Parkway Parade’s largest investor, with close to 50 per cent ownership of PPP.

More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/several-parkway-parade-mall-tenants-leave-or-downsize-amid-rising-rents

Haidilao's Northshore Plaza outlet is now officially gone with the wind.

Simonboy's cheekon rice stall opened and uplorried all within 6 months, boy this must be a new record!

Shaw Theatres to close Seletar outlet, last day of screening on Dec 15

On Monday (Dec 2), Singapore-based cinema chain Shaw Theatres announced that it will be closing its outlet at The Seletar Mall after 10 years of operation. The outlet, which is located on the fourth floor of the mall, will have its final day of operations on Dec 15. It first opened in December 2014.

In a statement, the management of Shaw Theatres said that the closure was due to the end of the lease between the chain and The Seletar Mall, and that the mall "has alternative plans for the space".

Mark Shaw, director of Shaw Organisation Group of Companies, added: "Shaw Theatres Seletar was our first boothless cineplex – and it was quite a milestone for us especially in terms of operations and space utilisation as it occupied a much smaller footprint. We are grateful for the wonderful decade spent serving the Seletar community."

After Dec 15, the nearest Shaw Theatres outlets for Seletar residents will be at NEX and Waterway Point.

From now till Dec 15, Shaw Theatres at The Seletar Mall will have a "closing promotion" where every ticket purchased at the outlet will entitle customers to a free popcorn combo or Tater Gems combo at Shaw Theatres' NEX and Waterway Point outlets.

https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/shaw-theatres-seletar-mall-closing-down-414671

Overseas Emporium in Chinatown shuts down after more than 50 years

The time-honoured Overseas Emporium, a beloved store located in the People's Park Complex in Chinatown, has closed its doors after more than 50 years of operations.

The department store, which held a special place in the hearts of many Singaporeans, officially ceased operations on Nov. 17.

Clearance sale

Shin Min Daily News reporters visited the store on multiple occasions this month, observing its gradual closure.

Spanning a wide range of goods, the store's offerings included household items, winter clothing, bird's nest products, and various Chinese medicinal health items.

A long-time staff member revealed that he had spent nearly 50 years of his life working at the emporium, expressing deep ties to the store.

On the final day of operations, Nov. 17, the store’s electronic sign displayed, “Hot discounts! Last day for clearance sale.”

Shoppers reportedly flocked to take advantage of the discounts, creating a bustling atmosphere as customers selected discounted items from the dwindling stock.

Customers saddened

Many regular customers expressed sadness over the store’s closure.

A regular customer in his 70s, surnamed Guo, told Shin Min that he had visited the store the day before to buy shoes and returned to purchase more items.

He spent more than S$20 to buy 10 small jade pendants as keepsakes and gifts.

“I feel a little sad to hear that it will close," he said.

Another customer, surnamed Han, who is about to travel to Shanghai, said that he heard that winter clothes there were discounted by up to 75 per cent.

"The original price was more than S$200, but now it's discounted to only more than S$60. It's really worth it. I have to buy it."

When a Shin Min reporter visited the shop again on Nov. 18 and 20, the shop had already closed its doors.

A clerk confirmed that the store had closed for good and that the space would soon be sold to a travel agency.

Background

Started in 1971, Overseas Emporium was one of the largest Chinese emporiums in Singapore in the 70s.

The main emporium at People's Park Complex offered more than 20,000 square feet of shopping space.

Jialat, Daiso @ Tiong Bahru Plaza recently went poof 😨

2nd outlet of Chee Soon Juan's Orange & Teal at Marina Square closes down from Oct. 11, 2024

Orange & Teal at Marina Square shut its doors on Oct. 11, 2024.

The cafe posted on its Instagram page, saying the decision was "due to rising costs".

The cafe is run by politician-turned-F&B-owner Chee Soon Juan, and opened on Aug. 20, 2022.  

Chee stated in 2022 that the Marina Square outlet would have an express food concept, for office workers to grab a quick lunch.

The outlet at Marina Square received good reviews on Google, with customers praising its generous portions, valuable lunch sets, and cozy atmosphere.

The cafe's original outlet at Rochester Mall will continue to operate as usual.

Orange & Teal @ Rochester Mall 

Address: 35 Rochester Dr, #02-12 Rochester Mall, Singapore 138639 

Opening Hours: 

• Sunday to Thursday, 11am - 9pm

• Friday & Saturday, 11am - 10pm

• Closed on Mondays

Times Bookstores shuts last outlet in Holland Road, exits Singapore

SINGAPORE – Times Bookstores will end nearly five decades of operations in Singapore as the lease for its last remaining outlet at Cold Storage Jelita in Holland Road runs out in September.

The English book retailer, which has not responded to queries from The Straits Times on the matter, bid farewell in a statement on Instagram on Sept 16, inviting readers to visit it one final time.

“Our happily ever after has finally come,” it said, after several posts about moving-out sales for its final outlet. “It is with both a heavy heart and a sense of fulfilment that we announce the closure of Times Bookstores.”

The writing has been on the wall for several years for the former book giant established in 1978, as it faced high rents, low foot traffic and weak sales.

The group owned by regional consumer group Fraser and Neave shut its Plaza Singapura and Waterway branches in February, prompting an outpouring of sentiment from the literary community here about how Singapore can better protect its bookstores.

In 2019, a warning sign came when Times Bookstores wound up its Centrepoint branch, once one of the biggest bookstores in Singapore at 8,000 sq ft.

Covid-19 dealt another major blow to the business, as two outlets ceased operations without fanfare at Marina Square and Paragon in 2021.

It is unclear what Times Bookstores’ next steps are, although its book distribution business in Singapore – where it places books printed by international and local publishers it represents into bookstores – continues to operate.

The last day of operations for Times Jelita is Sept 22.

Times’ closure leaves only a few players on the scene. Books Kinokuniya, Singapore’s largest bookstore, has been at Takashimaya Shopping Centre since 1999, and ST has reached out to landlord Toshin Development Singapore about its fate.

A spokesperson said the bookstore’s lease is ongoing, but did not reveal dates for contract renewal. “As an anchor tenant, Books Kinokuniya is a key valued partner that we closely engage through regular discussions, to keep in trend to appeal to the patrons.”

https://www.straitstimes.com/life/arts/times-bookstores-shuts-last-outlet-in-holland-road-exits-singapore

Giant to shut its Toa Payoh supermarket later in September, its ninth closure in 2024

SINGAPORE - Supermarket chain Giant will soon close its ninth store here in 2024, as it grapples with stiff competition from online retailers and other grocery stores.

Since February, Giant has closed a hypermarket in Sembawang Shopping Centre, three supermarkets in Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Bukit Panjang, and four smaller “Express” stores in Nanyang Technological University, Pasir Ris, Redhill and Punggol.

The shutters will come down on the ninth store, its supermarket in Toa Payoh Lorong 4, later in September.

This closure will leave Giant with 45 outlets here, down from 53 in February. In 2024, the grocer opened a store in Tengah.

From 2020 to 2023, the number of Giant stores remained steady, hovering between 53 and 55.

The closures in Singapore come as Giant’s footprint in the region shrinks. Its parent company, DFI Retail Group, exited the Malaysian grocery market in March 2023 by selling its stake in GCH Retail, which runs the Giant, Mercato and Giant Mini chains there.

In 2021, retail group PT Hero Supermarket, of which DFI is a majority shareholder, closed all its Giant supermarkets in Indonesia after the group’s revenue dropped 34 per cent year on year.

Retail experts said DFI was likely pushed to close its Giant stores because of a combination of factors, among them high rental rates, competition from other supermarket chains and the shift towards online grocery shopping triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

When The Straits Times visited the Giant supermarket in Toa Payoh Lorong 4 on Sept 2, a staff member said business at the store had been poor in the past year, largely due to competition from two neighbouring FairPrice outlets – both less than a kilometre away.

The employee, who declined to be named, said staff were told by Giant’s management that they would be redeployed to Cold Storage outlets – which DFI also owns – after the store’s closure.

Although there were no closure notices around the store, two freezer units and several refrigerator shelves were empty.

There was also a sign on the wall at the outlet’s loading area that listed Sept 11 and 13 as the last days of inventory deliveries for frozen products and fresh food, respectively.

A lot more at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/giant-to-shut-its-toa-payoh-supermarket-on-sept-15-its-ninth-closure-this-year