Popular Bookstore closing Jurong Point and VivoCity outlets, reopening in Hougang Mall
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Moving-out sales will be held at the VivoCity branch until Aug 16, and at the Jurong Point outlet from Aug 14 to Sept 13.
PHOTO: ST READER
- Popular Bookstore will close its VivoCity outlet after Aug 16 and Jurong Point outlet after Sept 13 owing to mall retail plans, with moving-out sales currently ongoing.
- A new Popular store will reopen at Hougang Mall on Sept 4 following renovations, maintaining the chain's presence in the heartland area.
- Popular assures no further closures are planned and will serve customers via 26 outlets islandwide and various mall roadshows.
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SINGAPORE – Shoppers, take note: Two Popular Bookstore outlets are set to close in August and September, while another branch will be making its return.
The bookstore chain on Aug 6 said in response to queries from The Straits Times that its outlets at VivoCity and Jurong Point will be closed owing to the malls’ retail plans.
The VivoCity branch, which opened in 2018, will close after Aug 16, with a moving-out sale held until then.
The Jurong Point branch, which has been around since 1995, will cease operations after Sept 13, with a moving-out sale held from Aug 14 till then.
The bookstore chain will open a new store at Hougang Mall on Sept 4, after its previous outlet there was closed in January amid major renovations at the mall. The mall’s revamp is set to be completed in September.
When ST visited the Popular outlet at Jurong Point on Aug 6, an array of items – ranging from stationery to trinkets – was seen on clearance.
“We would like to reassure our customers that we have no plans for any further store closures,” Popular said, adding that customers who are affected by the upcoming closures can continue shopping at nearby outlets.
VivoCity patrons can visit the nearest Popular store at Tiong Bahru Plaza, while the nearest outlets for Jurong Point customers are at Westgate, West Mall or The Clementi Mall.
An array of items on clearance at Popular Bookstore’s Jurong Point outlet on Aug 6.
PHOTO: ST READER
With its reopening at Hougang Mall, Popular will have a total of 26 stores across the island.
Other outlets that have closed in recent years include the Marine Parade branch in 2023 and Thomson Plaza branch in 2019.
“Popular Bookstore remains committed to serving our local communities, and we are continuously identifying strategic new locations,” the company said.
It added that it will continue to host various roadshows at shopping centres islandwide to remain accessible to consumers.
The home-grown bookstore started out as a book distributor before evolving into a one-stop shop that also sells stationery, gadgets, tech merchandise and even tidbits, alongside books.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
The home-grown bookstore started in 1924 when its late founder Chou Sing Chu started Cheng Hing Company, which distributed Chinese storybooks and other products.
It has since evolved into a one-stop shop that also sells stationery, gadgets, tech merchandise and even tidbits, alongside books.
