Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Holland Village, and Wala Wala Cafe Bar—longtime tenants at Holland Village, have announced plans to close this year, after operating for two decades and over 30 years respectively.
Crystal Jade, the parent company of Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Holland Village, hinted at the closure in a promotion page, advertising a “Farewell Feast” at the outlet offering discounts of up to 30%.
A Crystal Jade spokesperson told CNA Lifestyle on Friday (June 13) that Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Holland Village will cease operations on June 30 after its current lease ends.
“As part of our ongoing business strategy, we are evaluating opportunities for new outlets in other areas of Singapore,” added the spokesperson. “Customers can continue to enjoy our group’s authentic Chinese cuisine at our sister establishment, Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, at the nearby One Holland Village.”
According to a report by The Business Times, Wala Wala Cafe Bar confirmed that it plans to find a replacement tenant and vacate early, around the end of August, ahead of its lease this year.
Its owner, Stanley Yeo, cited dwindling foot traffic, rising rentals, and a tough labour market as some reasons for the bar’s upcoming closure.
“The market has not been great, and basically the nightlife and food and beverage industry are suffering,” he said. “It’s time to call it a day and move on.”
Yeo shared that the landlord for the upper-floor space declined to adjust the rent despite the changed landscape of shuttering the live music space during the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that revenue generated could not keep up with maintaining a space with “high fixed costs”.
That said, Yeo also acknowledged the accommodations made by the ground-floor landlord, offering a sustainable rental rate that allowed the bar to stay longer.
The cafe reported that the closure of the cafe’s upper-floor space led to sales plunging by 50-60% almost overnight.
The two businesses are the latest in a spate of veteran tenants that have left Holland Village, namely Thambi Magazine Store and Lim’s Holland Village. Several tenants have since been undertaking initiatives to revitalise the area and boost foot traffic along Lorong Mambong and Lorong Liput.
However, the departure of two more longtime icons might be a sign for these tenants to reassess their initiatives and find more ways to bring Holland Village back to the bustling area it was once known for.
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Featured Image Credit: Lei Wang via Google Maps, Wala Wala