Holland Village stalwarts Wala Wala, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao to shut; Wine RVLT relocates
SINGAPORE – Two Holland Village establishments look set to bow out of the foodie cluster in 2025. The Straits Times recently reported that the area is losing its mojo, with foot traffic dwindling and businesses closing.
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao will shut after 20 years on June 30, while nightspot Wala Wala Cafe Bar may end its 32-year run before its lease is up at the end of 2025.
Citing waning footfall in the area, rising operating costs and a challenging labour market as reasons for the closure, Wala Wala's owner Stanley Yeo told The Business Times in a June 12 article that he is looking for a new tenant to take over the space.
In a statement to ST, a spokesman for the Crystal Jade Group confirmed that the restaurant's lease in Holland Village is up and added that the group is 'evaluating opportunities for new outlets in other areas of Singapore'.
The group still runs its Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen at the One Holland Village mall, and has other Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao outlets at i12 Katong, Bugis Junction and Hillion Mall.
Over in Hongkong Street, modern Spanish restaurant FOC announced in an Instagram post on June 12 that it will shut in August, after 11 years. Its other outlet is at Sentosa's Tanjong Beach.
These add to other recent closures, including another Holland Village restaurant, Sens Dining, which shut in April; and ramen chain Kanada-Ya at Jem, Marina Square and Paya Lebar Quarter.
In May, souffle pancake chain Fluff Stack closed its outlets, while Japanese ramen specialist Hokkaido Ramen Santouka exited Singapore after 17 years at Clarke Quay Central mall.
Upmarket restaurants were not spared either in the challenging food and beverage scene. Modern European restaurants Imbue in Keong Saik Road and the one-Michelin-starred Poise in Teck Lim Road have also closed in recent months.
Others are starting new chapters in different locations.
Choon Hoy Parlor, which shut in Beach Road on April 14, soft-launched on June 8 with a bigger 64-seat, double-storey space at the Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, next to its sister concept The Masses. Choon Hoy Parlor continues to offer its style of Singapore soul food at affordable prices.
Over in Robertson Quay, some former tenants at the mixed development Robertson Walk – which has shut for its redevelopment into a luxury residential enclave with dining and entertainment choices – are also gearing up to open in new venues in July.
Home-grown Thai restaurant Fi Woodfire Thai will reopen at Shaw Centre, while decade-old burger restaurant Wildfire Burgers moves to UE Square and will be relaunched as Wild/Fire.
Wine bar Wine RVLT - which had already announced in 2024 that it would not renew its lease in 2025 - will go out with a bang. It will wrap up a slew of events leading up to the final day on July 12 with a 'Finish Finish Liao Party'.
Wine bar Wine RVLT will shut in Carpenter Street on July 12.
PHOTO: ST FILE
And while this eight-year run in Carpenter Street will conclude, a new location is already in the works for what will be called Revolution Wine Bistro - slated to open in Henderson Road on July 18.
Eunice Quek is STFood online editor at The Straits Times. She covers all things trending in the food and beverage scene.
Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
44 minutes ago
- Straits Times
EU, US could reach framework trade deal this weekend, EU officials say
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: U.S. and European Union flags and a \"tariffs\" label are seen in this illustration taken April 10, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo BRUSSELS - The European Union and the United States could reach a framework deal on trade this weekend, ending months of uncertainty for European industry, EU officials and diplomats said on Friday. The deal would likely include a 15% baseline tariff on all EU goods entering the United States and probably a 50% tariff on European steel and aluminium, the officials and diplomats said. U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said there was a 50-50 chance or perhaps less that the United States would reach a trade agreement with the European Union, adding that Brussels wanted to "make a deal very badly". One of the sources said a weekend deal seemed likely as the "agreement is basically in the hands of Trump now." A source familiar with the negotiations said there was a "good chance" European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would meet Trump in Scotland over the weekend. A spokesperson for the Commission did not respond to multiple requests for comment on a possible meeting. Trump will visit his golf course on Scotland's west coast and is set to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Singapore MRT service changes needed to modify 3 East-West Line stations on Changi Airport stretch: LTA Singapore S'pore could have nuclear energy 'within a few years', if it decides on it: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia Live: Thailand-Cambodia border clashes continue for second day Life 'Do you kill children?': Even before independence, S'pore has always loved its over-the-top campaigns Singapore Lung damage, poor brain development, addiction: What vaping does to the body Singapore Fine for couple whose catering companies owed $432,000 in salaries to 103 employees Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other's largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU warned in March that any conflict jeopardised $9.5 trillion of business in the world's most important commercial relationship. The EU is facing U.S. tariffs on more than 70% of its exports - 50% on steel and aluminium, 25% on cars and car parts and a 10% levy on most other EU goods, which U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would hike to 30% on August 1, a level EU officials said would wipe out whole chunks of transatlantic commerce. Further tariffs on copper and pharmaceuticals are looming. The EU has prepared countermeasures that could enter into force on August 7 in the event that talks collapse. REUTERS
CNA
5 hours ago
- CNA
Google partners with Italy's Energy Dome on zero-emission power supply
MILAN :Italian energy storage firm Energy Dome said on Friday it had entered a commercial partnership with Google to supply carbon-free energy to the grids that power the operations of the U.S. tech giant. As part of the agreement, Google has made a strategic investment in Milan-based Energy Dome, which has developed a CO2 battery technology to support the energy transition through long-duration energy storage solutions, the companies said in a joint statement. They did not disclose the financial details. Google joins other investors in the Italian energy storage firm such as Oman's sovereign wealth fund and global tank storage operator Vopak. Google's first commercial long-duration energy storage deal is part of a growing number of advanced energy technologies the group needs to hit a goal to run its operations on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030. Energy Dome's CO2-based system stores energy by compressing and liquefying carbon dioxide, which is later expanded to generate electricity. The technology avoids the use of scarce raw materials such as lithium and copper, making it potentially attractive to European policymakers seeking to reduce reliance on critical minerals and bolster energy security. Energy Dome launched its first commercial-scale plant in Sardinia in 2022 with a view to completing it by the end of 2024, with a 24-hour cycle and a 20-megawatt capacity able to power 13,000-15,000 houses.
Business Times
5 hours ago
- Business Times
VW cuts outlook after US tariffs added 1.3 billion euros in costs
[BERLIN] Volkswagen lowered its financial outlook for the year, with the escalating cost of President Donald Trump's tariffs weighing on earnings at the Audi and Porsche brands. The automaker now sees an operating return on sales as low as 4 per cent, from at least 5.5 per cent previously, after the US duties added 1.3 billion euros (S$1.95 billion) in costs during the first half. Volkswagen also cited internal restructuring expenses and greater sales of lower-margin electric vehicles for the forecast change. 'We cannot assume that the tariff situation is only temporary,' chief executive officer Oliver Blume said on Friday (Jul 25) on a call, noting that Trump's current levies would add several billion euros in costs this year. 'We are counting on the European Commission and the US government to reach a balanced outcome on the tariff issue.' Europe's largest carmaker is under pressure to cut costs and improve its products to deal with crises in three key markets. Trump's levies are eating into sales and earnings for import-dependent Audi and Porsche, while muted demand and high production costs weigh on profits in Europe. Volkswagen also is losing market share in China, where consumers increasingly opt for local brands. Volkswagen now sees flat revenue for the year, from 5 per cent growth previously, and also reduced its outlook for free cash flow. The lower end of its forecast assumes the 27.5 per cent US tariffs will stick in the second half, while the upper end foresees the levies being reduced to 10 per cent. 'We need a good compromise,' chief financial officer Arno Antlitz said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. 'A solution that fits both the needs of the American administration, but also European automakers.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Volkswagen shares declined as much as 3 per cent in Frankfurt. The stock is still up around 6 per cent this year. The German manufacturer isn't alone in facing challenges: Some of its peers are dealing with tumult in top management, with Stellantis NV having recently named a new chief executive officer and Renault SA seeking a permanent CEO. Volkswagen is counting on partnerships with Rivian Automotive in the US and China's Xpeng to bolster its products, though new models from those efforts won't be available until next year. The challenges in China, where brands led by BYD are locked in a fierce EV price war, continue to hurt Volkswagen's profits. The operating result from its operations in the biggest car market fell more than a third in the second quarter. Volkswagen expects its joint-venture activities in the country to contribute at best €1 billion this year, down from the 1.7 billion euro proportionate operating result in 2024. The group's trucking business Traton SE late Thursday cut its outlook due to the trade hurdles as well as weak economic growth in Europe and declining orders in Brazil. The unit's adjusted operating result slumped 29 per cent in the second quarter. There were some bright spots. The namesake VW brand has seen EV sales rise in Europe in recent months thanks to rebating and buyers increasingly shunning Tesla over Elon Musk's political activities. The company sees strong order intake momentum continuing through the end of the year in Europe after EV deliveries rose 73 per cent there in the second quarter, driven by robust demand for models including the VW ID.5, the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Skoda Enyaq. BLOOMBERG
