18-07-2025
Third Kinokuniya branch opens in Raffles City, weeks before planned date
Kinokuniya, the Republic's only remaining books-focused mega-chain, opened its third outlet in shopping mall Raffles City on the morning of July 18.
The celebratory occasion bucked prevailing trends of bookshop closures amid laments of declining book-buying habits.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the "hidden literary haven", designed by award-winning architect Tan Kay Ngee, took place weeks before its initial scheduled date of August and immediately welcomed about 30 patrons.
Kinokuniya vice-president of domestic and overseas business Keijiro Mori said Singapore may be more digitalised than other countries, but trends away from screens in Britain and the United States offer hope.
"I'm confident this will come to Singapore," he added. "Meanwhile, we have to try to include more non-book items. But we will try to keep these book-related. We don't want to become a general miscellaneous store."
Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. It may be a far cry from Kinokuniya's Ngee Ann City flagship - at about 10 times the size - but news of its opening, announced three months ago, still came as a salve to bibliophiles after worrying scenes of bookshelves in Ngee Ann City being emptied.
Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
In February, The Straits Times reported that the 38,000 sq ft store was being downsized after rental negotiations with landlord Toshin Development arrived at the conclusion that the front portion of the bookstore would be taken over by a cafe. Kinokuniya has since assured the public that its range of titles remained intact.
Its Raffles City branch is similar in size to the Bugis Junction store, which opened in 2013.
Kinokuniya Raffles City was "designed not to shout, but to invite", which architect Tan has attempted with a long central axis leading to a blue-hued Reading Room, an alcove that reuses some of Kinokuniya's signature shelves from Ngee Ann City.
The bookstore at Raffles City is divided into the Reading Room (left) and main area (right). ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Exclusive stationery is being touted as a key feature, such as cat-themed products from Japanese designer Matsuo Miyuki and the anthropomorphic Pickles the Frog. "We put the honey in front," said Kinokuniya consultant Kenny Chan.
Exclusive merchandise such as Pickles the Frog in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
There are other subtle differentiations from other branches, for instance, a greater focus on English-language and business-related books to cater to the Central Business District crowd.
Mr Ervin Yeo, chief executive of commercial management at CapitaLand Investment, said customer satisfaction surveys have long indicated a demand for Raffles City to have a bookstore again, which would allow browsing between appointments while also supplying nearby Fairmont Hotel and Swissotel The Stamford guests with holiday reads. Raffles City is managed by CapitaLand.
There could be "cross-activations", he added, suggesting collaborations with brands like Chinese milk tea chain Chagee, wine concierge Grand Cru and cafe Alice Boulangerie. "With the right trade mix, we hope that sales for all tenants will improve."
According to a National Library Board 2024 study, 28 per cent of adults read books and e-books more than once a week. Among these, 75 per cent still prefer physical books, and more people buy physical books from bookstores (54 per cent) than borrow from libraries (51 per cent).
After the outpouring of grief over Kinokuniya's reduction at Ngee Ann City, Mr Yeo urged the public to put their money where their mouth is.
"Rather than bellyaching over their closures and lamenting their disappearance, the best thing we can all do to support bookstores is to visit bookstores and buy books."
