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New Paper
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Paper
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."
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City after flagship downsizing
SINGAPORE – 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. Vice-president of Kinokuniya Keijiro Mori says Singapore may be more digitalised than other countries, but that trends in the United Kingdom and United States returning to the analogue offers hope. 'I'm confident this will come to Singapore,' he says. 'Meanwhile, we have to try to include more non-books items. But we try to keep these still somehow 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, when it was 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. The other Kinokuniya branch of similar size to the Raffles City one opened in Bugis Junction in 2013. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Up to 30% of aviation jobs would have to be redesigned because of AI, automation: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added World Trump threatens to sue WSJ over story on alleged 2003 letter to Epstein Asia Appointment of Malaysia's new chief justice eases controversy over vacant top judge seats for now Singapore SPCA appoints Walter Leong as new executive director Kinokuniya Raffles City was 'designed not to shout, but to invite', which architect Tay has attempted with a long central axis leading to a blue-hued Reading Room, an alcove that re-uses some of Kinokuniya's signature shelves transported from Ngee Ann City. The long central axis of bookshelves dividing the reading room (left) and the main area (right), where merchandise, stationery and more books are, in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. 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,' says former Kinokuniya Asia-Pacific senior store and merchandising director 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 focusing more on English-language and business-related books to cater to the Central Business District crowd. Landlord CapitaLand's chief executive officer Ervin Yeo said customer satisfaction surveys have long indicated a demand for Raffles City to have its own bookstore, which would allow for browsing in between appointments while also supplying nearby Fairmont Hotel and Swissotel guests with their holiday reads There could be 'cross-activations', he says, suggesting books and Chinese milk tea chain Chagee. '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.'
Business Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Books Kinokuniya to open new outlet at Raffles City in August
[SINGAPORE] Books Kinokuniya will open a new outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre in August. In a Facebook post on Apr 21, the bookstore chain announced the new store, which will span 3,433 sq ft on the third floor of the mall. Tan Kay Ngee, 68, award-winning principal architect of Kay Ngee Tan Architects, who designed the first Books Kinokuniya's flagship store at Ngee Ann City in 1999, told The Straits Times: 'The new Kinokuniya store is conceived as a quiet discovery – designed not to shout, but to invite.' It will feature a Blue Room at the heart of the shop. 'It is a serene space dedicated to literature which evokes a quieter, more contemplative mood for immersive reading experiences.' The space will reuse the iconic blue shelves from the flagship store, which is currently being reorganised. In February, it was announced that the bookshop's 38,000 sq ft space at Ngee Ann City would be reduced. A spokesperson for Books Kinokuniya said that despite the outlet's smaller footprint, 'our range of titles remains intact and we intend to expand and showcase a more varied merchandise mix'. 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 The main entrance of the flagship store reopened on Apr 7, although the rest of the store is still undergoing 'significant changes'. The spokesperson also confirmed that there would be no staff layoffs or manpower changes at the Takashimaya outlet. The bookshop chain closed its outlets at Jem mall in Jurong in May 2022 and at Liang Court mall in Clarke Quay in Apr 2019. The closures reflect a shrinking books retail scene in recent years as various brands such as Times and Epigram Books closed physical outlets, squeezed by high rentals and thin profits. When asked about Books Kinokuniya's future plans in Singapore, the spokesperson said: 'We would consider opening a new store if the right venue and price come together.' THE STRAITS TIMES
New Paper
22-04-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Books Kinokuniya to open new outlet at Raffles City in August
Books Kinokuniya will open a new outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre in August. In a Facebook post on April 21, the bookstore chain announced the new store, which will span 3,433 sq ft on the third floor of the mall. Mr Tan Kay Ngee, 68, award-winning principal architect of Kay Ngee Tan Architects, who designed the first Books Kinokuniya's flagship store at Ngee Ann City in 1999, told The Straits Times: "The new Kinokuniya store is conceived as a quiet discovery - designed not to shout, but to invite." It will feature a Blue Room at the heart of the shop. "It is a serene space dedicated to literature which evokes a quieter, more contemplative mood for immersive reading experiences." The space will reuse the iconic blue shelves from the flagship store, which is currently being reorganised. In February, it was announced that the bookshop's 38,000 sq ft space at Ngee Ann City would be reduced. A spokesperson for Books Kinokuniya said that despite the outlet's smaller footprint, "our range of titles remains intact and we intend to expand and showcase a more varied merchandise mix". The main entrance of the flagship store reopened on April 7, although the rest of the store is still undergoing "significant changes". The spokesperson also confirmed that there would be no staff layoffs or manpower changes at the Takashimaya outlet. The bookshop chain closed its outlets at Jem mall in Jurong in May 2022 and at Liang Court mall in Clarke Quay in April 2019. The closures reflect a shrinking books retail scene in recent years as various brands such as Times and Epigram Books closed physical outlets, squeezed by high rentals and thin profits. When asked about Books Kinokuniya's future plans in Singapore, the spokesperson said: "We would consider opening a new store if the right venue and price come together."
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Books Kinokuniya to open new outlet at Raffles City in August
A Blue Room in the heart of Books Kinokuniya's new outlet will invite quiet contemplation. PHOTO: KAY NGEE TAN ARCHITECTS An early artist's impression of Books Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. PHOTO: KAY NGEE TAN ARCHITECTS Books Kinokuniya to open new outlet at Raffles City in August SINGAPORE – Books Kinokuniya will open a new outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre in August. In a Facebook post on April 21, the bookstore chain announced the new store, which will span 3,433 sq ft on the third floor of the mall. Mr Tan Kay Ngee, 68, award-winning principal architect of Kay Ngee Tan Architects, who designed the first Books Kinokuniya's flagship store at Ngee Ann City in 1999, told The Straits Times: 'The new Kinokuniya store is conceived as a quiet discovery – designed not to shout, but to invite.' It will feature a Blue Room at the heart of the shop. 'It is a serene space dedicated to literature which evokes a quieter, more contemplative mood for immersive reading experiences.' The space will reuse the iconic blue shelves from the flagship store, which is currently being reorganised. In February, it was announced that the bookshop's 38,000 sq ft space at Ngee Ann City would be reduced. A spokesperson for Books Kinokuniya said that despite the outlet's smaller footprint, 'our range of titles remains intact and we intend to expand and showcase a more varied merchandise mix'. The main entrance of the flagship store reopened on April 7, although the rest of the store is still undergoing 'significant changes'. The spokesperson also confirmed that there would be no staff layoffs or manpower changes at the Takashimaya outlet. The bookshop chain closed its outlets at Jem mall in Jurong in May 2022 and at Liang Court mall in Clarke Quay in April 2019. The closures reflect a shrinking books retail scene in recent years as various brands such as Times and Epigram Books closed physical outlets, squeezed by high rentals and thin profits. When asked about Books Kinokuniya's future plans in Singapore, the spokesperson said: 'We would consider opening a new store if the right venue and price come together.' Additional reporting by Clement Yong and Ong Sor Fern Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
