Its owner Stanley Yeo told The Business Times in June that he planned to “call it a day and move on” due to falling visitor numbers, a tough labor market and rising operating costs, with rents of the 1,700-square-foot ground-floor space having climbed by 9% over the last two years to S$28,000 (US$21,700) per month.
Since then, the bar has been buoyed by strong support from its community. By July, it reported a “significant increase” in footfall.
In an Instagram post last Tuesday, Wala Wala said its landlord had “kindly offered revised terms that make it feasible” for the business to stay on.
“We have been deeply moved by the overwhelming support from our community — customers, friends, suppliers and neighbours alike,” the post reads. “Today, we are heartened to share that Wala Wala Cafe Bar will remain in Holland Village.”
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Wala Wala Cafe Bar in Singapore’s Holland Village. Photo from Google |
Established in 1993 in Holland Village, the establishment has long been a beloved local spot, attracting patrons with hearty food, draft beers, and lively weekend crowds. It was once known for live music on its second floor, which closed in 2021, and has shifted its focus primarily to food and beverage in recent years, according to Bandwagon Asia.
Wala Wala’s decision to stay is welcome news for Holland Village, a popular shopping and dining destination that has recently seen several closures. These include Thambi Magazine Store, Lim’s Holland Village furniture store, party shop Khiam Teck and soft-serve ice cream spot Sunday Folks, as reported by Channel News Asia.
The closures mirror a broader trend across Singapore’s F&B sector, which has recently seen two Michelin-starred restaurants and several smaller shops shuttering or announcing plans to do so, according to The Straits Times.
Euphoria and Alma by Juan Amador, both with one Michelin star, shut down this month. Popular dessert shops Flourish Bakehouse and Fluff Bakery have both announced plans to close in September. Ka-soh, a heritage eatery known for its Cantonese-style fish soup, will also shutter its last store in late September.
