‘The story is not yet over’: Wala Wala Cafe Bar to stay on in Holland Village
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Wala Wala Cafe Bar has seen a surge in visitor numbers since its pending closure was announced. It now has a new lease of life.
PHOTO: WALA WALA CAFE BAR
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SINGAPORE – There is good news for fans of popular local nightlife hot spot Wala Wala Cafe Bar in Holland Village – it is no longer closing.
In June, its owner Stanley Yeo had told The Business Times that he was looking for a new tenant to take over the space. He cited waning footfall, rising operating costs and a challenging labour market as reasons for the closure, then slated for the end of 2025.
Since then, there has been an outpouring of support for the beloved bar, which now looks set to continue its 32-year run.
Wala Wala’s Instagram post on Aug 26 states that its landlord has “kindly offered revised terms that make it feasible for us to stay”.
The post adds: “It is also because of you – our patrons – whose encouragement gave us reason to believe the story is not yet over.
“We now know that Wala Wala continues to hold meaning – not just as a venue, but as a gathering place, a shared memory and a part of the village’s heartbeat.”
In a July 5 post, Wala Wala highlighted how the venue has experienced a “significant increase” in visitor numbers, adding: “One cannot help but wonder whether this renewed engagement is fuelled by a sense of nostalgia, a wish to revisit cherished memories or simply a desire to bid farewell to a place that has become part of the local fabric over the 32½ years.”
While Wala Wala’s journey continues, the same cannot be said for other recent casualties in Singapore’s food and beverage scene.
They cut across different sectors. High-end restaurants Euphoria in Tras Street and Alma by Juan Amador at Goodwood Park Hotel shut in August, while Japanese restaurant Imamura Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa will operate till the end of August.
More casual outfits to close include Flourish Bakehouse at the Singapore Management University, which shuts on Sept 14, and halal bakery Fluff Bakery in North Bridge Road, slated to shut around mid- to end-September.
Over in Greenwood Avenue, heritage restaurant Ka-Soh’s last day of operations is Sept 28.
