Home-grown icon Robinsons brought 'retail magic' to the Singapore scene

By the 1960s, Robinsons at Raffles Place had captured the imagination of many with its sales, year-end in-store events and mind-numbing range of jewellery, haberdashery, clothes, clocks, confetti and Christmas collectables.
By the 1960s, Robinsons at Raffles Place had captured the imagination of many with its sales, year-end in-store events and mind-numbing range of jewellery, haberdashery, clothes, clocks, confetti and Christmas collectables. PHOTO: ST FILE
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The grand dame of department stores, Robinson & Company, is heaving her last breath after 162 years of exuberance, drama, tragedy, some successes and more than a fair share of failures.

Although most people had some inkling that there were signs of trouble when the Jem store closed in August, Singaporeans young and old, expatriates, foreigners and netizens were nevertheless shell-shocked at the sudden announcement on Friday that the remaining stores at The Heeren and Raffles City Shopping Centre would also be shuttered soon.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on November 01, 2020, with the headline Home-grown icon Robinsons brought 'retail magic' to the Singapore scene. Subscribe