Times Bookstores has one last remaining store standing at Cold Storage Jelita in Holland Road, as of Feb. 26, 2024.

The book retailer has closed its branches in Plaza Singapura and Waterway Point, and has removed these locations from its website.

CapitaLand and Frasers Property confirmed the bookstores' closure

The owners of the branches, CapitaLand and Frasers Property, confirmed the book store's closures with The Straits Times.

The Plaza Singapura branch is owned by CapitaLand, while the Waterway Point branch's owner is Frasers Property.

A Plaza Singapura spokesman revealed that The Travel Store will be the new tenant for Times' space by the end of March and thanked Times for the strong partnership over the years.

No news has been given on who Frasers Property's new tenant will be.

Times declined to comment on its plans in Singapore moving forward.

The closures are due to weak sales and low foot traffic, a common theme for physical bookstores that has been reported by numerous news outlets over the past few years.

Other factors include rising rent, higher goods and service tax, and printing costs, which have subsequently increased book prices.

Popular closed its branch in Marine Parade on June 18,2023, citing rising costs of rent and labour.

Books Kinokuniya Singapore also closed its branch in JEM mall on May 9, 2022, due to slow sales and increased rental costs.

Established in 1978

Times Bookstores was established in 1978, and has provided English language books, as well as complementary products in Singapore and Malaysia for close to 40 years.

The bookstore is owned by Fraser and Neave Limited.

Top image via Times Bookstores Facebook.