Wala Wala Cafe Bar in Holland Village closing down after 32 years

Wala Wala Cafe Bar in Holland Village is closing down after 32 years, its owner Stanley Yeo told The Business Times.

The last day of operations could be as early as end-August.

Reasons

The reasons cited were fewer customers, increasing costs of operations, and a difficulty in hiring.

Road closures in the area have also deterred patrons from frequenting Holland Village due to the inconvenience.

Younger crowds are also not patronising the area, once considered one of the hippest and most gentrified enclaves in Singapore.

Has been losing money

Yeo said Wala Wala has been losing money in the last four years.

Rental rose 9 per cent over the last two years, and stands at S$28,000 a month.

The live music space on the second floor was closed during the pandemic as live entertainment was prohibited.

Revenue fell by more than half as a result, BT reported.

The ground floor and second floor units have different landlords, Yeo revealed.

The ground floor unit's landlord had offered a better rate, allowing Wala Wala to stay, he added.

Recent closures in Holland V

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao in Holland Village is also closing down.

Its last day of operations is on Jun. 30.

Other closures that have occurred include convenience store Cheers, as well as meat grocer Swiss Butchery, which moved online since February.

Sens Dining, a Japanese restaurant serving teppanyaki and omakase, closed in April as the landlord repossessed the space.

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