Jeanette Aw to close Hamilton Rd pastry shop in Dec. 2025, cites 'rental costs' as key challenge

Singaporean actress Jeanette Aw, 46, will be closing the physical outlet of her patisserie, Once Upon A Time, located along Hamilton Road.

Closing in December

In a video uploaded to YouTube on Nov. 16, Aw announced that the shop will be vacating its shophouse unit in December 2025.

“I’m about to close this chapter at Hamilton, and I will be here until December," she said.

The video, filmed at the store, showed her reflecting on her journey and the space.

Aw, a graduate from Le Cordon Bleu, launched Once Upon A Time in May 2021.

The patisserie featured a rotating, pre-order only menu of cakes and pastries, with the unit serving both as a pick-up point and her creative studio.

“I still remember the bits and pieces here," Aw said. "The renovation then, the day it opened, and every customer that has walked into Once Upon A Time in the past five years."

"I received so much love."

Rather than dwelling on the closure, Aw said she is looking forward to embarking on a new chapter, hinting that it was not the end for the patisserie.

"I'm very, very excited about the new plan. Once everything slowly takes shape, I will definitely share it with everyone, so you must continue to follow Once Upon A Time," she said.

High rental costs

In response to Mothership's queries, Aw stated that the key challenge she faced is "escalating rental costs".

"I've no intention of committing to rising rents, and that's a major factor in my decision," she said.

Aw added that Once Upon A Time will be moving to a new space and renovations are currently ongoing.

More details regarding the new location will be revealed in time to come.

Following the closure in December, Aw shared that the patisserie will not be operating online. Instead, Aw will be focusing on preparations for her Valentine's pop-up in Japan.

"The December sale is one to catch," she said. "The next one may be a long wait."

Once Upon A Time

Address: 35 Hamilton Rd, #01-04, Singapore 209204

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Top photos via @onceuponatime.sg/Instagram