Homegrown store Tom & Stefanie to close Hillion Mall outlet in June 2026 after they deemed proposed rental terms unsustainable

Homegrown retailer and family-run children's store Tom & Stefanie will be closing its outlet at Hillion Mall in June 2026.

This comes after renewal discussions with the landlord ahead of the lease expiry fell through, the store told Mothership.

In an Instagram post on Mar. 4, the store announced the outlet's closure, saying: "We didn't lose this store. We were asked to leave it."

The store said it was told the news on the same day, Mar. 4.

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A post shared by Tom&Stefanie (@tomnstefanie)

Proposed rental terms unsustainable

The store said that the proposed rental terms given by the landlord during renewal discussions were "significantly higher than what [their] business could reasonably sustain".

The store has been at the Hillion Mall for six years.

As a small independent brand operating on tight margins, Tom & Stefanie said rental proposals at levels that "leave very limited room for operational costs" make it challenging to continue their business.

This is despite consistent customer support and healthy footfall to the store, they said. They also noted that this was not an isolated experience, and that they had undergone similar renewal challenges.

The store further said that for smaller local retailers like them, rent is often the "single largest fixed cost".

"When renewal discussions only conclude close to lease expiry, it also significantly limits the time available to plan responsibly - whether for relocation, restructuring, or preparing exit sales," they said.

Rental pressures on small business owners

While they are unable to speak for other tenants, Tom & Stefanie said several other small business owners have commented on their post, saying they faced similar challenges during their own renewal discussions with landlords.

"From these responses, it appears that rising rental expectations during lease renewals is a common concern among independent retailers," they said.

The store said they are speaking openly about their experience because they hope to contribute to a broader discussion about the sustainability of the retail environment for local brands.

They added: "If rental pressures continue to increase without alignment to business realities, it may become increasingly difficult for smaller independent retailers to remain in mall spaces long term."

Mall had offered alternative location

In response to Mothership's queries, Hillion Mall said the management reviews the trade mix continuously to ensure that it meets the changing needs and preferences of its shoppers.

They decided to rejuvenate the shopping experience at Basement One upon further evaluation.

The mall said they gave Tom & Stefanie "early notices of the intention" and also offered them an alternative location, which they did not accept.

The mall said they remain committed to providing a well-balanced mix of retail, dining and family-oriented offerings to serve its shoppers.

The store showed a photo of the alternative space that was offered to them, describing it as a "less favourable" location.

This highlights a broader issue faced by many local brands, they said — being "pushed into less favourable locations" even after years of building up the area and community.

Had planned new concept at Hillion outlet

The store said they have been working hard to revamp the store and refresh their offerings, with Hillion Mall intended to be the launch of a new concept direction for the business.

"The goal was to evolve the brand, improve the in-store experience," they said.

The owners' daughter, Stefanie Chua, took to social media in November 2025 in a bid to keep the business afloat amid declining sales.

Since then, business has been encouraging, they said, adding: "We continued to receive customer support and positive engagement from our community."

Clearance sale

Their last day at Hillion Mall is expected to be on Jun. 10.

"We are currently running moving-out sales and will use the remaining weeks to thank our customers for their support over the years," they said.

The store has also decided to donate a portion of the profits from the clearance sales back to the Bukit Panjang community through Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities (Bukit Panjang).

"This is our way of giving back for the support we’ve received over the past 6 years," they said.

Tom & Stefanie sells toys, children's clothes and baby products. You can also find them at their remaining outlets:

• Woodlands Civic Center
• Paya Lebar Quarter
• Eastpoint Mall

Top photos from Google Photos and tomnstefanie/Instagram