Singapore-born gelateria Tom’s Palette to close after 21 years

Singapore-born gelato brand Tom’s Palette, established in 2005, will cease operations in its Bugis and Kovan outlets between mid- and late October after 21 years in the dessert industry. General manager Faith Yap disclosed the closure on Instagram, citing insufficient revenue to sustain the business. Despite the brand’s popularity and Yap’s efforts to revive its fortunes in April, the dessert sector only thrived during specific hours, making it challenging to cover the remaining 21 hours of operation.

Yap acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but expressed a desire to make the best of their remaining time together. She invited interested parties to explore taking over the business. Tom’s Palette, renowned for its diverse range of sweet and savory gelatos, plans to reintroduce popular flavors such as Mocha Macadamia Nut, Nasty Mix, Soybean You Tiao, Black Sesame Brittle, and Mao Shan Wang (durian) as part of its Encore Collection.

The full list of flavors is available on the brand’s website, where customers can pre-order pints while supplies last. The gelato shop, which began in 2005 at Shaw Tower, expanded to Middle Road and subsequently opened a new location in Kovan in 2024. The closure announcement has elicited a wave of disappointment from customers who describe it as "heartbreaking" and "devastating," with one user calling Tom’s Palette their "all-time favorite ice cream store."

The news of the closure arrives amid a series of recent food and beverage business closures, including Fika Restaurant in Kampong Glam and Japanese-French patisserie Pantler.