Singapore’s 21-year-old gelato shop Tom’s Palette to close in October
Tom’s Palette, a popular gelato shop in Singapore, is ceasing operations in mid- to late October after 21 years of operation.
In an emotional announcement made on Tuesday, the spokeswoman of Singapore's 21-year-old gelato shop, Tom's Palette, revealed that the beloved business will be closing its doors in October. The spokeswoman expressed deep regret about the shop's impending closure, stating that they can no longer sustain the dream. Along with its cherished 250 recipes, the entire business is up for sale to anyone eager to preserve its unique heritage.
Founded in 2005, Tom's Palette has become renowned for its innovative and whimsical flavors, such as those inspired by local delights like Hainanese kaya and nasi lemak.
The shop's journey began with its first outlet at Shaw Tower, before it relocated to Middle Road in Bugis. In 2024, a second location opened in Kovan on Hougang Street. Tom's Palette's planned exit joins a concerning trend of food and beverage establishments shutting down in Singapore. As per Statistics Singapore, a staggering 1,777 such businesses closed in the first half of the year, with 603 alone in March.
Recently, artisanal chocolatier Laurent Cafe & Chocolate Bar also bid farewell to its customers after 20 years of operation, just a week ago.
In her poignant video, the spokeswoman acknowledged that despite their success, the dessert industry only thrives for a few hours each day, leaving the remaining 21 hours unprofitable. The spokeswoman admitted that many might view Tom's Palette as a highly successful business, but the reality is that the industry's profitability simply doesn't stretch beyond those short hours of customer engagement.
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