{
  "id": 13906147,
  "title": "Ishtara Jewellery expands to iconic Komala Vilas location",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/ishtara-jewellery-expands-to-iconic-komala-vilas-location",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-12T08:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ishtara-jewellery-expands-to-iconic-komala-vilas-location"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's renowned Ishtara Jewellery is set to expand its presence by opening a new outlet at the historic Komala Vilas Restaurant on Serangoon Road, during the upcoming Deepavali season. The expansion is expected to coincide with the increase in sales of popular items like jewellery and silk sarees in the Little India area, which typically rises about a month before the festival. Currently, Ishtara boasts a flagship store across the road at 111 Serangoon Road, specializing in 22-carat gold and diamond jewellery. The former Komala Vilas site is located at 76 to 78 Serangoon Road. Owner Parthiban Murugaiyan expressed his delight at securing this prestigious location, describing it as both an auspicious and heritage-rich site, deeply cherished by Singaporeans. Ishtara and its sister brand Luvenus Jewellery currently operate nine outlets across Singapore and Hong Kong, with eight under Luvenus, which specializes in mainstream tastes. The Luvenus Jewellery brand was awarded the Top Online Retail Tenant Growth Award at the Changi Tenant Awards 2026 – the third recognition the brand received from the Changi Airport Group in the past 14 years. Komala Vilas, the current tenant, has been a beloved institution in Singapore since its founding in 1947 by Rajakumar Ganesan's grandfather, O.M. Rajoo. The eatery was famously frequented by Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who hosted Indian PM Narendra Modi there in 2015 for a thosai meal.",
  "summary": "Ishtara and its sister brand jointly have 9 outlets across Singapore and Hong Kong.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ishtara Jewellery opens new outlet at historic Komala Vilas",
    "Expansion timed for Deepavali season sales surge",
    "Owner Parthiban Murugaiyan praises prestigious location"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}