{
  "id": 566451,
  "title": "Home-grown gelato favourite Tom’s Palette to shut after 21 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/home-grown-gelato-favourite-toms-palette-to-shut-after-21-years",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T13:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/home-grown-gelato-favourite-toms-palette-to-shut-after-21-years"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "SINGAPORE – Gelato shop Tom’s Palette, a homegrown favorite, will cease operations after 21 years. In an Instagram video, the outlet, located in Bugis and Kovan, revealed its closure is set for mid- to late October. A spokeswoman noted, \"In April, I questioned whether we were next, and unfortunately, despite our efforts, we are.\" She explained that the dessert industry only thrives for three hours daily, rendering the 21 hours of low activity insufficient to sustain the business. The announcement follows recent closures in Singapore's dessert scene, including Pantler's upcoming August 30 shutdown and Tarts by Cheryl Koh's April exit after 11 years. For those eager to preserve Tom’s Palette's legacy, the spokeswoman extended an invitation to connect.",
  "summary": "Tom’s Palette announced that it would be closing in mid- to late October.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tom’s Palette closes after 21 years in Singapore",
    "Closure announced in Instagram video, mid to late October",
    "Dessert industry’s limited operating hours cited"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The closure of Tom's Palette reflects a tough operating environment for dessert shops in Singapore, where low-activity hours far outweigh busier periods, making sustainability a challenge.",
  "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."
}