{
  "id": 649677,
  "title": "Tom's Palette at Bugis & Kovan closing down after 21 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/toms-palette-at-bugis-kovan-closing-down-after-21-years",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-12T09:36:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/08/toms-palette-gelato-bugis-kovan-closing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tom's Palette, a beloved local gelato franchise, is set to close its doors in Kovan and Bugis by mid to late October 2026, marking the end of a 21-year run. The company announced its closure on social media on August 11, expressing regret that they will not be able to continue their dream for much longer.\n\nEstablished in 2005, Tom's Palette has been serving housemade gelato with unconventional flavors like salted egg yolk, nasi lemak, and bitter gourd, alongside classic favorites. The café has consistently attracted a steady stream of customers, with its current outlets in Kovan and Bugis drawing approximately 8,000 monthly footfall, a fourfold increase in revenue growth, and a legacy spanning 21 years.\n\nIn its final weeks, Tom's Palette announced it would bring back its most-requested flavors as part of a farewell celebration. The company, while still confident in its potential, acknowledged the lack of resources needed to transform it into a sustainable business. Buyers of the franchise will inherit the brand, over 250 recipes, and the company's active social media presence, ensuring that Tom's Palette's legacy continues even after its physical outlets close their doors.",
  "summary": "Closing in mid to late October.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tom's Palette closing in Kovan and Bugis by late October 2026",
    "Founded in 2005, 21-year run serving unique gelato flavors",
    "Legacy continues through franchise buyers and social media"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The closure of Tom's Palette marks a loss for fans of its unique gelato flavors, but allows the brand's legacy to potentially continue under new ownership with inherited recipes and social media presence.",
  "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."
}