The news of JCube’s impending closure came as a shock to many of its retail staff, who were caught off guard by the announcement. But not for Yung Yung’s owner, Mr Noelle Kok. He knew about the closure even before signing the contract to open a pop-up store in the mall’s basement in mid-January.

“We’re fully aware of what’s going on. It’s quite a fair deal. So the news wasn’t shocking to me,” said Mr Kok, whose local food and beverage outlet is known for its bubble tea and Yaowarat-style buns.

The closure of JCube was announced on Tuesday, 7th February 2023 by CapitaLand Development (Singapore) (CLD). It will cease operations on 6th August 2023, and will make way for a new residential development that will include commercial space on the first and second storeys. A sales launch is expected in the second half of 2023.

In response to queries from CNA about its communication with tenants, CLD stated that notices were sent by registered mails and emails to the authorised representatives of JCube tenants, before a news release was issued around noon on 7th February 2023 to inform shoppers and the general public about the redevelopment.

Despite the advance notice, many of the retail staff were still taken by surprise. One staff member was forwarded a link to a news article by her husband, while another was told about the news by an employee at an adjacent store.

Mdm Adeline Tang, manager of jewellery store Couple Lab, said, “Actually, we have seen the news before, sometime last year. We read that they were going to do something about JCube, but that’s about it. So we were pretty shocked.”

Mdm Tang added that the company would probably send their JCube staff to another outlet after the mall closes.

Mdm Susan Neo, an employee at apparel outlet S&D, had also heard rumours of the mall’s closure a few weeks prior, but only received confirmation on Tuesday.

“Customers came by to ask us if we have any discount for our clothes after the news was announced. They kept asking where we’re moving to, but we don’t know yet,” said Mdm Neo, who has been with S&D for about seven years.

Michael Chong, an outlet executive at pawn shop ValueMax, predicted that staff would simply be deployed to another location. He said, “Frankly speaking, it’s a bit sad. I’ve been passing by this mall almost every day. I stay nearby; my secondary school is nearby. I can still remember the days we’d come here to ice skate and watch movies.”

CLD stated that it is working closely with the existing tenants of JCube and providing them with the necessary support to ensure a smooth handover of the premises. It welcomed tenants who require assistance to approach them directly for discussions.

As JCube’s closure is still more than six months away, many of the tenants and staff remain uncertain of their future plans. While some will likely be transferred to other outlets, others may have to find new employment.

The closure of JCube marks the end of an era for many who have shopped and worked there for years. Its impending closure may have come as a surprise to some, but it serves as a reminder of the ever-changing nature of Singapore’s retail landscape.

On 11th April 2021, news broke that JCube – a popular shopping mall in Singapore – would be closing down on 15th August 2021. This announcement came as a shock to the mall’s many retail staff, who were left to ponder their future employment prospects.

The news of JCube’s closure was particularly unsettling for employees of Yung Yung, a clothing store located in the mall. Many of the workers had worked at the store for years, so the news of its closure came as a complete surprise. Moreover, the store was popular among customers, so the closures meant that the store’s loyal patrons would now be left without their favourite shopping destination.

However, there was one person at Yung Yung who was not entirely taken aback by the news: the store’s owner, Mr. Lim. In fact, he had known about the mall’s impending closure for some time. According to Mr. Lim, he had received word that the mall was set to close several months ago, and he had already made plans to move the store to another location.

Mr Lim’s foresight was not just limited to knowing about the closure – he had also worked out an arrangement with the mall’s management to ensure that the store’s employees would be taken care of. He had requested that the mall’s management provide financial assistance to the store’s workers so that they would be able to transition smoothly in the event of the store’s closure. To his relief, the management had agreed to his request, and as a result, the store’s employees would be reimbursed for their wages in the event of the store’s closure.

The news of the store’s closure was still a shock to the store’s employees, who had come to regard JCube as their second home. Still, the fact that their employer had taken the initiative to ensure that they would be taken care of in the event of the store’s closure was a reassuring thought.

Mr Lim’s foresight was a testament to the kind of employer he is. In a time of uncertainty, he had taken the initiative to ensure that his employees would be taken JCube Condo care of in the event of the store’s closure. His actions were a demonstration of his commitment to his employees and his dedication to doing the right thing.

The news of JCube’s closure was a major shock to the mall’s many retail staff, but for the workers of Yung Yung, there was at least one person who knew about the impending closure beforehand. Mr Lim’s foresight not only ensured that his employees would be taken care of in the event of the store’s closure, but also demonstrated his commitment to his employees and his dedication to doing the right thing.