“What? Closed? So fast!” Such is the fate of many new cafes in Singapore, especially for recent entrants to the industry.

The reasons given are similar – high rental, increasing cost, lack of manpower, diminishing customers.

Can I add two more? The proliferation of shops selling similar things, especially when a food becomes trendy. It is not uncommon to see shops offering Korean Bingsu (when they know nothing about it), milkshakes and Shibuya Toasts.

But once the food is not hip anymore, what happens?

I once asked a cafe what their specialty was. The reply, “Egg ben, waffles, artisanal coffee.” All right. You get what I mean.

There could be other personal reasons, or franchise/partnership disagreements we may not know of.

15 Cafes In Singapore That Closed In 2015 – Sorry To Say Goodbye

Loysel’s Toy – Kampong Bugis
Possible reasons: To re-focus operations at Chye Seng Huat perhaps. Plus, the group is doing quite well in Malaysia.

Spanish Doughnuts – Orchard Central
Possible reasons: Issues with the franchisor

Aoyama Collaborative – Chun Tin Road
Possible reasons: Almost non-existent social media publicity. Several mistakes that could turn off the potential customers. When we visited (a few times), many signature items were not ready.

Anythingz Café – Tyrwhitt Road
Possible reasons: Chye Seng Huat is opposite. (Oh yeah, one period of time, words with the ‘z’ is very popular. Remember “Boomz?!”

Maison De The – Thomson V2
Possible reasons: The café closed after just one month in operation, claiming that its partner(s) is a “bad business man without ethics”.

Frozen – Clementi
Possible reasons: Perhaps Frozen couldn’t take the heat from the bingsu competition, and decided to let it go… On another note, selling something trendy based on a HIT movie may not be the best idea, if food itself is not substantial.

Tamper & Co (previously known as La’Coffee) – Rangoon Road
Possible reasons: Actually, I liked their kopi and initial concept, but wish they would not flip-flop on their prices (almost doubling in a single week) and opening hours, and be really ready before they open shop.

Also, a previous mishandling of photos – using a baker’s photos as their Facebook cover pic without rightfully crediting, escalated on social media and gave them a bad rep.

Beegurt – Thomson V2
Possible reasons: The first in Singapore to combine two trendy items – frozen yogurt and raw honeycomb. But trends come and go.

Honeycomb – Bali Lane
Possible reasons: One of the first casualties of the dipping softserve craze. They did quickly turn it around to call it Brother Bird.

Flea Away – Dunlop Street
Possible reasons: I liked them – they were fun and quirky. But perhaps not enough foot traffic at Dunlop Street, plus inaccessibility.

Rouse – Dunlop Street
Possible reasons: Quite a popular café, so this came as a surprise. Owners said they “are embarking on a new personal journey.” Also, there are just too many new cafes along Dunlop Street itself (OMB, Malayan Council).

The Dispensary – Tiong Bahru
Possible reasons: Obviously Tiong Bahru has become quite over-crowded. And the weird thing is, somebody got their franchise to open a space at Short Street (also zero publicity).

And by the way, I DID want to write about them previously, as in I already paid for my meals and wanted some information about the café.

Their PR’s reply was (which I filed under my archives of “Learning Lessons”): “We truly appreciate your interest and kindness in wanting to write about The Dispensary. Currently, we are planning our reach out strategy more towards the printed media platforms and thus would like to work with you in due course and maybe would like to give it a miss this time round.”

Kisses Bakery – Tiong Bahru
Possible reasons: I think It’s the rental.

Audacious Cakery – Everton Park
Possible reasons: A pity, as they serve really good bakes. Everton Park is kind of low in foot traffic during most of the days.

Closed

Wednesday Café – Tanjong Katong
Possible reasons: The pay-per-hour café concept, didn’t quite work out.

If you do know of other cafes that closed this year, or are closing, do update me here (by commenting below). I am sure their fans will miss them.)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Cafes In Singapore 2015
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Where To Get Over The Top Milkshakes In Singapore
10 Best Mille Crepe Cakes In Singapore
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  7. Is this accurate:

    Muffet’s Room
    Teapot @ Westgate
    Snowy village
    Esette cafe
    batterworks
    The Marshmallow Tree Cafe
    Loysel’s Toy – Kampong Bugis
    Tamper & Co
    Maison De The – Thomson V2
    Anythingz Café – Tyrwhitt Road
    Spanish Doughnuts – Orchard Central
    Aoyama Collaborative – Chun Tin Road
    Beegurt – Thomson V2
    Honeycomb – Bali Lane
    Flea Away
    Rouse – Dunlop Street
    Wednesday Café
    Audacious Cakery
    Kisses Bakery
    The Dispensary
    SG Flight Simulations
    Teddy and Me
    LuLu
    Make Fine Computer.
    Bai Mai cafe.
    Kandycrush
    Market 1 by Chef Wan
    South Asia Computer
    Tai Chung
    De Burg
    Superdog
    Mrs. Field’s,
    T.G.I. Fridays,
    Sour Sally,
    Best Fries Forever,
    Smoothie King
    Simply mex
    Go!Sub
    Derma center
    Eyefit
    Yili Poa Pao Ice
    Balaclava
    Paco arcade
    Sam Wick Aquariam
    Bethesa Book Shop
    Hua Nam Restaurant
    Ananas cafe
    kki
    Wok & Barrel
    Pie Kia
    Bikram Yoga
    Broaster Chicken,
    Pie Face
    Jia Xiang
    Sarawak Mee,
    Lucky 13,Black Coffee Desset Bar
    Shabu Shabu
    TeaDot
    Hot Star Fried Chicken
    Doggy Style Cafe
    Hot Wrap crepe
    Chewy Junior
    Lai Lai Beef Noodles
    Yoshimaru,
    Skinny Pizza,
    California Fitness,
    Big Splash,
    International Sea Food.
    Teddy and Me,LuLu.
    77Street,
    Rouse,
    The Orientalist,
    Flea Away,
    Loysel’sHoneycombToy,
    Spanish Doughnuts,
    Kisses Bakery
    Aoyama,
    Collaborative,
    Anythingz,
    CaféMaison De The,
    Frozen,
    Tamper & Co,
    Beegurt,
    Audacious Cakery,
    Wednesday Café
    Esette,
    cafeTeapot @ Westgate,
    Snowy village,
    batterworks,
    The Marshmallow Tree Cafe
    Marcella
    Gazer
    Suit Select,
    Catalunya,
    Zircon Lounge.
    shock,
    odyssey,
    Octogon,
    97,
    Vulture
    Cantomusic,
    World Katong,
    Mdm Wong,
    Double O
    BlueOyster,
    barracuda,
    Grease,
    Venom
    Parco,
    Raoul,
    Villagio,
    Ground Zero
    Underwater World
    Beyond The Vines,
    Por Jai Authentic Thai Restaurant
    Liberty Coffee Cafe
    CB2,
    Growing Fun (prkway parade),
    St Honore Cake
    Facebook Singapore (US$44.218 billion Co.).
    Iwannagohome
    IP Zone,
    Computer Books(Bain St)
    Roul Paragon
    New Look,
    mykonos,
    Miss Molly rainbow cake.
    AKB48 Shop Cafe Singapore
    Game Tokyo,
    Chuangyi Publishing,
    Kareshi Kanojo no Mise.
    Criterion,
    Golden Venus
    Le Bistro,
    Pebbles Bar,
    Treetops Bar,
    Chinoiserie,
    Babylon
    Inner Circle
    Moondance,
    Vincent’s lounge,
    MOX Bar & Cafe,
    Caprice,
    Oso cafe restaurant,
    Xpose Cafe,
    Bar and Restaurant,
    Jia Karaoke,
    Pub2,
    Alternative Bar,
    Club 95,SkyBar,
    TheHangar,
    Marmota
    Shadows,
    Legend,
    Niche,
    Rascals,
    Music World
    Studebaker’s
    Venom/
    Chinablack
    Centro
    Happy
    Why Not?
    Waterbar
    Cocconuts at Cocco Latte
    Club Momo
    Chinablack
    Onyx
    Reload @ RAV
    Spartacus
    Stroke
    Rairua
    Raw
    Towel Club
    V-club
    Sphere
    The Box
    Shogun Spa
    Blue Heaven
    Diamond Health Centre
    Y Club
    Royal Insignia Hyatt,
    That CD shop Great World City [finally]
    Califonia Lemon,
    Pinacotheque de Paris,
    New Look,
    Celio
    Mayer,
    Aldo,
    Levi’s,
    Dockers,
    Aeropostale,
    Holland & Barrett.
    S Travel,
    Caterpillar tractors,
    comix connection,
    The Immigrants [joo chiat],
    Paper Market,
    Ah Lo carrot cake,
    Lao Ma at East Coast Lagoon
    Peyton Place,
    The Ginviry,
    Smoothie King [Established in 1973],
    Covelli,
    Meds,
    Blue Mountain Café,
    Computer Bookshop
    Chen Fu Ji Fried Rice ,
    La Fondue
    Homestead
    Balcony in The Heeren,
    Lana Cake Shop,
    Canele patisserie,
    Shizahanzu,
    Bistro Soori,
    Bistro One Zero Three,
    Commune Bistro,
    Bistro Amigo,
    Seasons Bistro,
    Magma German Wine Bistro.
    Bice bistro.
    Angel’s Bistro.
    BROTH,
    Verve Bar & Bistro.
    Wishing Well Bar & Bistro.
    Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe,
    De La Creme,
    Egg3 Cafe,
    De’Pop Culture,
    Ciel Patisserie [online only]
    Cafe 18 (H K),
    Cafe ‘D’ Manila,
    Cafe Epicurious,
    Cinda’s Corner Cafe,
    The Kool Moose Cafe,
    Secret Hideout Cafe,
    Beanberry Cafe,
    Coffee Stars by Dao,
    The Alley Cafe,
    Broun café,
    Cafe de Paradiso,
    Snowy Village,
    The Orange Thimble,
    The Little Prince Café,
    Woodshed 204,
    Bridge Café
    Life Is Beautiful Kitchen & Bar
    Liberty Coffee
    Kaiming Enterprises
    Gluck,
    Alley cafe,
    Laserfair,
    Champaigne yard
    Quaruba’r
    The Ground Cafe & Bar,
    Canto Disco,
    BarCelona Wine Bar
    Spanish Doughnuts – Orchard Central
    Aoyama Collaborative
    Anythingz Café
    Maison De The
    Frozen – Clementi
    Tamper & Co
    Beegurt
    Honeycomb – Bali Lane
    Flea Away
    Rouse – Dunlop Street
    The Dispensary – Tiong Bahru
    Kisses Bakery
    Audacious Cakery – Everton Park
    Wednesday Café – Tanjong Katong
    Muffet’s Room
    Teapot @ Westgate
    Snowy village
    Batterworks
    The Marshmallow Tree Cafe
    Dr. Cafe Coffee Big [Big Aust Franchise]
    Trung Nguyen Coffee
    Coffee Stars by Dao
    Buen Café
    Bentley’s Courtyard Cafe
    Loysel’s Toy
    7atenine
    Malones Irish Restaurant and Bar
    Empire
    Brewbaker’s Kitchen & Bar
    Bar Stop
    Venom
    Sugar
    Cafe del Mar
    Rakuten
    Balcony in The Heeren
    Club Momo
    dbl-0
    Happy
    Mink & Royal Room
    Play
    Mad Monk’s Pub
    Cyberactive,
    Donut Empire,
    Clementi Bookshop,
    Hogs Breath Cafe,
    Orange gal,
    Ixis
    Virgin,
    Funzone,
    Clinic,
    Barfly by Buddha Bar,
    Bice bistro,
    Kandi Bar by Hed Kandi,
    Zirca,
    Yello Jello,
    Rebel,
    Circus Circus,
    Fashion Bar,
    Borgata Trattoria Osteria,
    Aquanova,
    Coco,
    Fenix Room,
    Dream,
    Hopdog,
    Pasta Cafe,
    Buttero,
    Bontá Italian Restaurant and Bar,
    Trattoria Bonissima,
    Mezzanotte,
    Amici Authentic
    Italian Restaurant,
    Bontá Italian Restuarant & Bar,
    Baci Italian Cafe.
    Oca Grassa,
    Nuvo
    Link Boutique.
    California Fitness
    Fish & Co glasshouse
    Korean Ice dessert,
    Israda Silk
    Play house Rochester Cafe
    Straits Rest
    China II
    Skoob books
    Mana Mana Beach club
    Banquet
    Oversea Restaurant
    Dada
    Wok & Barrel
    Gattopardo
    Fat Cat Bistro
    Wild Rocket
    Mont’dor Cafe Bar
    Applebees
    Silver Spoon
    Boon Lay Rajah
    Tivoli
    Singa Inn
    Shashlik
    GGB Bistro Demsey
    Prima taste Ctr pt.
    Laksamania
    Rainforest cafe
    Kheng Luck seafood
    Terry’s Shaw centre
    Guy Savoy
    Wendy’s
    Billy Bomber’s
    Othello’s Café Bar
    Troika
    The Dempsey Brasserie @ Dempsey
    Cathay Rest
    Skillet Coffee
    Milanos
    Old Empire Gastro
    Denny’s
    Gurame Indo restaurant
    Dong Log Wee Cakeshop
    Sam Hoagies
    Eagle Piano
    Garuda Nasi Padang [OC]
    Gold Leaf Twn porridge.
    Borshch Steak House
    The Royal Mail Restaurant & Bar
    A&W
    M)phosis,
    Growing Paints
    Banquet
    Shop & Save
    Hardee’s
    Mrs Fields
    Rotiboy
    1.99 shop
    Cost Plus
    Cafe Cartel
    Angie’s the Choice
    Blue Diamond Restaurant
    Indochine Waterfront
    Au Jardian
    Zhen Zhuo Dao
    Butter Factory
    Chuck E Cheese
    Shakey’s Pizza
    Big Rooster
    Mr Potato
    Hot Stones
    Red House bakery
    Sin Sin Chicken Rice
    Addictions Cafe & Remedy Bar
    La Salsa
    Backyard@Dempsey
    Pamplemousse Bistro & Bar
    The Still Bar @ 22 Dempsey
    Garuda Indo Orchard central
    Berwkwez Demsey
    Flam
    Ponderosa
    Sanur Indo restuarant
    Swizzler
    Wimpy’s
    Harry Ramsden
    Kuriya Jap
    Taco Bell [Market Cap US$35Bil,6500 outlets,200k staff.Singapore cannot make it]
    Freshness Burger
    Saint Horner
    New York,New York
    Playhouse
    Boy London
    Ben sherman
    HMV Records
    Scissorshands
    Comics Collection
    OshKosh B’gosh
    Color Me Mine
    National Geo retail shop
    GOD
    Banana Republic
    Fancl
    Perlini’s
    Five Star Tours
    Sia Choon gaming
    Color Me Mine
    Link Boutique
    Lim’s Art and Craft
    Ixi.z
    2nd Chance
    Euro Asia
    FrancFranc
    Sembawang Music
    Aussino
    River Island
    U2
    This Fashion
    Big O Cafe
    Ocean Pacific
    Lane Crawford
    Athletes Foot
    Habitat
    Emporium Holdings
    WyWy
    Stussy
    Manolo Blanik
    TS Video
    Perlini’s
    Fancl
    Heshe
    Gramaphone
    Tower Records
    FrancFranc
    Union Bay
    More Than Words
    WyWy Wonderspace
    Keller Piano
    Kwong Sia’s music store
    The Orchard Store
    Video Eazy
    TMA Music
    Ong Records
    Sembawang Music
    Beethoven Record House
    Supreme Records
    Heshe
    Victor Bowl
    Valentine records
    Giftland
    Ali Joo Fur

    Book Shops:

    Skoob Books
    Borders
    Pageone
    Prologue
    Leisure bookshop
    Harris
    EPB Book shop
    Big books
    Murazen Book shop
    Bookaburra Books
    Sunny Book Shop
    EMF Books

    Supermarkets:

    Fitzpatrick’s
    Carrefour
    Seyui
    Au Printemps
    Sogo
    Yaohan
    Daimaru
    Dairyfarm [HK]
    Galeries Lafayette
    Kerry’s
    K-Mart
    Tops
    Tokyu
    Hakku Kimisawa
    Metro Jaya
    Meitesu
    Seyui
    Au Printemps
    Sogo
    Yaohan
    Daimaru
    Oriental
    Fook Onn
    Welcome
    Yokozo
    Mitsukoshi
    Econ Mini
    Yuyi

    Clubs/Night spots:

    Home club
    Sadhana Sanctuary
    Sultan Jazz Club
    Fire Disco
    Sparks
    Studebakers
    Europa Group
    Xanadu
    Peppermint Park
    Rumors
    Scandals
    Wherelse
    Anywhere
    Woodstock
    TGIF
    Bar None
    Cheers!
    Second Change
    Wizard of Oz
    Barcelona
    KM8
    Madam Wong’s
    First Pagen
    Brannigan’s
    Paangea
    Avalon
    Lunar
    MOS

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