After two years, POPULAR is greeting residents once more at Tiong Bahru Plaza!
By Sim Yi Wen
After hitting its 100th anniversary thmilestone last year, POPULAR Bookstore celebrated its 101year with the reopening of a retail outlet in Tiong Bahru Plaza — a mall nestled in one of Singapore’s most charming neighbourhood. The new Tiong Bahru store held its official opening ceremony on 5 February, coinciding with the eighth day of Chinese New Year, which is often considered the most auspicious day to kickstart operations. It began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together Ms Emily Yiu, CEO of POPULAR Bookstore, Singapore, Ms Agnes Soon, General Manager of Frasers Property Singapore (Tiong Bahru Plaza), and other key personnels for an iconic photo moment. What followed was a dynamic and auspicious performance from a pair of Chinese lions dancing to the beat of the drums. POPULAR’s adorable mascot, Zhong Bao Bao (众宝宝) also graced us with his presence. Members of the public joined in the festivities too, and soon, a large crowd had gathered outside the store.
POPULAR Bookstore’s departure from Tiong Bahru Plaza back in 2023 had sparked an influx of messages from the community, with many sharing their memories and expressing their reluctance to bid POPULAR farewell. They also expressed their hopes for us to return to the neighbourhood. Now that we are back and better than ever, it’s the perfect chance to reconnect with the community.
Opening with a Bang
POPULAR Tiong Bahru Plaza featured its own Opening Sale running from 5 to 16 February where there were Opening Specials going at up to 60% off! As the saying goes, ‘the early bird catches the worm’, and that was exactly what happened to the first 100 shoppers at our stores on 5 February who all received a $5 discount voucher. Three lucky winners also walked away with $100 CASH each and another five each received a $20 gift voucher. Shoppers who spent at least $50 received a free tote bag and a $5 discount voucher.
In a move to rekindle connections, the Opening Sale also brought in better rewards for our members, many of whom have been frequent shoppers for years. During the opening sale, all members enjoyed 15% off storewide. Those who visited on the weekends could also redeem a complimentary Jollibean Set consisting of a pancake and a beverage worth $3.80 in total. Breakfast and shopping never went so well together!
It goes without saying that this new POPULAR Bookstore continues to deliver a wide variety of your favourite offerings. From the young professionals to families living in this historic neighbourhood, POPULAR Bookstore is designed for everyone. Whether you’re picking up the latest bestsellers, grabbing some educational resources, restocking your stationery supplies, or looking for gadgets and appliances, this store has something for you.
Paying Homage to History
Tiong Bahru is a peculiar neighbourhood where old meets new in the most vibrant of ways. As one of the oldest residential estates in Singapore, it is brimming with nostalgic charm but also blended with gentrification of the new and trendy over the years. Recognising its unique identity, POPULAR Tiong Bahru Plaza has a vintage-inspired décor that pays a cosy tribute to Tiong Bahru’s roots and brings to mind the memories of the good ol’ days.
Right by the entrance is an immersive photo wall that will take you on a trip back in time but has just the right amount of modern touches for a great photo. You can also pose for a photo alongside our mascot, Zhong Bao Bao. While the memories of your favourite fictional characters live on in books, you too can keep the memories of your bookstore trips alive with these snapshots.
For those who do not reside in Tiong Bahru, you can always visit the nearest POPULAR Bookstore for convenient access to our exciting offerings. In May 2025, we’ll be all set to welcome residents in the northeast region as our new store opens in Waterway Point. And for neighbourhoods where there isn’t a POPULAR Bookstore nearby yet, don’t worry — we’ll be taking our roving roadshows across the island, bringing books right to your hood.
