Goodbye to a Classic Store—A Retiree’s Last Visit
Serene Tan, a longtime customer of Robinsons, decided to swing by the outlet at Raffles City on Saturday, October 31—just one day after the 162‑year‑old department store announced it would close its last two branches in the area.
She wasn’t there to shop. She was on a heartfelt mission: to say goodbye to Janet Chng, the friendly Shiseido counter chief who had become a familiar face to her over the years.
“I was afraid I’d never see her again.”
“Janet’s a pleasure to talk with,” Tan said with a smile, “and I was worried I’d never get a chance to see her after the store shuts down.” Tan, who has known Janet since 2018 and has been a repeat visitor ever since, couldn’t help but feel a little nostalgic.
Janet’s 17‑Year Journey at Robinsons
Now 52, Janet Chng has spent the past 17 years as a Shiseido promoter at Robinsons. When the store’s closure was announced on Friday, she received a wave of messages from other shoppers, all asking if she was okay.
- “Customers were worried about the decision.”
- “They knew she was a part of the retail family.”
- “She will be reassigned to another store.”
“Robinsons staff and promoters feel like family,” Janet told the outlet, “and it’s like our second home. I’m happy here, but I’m hopeful for the next chapter.”
The Emotional Fallout
Janet observed how the team had weathered the news with a brave front. “We keep it under our ribs. Once one of us lets the tears fall, everyone follows suit.”
Why Robinsons Is Closing
Robinsons cited commercial challenges as the main reason: changes in consumer tastes and mounting pressure from costs such as rent. “It was a tough call, but we had to liquidate to stay viable,” the company explained.
As the sun dipped below the skyline, Tan left the Raffles City outlet a little lighter, knowing that the spirit of Robinsons lives on in the memories it gifted its loyal shoppers—and in the new store where Janet will soon shake hands with fresh customers.
Robinsons Shuts Shopdoors, but the Crowd’s Still Rolling In
Things get trickier when the beloved retailer in Singapore decides to fold the reins—
the appointed liquidator, KordaMentha, is stepping in to take control of the assets and figure out the best way to squeeze every last drop of value.
Robinsons is about as honest as it gets: “We’ll do our best to transfer our dedicated staff to other brands in our parent company, the Dubai‑based Al‑Futtaim Group, which also owns Marks & Spencer and Zara.” So you can expect some of the store’s people moving over to those other big names.
Saturday’s “Shopping Apocalypse”
- At the flagship outlet on Orchard Road, a line of roughly 300 shoppers snaked down the sidewalk, passing the Apple store, looping around a vacant plaza over and over. The queue even outstretched the alley between the mall and the road—an odd but impressive sight.
- That same day, the Raffles City branch saw a small but stiff crowd of about 150 people waiting in line at 3 pm. The store, which typically runs until 8 pm, had to close at 6 pm because it was getting too jam‑packed for the staff to serve.
Ironically, the “shopping frenzy” came even though no big sell‑down was announced. Some brands were performing co‑promotion events and offering partial discounts, which drove people into the stores quicker than the pandemic itself.
Calling the Final Demarcation
Robinsons says it’s working with store landlords to make sure the sale of inventory is smooth and orderly. The company expects to publish its next sales strategy soon. Even so, the final day for the shops remains a mystery—robocoms have hinted that the businesses might stay open for a few “weeks.” That ambiguity keeps customers on the edge of their seats, especially those who pre‑ordered mattresses and are anxious about refunds and deposits.
All in all—Robinsons is a touch of nostalgia, a dash of uncertainty, and a lot of human hustle all wrapped into one. The good news? The staff are on their way to new jobs within the Al‑Futtaim empire, and the shelves may still be stocked with great deals thanks to the co‑promo activity. If you’re feeling adventurous, check those lines in the video footage—but remember, the classic IT‑shopphone meets Apple experience is just a click away.
Raffles City Mattress Crisis Gets a Friendly Face‑Lift
When shoppers wandered into the Raffles City store, they met a notice that said, “Hey, we hear you, and we’re on it!” The retailer rolled out an announcement acknowledging the growing worries and revealed they’re hurrying straight into talks with mattress suppliers—a real “urgent‑basis” hustle.
Once the glue‑y problem is fixed, the shop will give all affected customers a heads‑up. So you’ll get your bell‑ring or a text alert when the store is back to its comfy self.
Saturday’s Eye‑Opening Scene
- Empty shelves – Both locations were almost bare, like a desert of comfort.
- Visited by the Straits Times – The guys popped in and saw the “no‑mattresses‑left” situation all the way up front.
Good news’s on the way, but in the meantime, if you’re chasing a dream couch‑style vacation, keep an eye on the updates. We’ll get you sorted before you can say “fluffiness”!
Shortly after Robinsons announced the closure on Friday, promoters were seen packing up their goods to send them back to warehouses.
They had been told to do so by the brands that hire them.
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Ms Winnie Teo, 35, who has spent 10 years working in various Robinsons outlets as a promoter for a bed sheet retailer, said that rumours were already swirling among promoters about the impending closure two months ago.
Like Ms Chng, she will be redeployed to other stores that stock her brand’s products.
But uncertainty hangs over Robinsons’ 175 employees.
A 69-year-old cashier, who declined to be named, said she does not know if she can keep her job.
The cashier, who has worked at Robinsons for nearly 50 years, said “it was hard to accept” the closure.
She will be missed by customer Faith Tok, 30. Ms Tok said the cashier had wrapped a baby carrier she bought for her brother last month. The wrapping was very nicely done, said Ms Tok, who works in finance.
Another customer who sang the praises of Robinsons staff was 85-year-old retiree C. Yong, who waited 40 minutes to enter the Raffles City store.
“Even though other stores may have similar offerings, we prefer Robinsons,” Mrs Yong said.
“There is a depth of sincerity their staff have that you can’t find elsewhere,” she said. “There is nothing like Robinsons… Robinsons is and old friend. If not, why would I take the time to queue up?”
This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
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