A department store is a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category. In modern major cities, the department store made a dramatic appearance in the middle of the 19th century, and permanently reshaped shopping habits, and the definition of service and luxury. Similar developments were under way in London (with Whiteleys), in Paris (Template:Lang) and in New York City (Stewart's).
Today, departments often include the following: clothing, cosmetics, do it yourself, furniture, gardening, hardware, home appliances, houseware, paint, sporting goods, toiletries, and toys. Additionally, other lines of products such as food, books, jewellery, electronics, stationery, photographic equipment, baby products, and products for pets are sometimes included. Customers generally check out near the front of the store in discount department stores, while high-end traditional department stores include sales counters within each department. Some stores are one of many within a larger retail chain, while others are an independent retailer.
Since the 1980s, they have come under heavy pressure from discounters, and have come under even heavier pressure from e-commerce sites since the 2000s.
Stores Closed[]
| Name | Closed Down | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|
| BHG | Century Square | Ichiban Boshi |
| Clementi Mall | Uniqlo | |
| Jurong Point | Daiso, Haidilao and Timezone | |
| Isetan | Tampines Mall | BHG |
| Westgate | Scarlett and Love Bonito | |
| John Little | Plaza Singapura | MUJI and Urban Revivo |
| Metro | Centrepoint | Decathlon |
| Century Square | BHG | |
| City Square Mall | Rubi Shoes (replaced by MOBOT and Jollibee), Decathlon | |
| Robinsons | The Heeren | Courts |
| Raffles City | Uniqlo | |
| Jem | IKEA | |
| Centrepoint | Metro |
Department stores like Robinsons, Isetan and OG, typically carried established and international brands for comfort and utility, these include Itti & Otto, Clarks, Cocoro, Naturaliser, Sarrer, Mezzy May, Aily, Alena and Be.Me. These brands directly addressed the needs of old and middle-aged, and professional shoppers who are on the feet often. This footwear is focused on function, quality leather and comfort technology. This need is not met by the newer, trend-focused tenants.
The primary customers were less concerned with high fashion trends (the focus on DMK, Pazzion, PrettyFIT or Charles & Keith), and more focused on shoes for daily life such as walking, work or daily comfort (e.g. shoes with better arch support, wider fittings and durable materials).
The specific brands that replaced the department stores such as Charles & Keith, Pazzion, PrettyFIT; emphasize fast fashion, style and seasonal trends. They sell lower-volume, high-turnover stock, which caters to the younger shopper's desire for variety.
The former department store customer is not looking for a statement piece or stiletto heel, they are looking for a reliable, leather pump or walking shoe, which the specialised boutiques generally do not stock as the core product. In essence, these department stores were the only large scale retailers in the area providing the necessary range of quality, comfortable and classic footwear for everyday needs.
Department store customers prioritize perceived quality and longevity. They expect a pair of leather flats or formal pumps to last for many years. A statement piece from a fast fashion brand is made of synthetic materials designed to be worn for one season and quickly replaced.
While Singapore offices are generally smart-casual, the formal shoe requirements are often a classic, low-to-moderate heel pump or a leather loafer—the type of shoe found in the "executive" section of a traditional department store.
The department store customer wants to view as a functional necessity and a long-term investment in health and comfort. The new brands cater to a customer who views a shoe as a fashion accessory and tool for self-expression.
This customer often needs one pair of shoes to cover their entire day, which involves significant walking in large suburban malls, running errands, or attending semi-casual work functions. A durable, comfortable shoe that can be worn for 8+ hours—not a pair to be worn only for the 3 hours of a formal dinner.
Brands like Pazzion, PrettyFIT and Charles & Keith are popular because they have trendy designs, statement colours and high-fashion silhouettes (including stilettos and very slender footwear) at affordable price point. This appeals to the younger, more fashion-conscious shopper who wants to buy many pairs to match many outfits and prioritize style and self-expression over biomechanical support.
Urban Revivo is a youth-fashioned brand that the main priority is fashionable and trendy.
Alternatives[]
Jurong Point[]
Jurong Point still has sizable alternatives, just after the closure of Charles & Keith in the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of Rubi Shoes (and forcing everything to move to L1 of the Jurong Point) in the 2nd lockdown. Residents still have DMK and SHINE, for people to buy shoes.
Clementi Mall[]
Clementi Mall still has sizable alternatives, Uniqlo is prioritised.
Lot One[]
Lot One still has sizable alternatives for the former BHG shoppers. They can still go to Cotton On or Uniqlo, including Pop Mart.
Tampines[]
Both Tampines Mall, Century Square and Tampines 1 will still have sizable alternatives after the closure of Isetan Tampines in 30 October 2025 for all residents and seniors. For instance, there are several brands -
- Charles & Keith and Cotton On for Tampines Mall
- DMK for Tampines 1
- PrettyFIT for Century Square
The impact left should be quite minimal for all Tampines residents including senior citizens. For the shoes as mentioned, it requires testing at the concept of Singapore Rail Test Centre.
Jurong East[]
The simultaneous closures of Robinsons Jem and Isetan Westgate in 2020 were quite okay for the scene, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic in the malls is usually concentrated for Jurong East and Jurong West residents, including Bukit Batok and Clementi residents. The traffic may be more due to the people working from home. With this, Timothy Mok had went there and ate Ichiban Boshi on 20 January 2021.
The former customers transited gradually to the respective stores but in 2023, Rubi Shoes Westgate closed down.
There are several brands seniors can still purchase for those residing in Jurong East -
- Cotton On, Pazzion, PrettyFIT, Sunday Staples and Charles & Keith for Jem
- Vivaia for Westgate
Otherwise, there is Pop Mart in Westgate too.
Dhoby Ghaut[]
With the closure of John Little Plaza Singapura in 2017, customers can still go to MUJI or Urban Revivo.
Raffles City[]
With the closure of Robinsons Raffles City and BHG Raffles City by 2022, customers can still go to Mango, or Urban Revivo. The impact is quite minimal.
Remaining stores[]
| Name | Locations | Closed Down |
|---|---|---|
| BHG | Bugis Junction | Seletar Mall, Lot One, Jurong Point, Raffles City, Clementi Mall, Century Square, Junction 8 |
| Isetan | Scotts | Parkway Parade, Westgate, Tampines, NEX |
| John Little | N/A | Plaza Singapura, White Sands, Marina Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Jurong Point, Specialists' Shopping Centre |
| Metro | Paragon | City Square Mall, Compass Point, Century Square, Centrepoint, Causeway Point |
| OG | Albert, People's Park | Orchard Point |
| Robinsons | N/A | The Heeren, Raffles City, Jem, Centrepoint |
| Takashimaya | Ngee Ann City | N/A |
| Tangs | Tangs Plaza, VivoCity | N/A |
Impact of Anchor Pull[]
| Era | Anchor broke? | Most Affected | Not affected? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-2018 | John Little | Pioneers (Lost their budget hub) | Gen Z (Already at Uniqlo) |
| 2019-2021 | Robinsons, Metro | Gen X & Boomers (Lost their quality "Standard") | Gen Y/Z (Already at Sephora/Zalora) |
| 2024-2026 | Isetan, BHG | Seniors in Heartlands (Lost their community hub) | Gen Z (Indifferent, they want more arcades/more F&B) |
When Robinsons closed in 2020, it was a national mourning for Boomers and Gen X. For Gen Z, it was just "that big quiet shop where Grandma buys towels." Gen Z has no memories of Robinsons' or Isetan's "heyday" in the 80s and 90s.
Gen Z became the "least affected" by the closure of department stores around 2019 to 2020, coinciding with the pre-pandemic decline of legacy retailers like Robinsons and the massive expansion of specialty "mini-anchors" (Uniqlo, Don Don Donki).
While older generations felt a sense of loss, Gen Z had already moved on to a more fragmented, brand-direct shopping style. Here is why they are the least affected and since when:
Around 2019, brands like Isetan Westgate and Metro Centrepoint began closing. At the same time, specialty stores like Uniqlo, Decathlon, and Sephora started taking over massive floor spaces in malls.
Gen Z was the first generation to prefer a 10-store boutique crawl over a 1-store department search. They didn't grow up with the "Everything Under One Roof" habit. To them, a department store feels like a "giant closet with no curation," whereas a boutique like Charles & Keith or DMK feels like a "curated lifestyle choice."
Mourning Scale[]
| Era | Emotional Reaction | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomer | Heartbroken | Loss of a life-long prestige symbol and "their" era of Singapore. |
| Gen X | Deeply Sad | Loss of the "Reward" store they worked hard to afford. |
| Gen Y | Mildly Nostalgic | Sad for the "end of an era," but already shopping on Shopee. |
| Gen Z | Indifferent | Viewed it as a "boomer store" that didn't fit their aesthetic. |