"We Were Asked To Leave It": Local Kids’ Store Tom & Stefanie Shutting Hillion Mall Outlet Following Rental Discussions With Landlord

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If you grew up in the ‘90s, chances are your parents once dragged you to Tom & Stefanie for a new festive outfit or a reward from their toy aisle.

But the nostalgic local brand, which started in a Woodlands HDB shophouse back in 1994, is facing yet another hurdle in its 31-year history.

In a recent Instagram post that no doubt tugged at the heartstrings of many, the store announced that its outlet at Hillion Mall will shut its doors by the end of May, after operating there for six years.

The news comes just months after the owners’ daughter, Stefanie Chu (yes, she's the Stefanie of Tom & Stefanie) went viral on TikTok for her heartfelt plea to save her parents' ailing business.

The closure announcement did not shy away from revealing the realities of running a retail business.

“We didn’t lose this store. We were asked to leave it. There’s a difference,” the brand wrote.

Tom & Stefanie shared that despite strong support from returning customers over the years, it was ultimately not enough to secure a lease renewal.

“Consistent sales, returning customers who came back every birthday and Christmas. We thought it was enough. It wasn’t,” the post read.

The brand also highlighted the people behind the store, particularly its long-serving staff.

“What keeps us up at night isn’t the store. It is our long-serving staff. People who chose to build their working years here. Who stayed when they could have gone elsewhere.”

The home-grown brand also shared how tough it is running a business in Singapore.

“In Singapore, you can do everything right and still be shown the floor. Loyal customers, fair prices, six years of proof. The landlord looked at all of it, and chose not to renew us. This is not a story about failure. This is a story about a system where doing right by your customers counts for nothing on a lease agreement,” read the IG post.

Speaking to 8days.sg, Stefanie clarified that discussions to renew the lease had taken place before their lease expired.

“During those discussions, the proposed rental terms were significantly higher than what our business could reasonably sustain,” she said, adding that tenants report their sales performance to the mall every month.

Ultimately, the store decided that the higher rental would make it tough for their business.  

“As a small independent brand operating on tight margins, rental proposals at levels that leave very limited room for operational costs make it extremely challenging to continue - even when there is consistent customer support and healthy footfall,” she said.

When 8days.sg asked Stefanie what she meant by saying that Tom & Stefanie was "asked to leave", she revealed: “Even if we were to match the proposed rental figures, we were told that the landlord would prefer to allocate the space to an F&B tenant.”

When 8days.sg reached out to Hillion Mall for comment, a spokesperson said the mall had informed Tom & Stefanie of its intentions in advance and had also offered the retailer an alternative unit.

However, the children’s store did not take up the option.

“The management undertakes continuous reviews of our trade mix to ensure it meets the evolving needs and preferences of our shoppers,” the spokesperson said.

“After further evaluation, the management decided to rejuvenate the shopping experience at Basement 1 with a refreshed trade mix," they added.

For now, Tom & Stefanie's Hillion Mall branch is holding a storewide sale before its final day.

“Not because we are desperate. But because we’d rather these toys and clothes go home with families who loved the store. Come by. Bring your children. Bring your memories. One last time."

Netizens were dismayed by the news of the closure.

"I'm so sorry to hear this. My kids are big now, but I loved going into your store for their clothes, and toys, school accessories. For a family on one income you are a godsend,” read a comment.

Another shared their displeasure over how Hillion Mall has handled this: “Landlords in Singapore disappoint me with their utterly profit-driven strategy.”

“Unfortunately, that’s reality,” the store replied.

Tom & Stefanie's Eastpoint Mall, PLQ Mall, and Woodlands Civic Centre stores remain open. 

At the height of their popularity, Tom & Stefanie had 10 stores around the island.

Photos: tomnstefanie/IG