Home-grown gelato brand Tom’s Palette will close its two Singapore outlets after 21 years in business.
Its Bugis and Kovan shops are expected to shut between mid- and late October 2026, although the exact closing dates have not been announced.
General manager Faith Yap revealed the decision in an Instagram video on Tuesday (11 August), months after she publicly questioned whether the business could survive.
Business Improved, But It Was Still Not Enough
According to Yap, Tom’s Palette had been performing better than ever since she raised concerns about its future in April.
However, the increase in revenue was still insufficient to keep the business running.
She explained that dessert businesses tend to do well for only around three hours each day.
In other words, a dessert shop may appear crowded after dinner but still struggle to generate enough revenue across the entire day.
Yap said the team had tried to keep the brand going, but some of the challenges were beyond what its individual efforts could overcome.
Someone Could Still Take Over the Brand
The closure may not necessarily mark the permanent end of Tom’s Palette.
Yap said the company was willing to hear from anyone interested in taking over the business and continuing its legacy.
Meanwhile, customers will have roughly two more months to visit its outlets at 51 Middle Road in Bugis and 212 Hougang Street 21 in Kovan.
Before the shops close, Tom’s Palette will also bring back requested flavours through its Encore Collection. The planned returning flavours include Nasty Mix, Soybean You Tiao, Black Sesame Brittle and Mao Shan Wang.
Customers can check the release schedule and pre-order pints through the brand’s website, subject to availability.
Tom’s Palette Started at Shaw Tower in 2005
Tom’s Palette was co-founded by Eunice Soon and opened its first shop at Shaw Tower in 2005.
According to the company’s account of its history, the shop initially earned only about S$30 a day. It later attracted a following for flavours that ranged from familiar favourites to more unusual creations.
Among its experimental offerings over the years were Salted Egg Yolk, White Chocolate Nori, Parmesan Cheese and Cream Crackers, and Chee Cheong Fan gelato.
When Shaw Tower closed in 2020, Tom’s Palette moved to Middle Road. It opened its second outlet in Kovan in 2024.
Unless a new operator steps in, both outlets will close just two years after that expansion.
