Several Orchard Central Tenants to Move Out by End-November as FEO Plans Office Conversion

A letter dated 1 June from FEO informed some tenants that they would have to vacate their units by 30 November. The letter said the landlord will be renovating and refurbishing the mall as part of an asset enhancement initiative, with works to commence on 1 December. Tenants on floors five to eight, as well as levels 11 and 12, are affected. The mall’s car park occupies the ninth floor.

Some affected tenants were unaware of the plans when The Straits Times spoke to them on 14 July. Inquiries about their leases were met with delayed or holding responses from the leasing team, according to some tenants who spoke to ST the week of 13 July. The tenants are on varying lease terms, with some expiring at the year end, others extended until the mall’s last day of operations, while others have leases that run beyond 30 November.

Among the businesses affected are fitness studios Evolve Gym, Max Out Fitness, Ufit Pilates, and Hom Yoga on the sixth floor. Sandbox VR, a virtual reality entertainment centre on level five, confirmed it will move out at the end of November. Club Pilates had a sign indicating its last day of operations was on 30 September. Karaoke chain K.Star is also expected to be affected.

Helen’s Bar, a popular pub chain from China known for its retro-fantasy interiors, confirmed it will vacate its space on level 12. Nantsuttei Japanese restaurant on the seventh floor will move to another location in the mall. The Armoury Steaks and Craft Beer restaurant on the 11th floor said its lease was cut short by one year, with neighbour Club 101 also moving out in November. FEO offered Armoury Steaks a space in Pacific Plaza at 9 Scotts Road, but the restaurant plans to move to Wheelock Place mall at 501 Orchard Road instead.

Benny Chong, who has been running Sublime Hairdressing Salon at the mall for 17 years, will also vacate his fifth-floor premises by the end of November. TungLok Group’s leases for three restaurants have either expired or are approaching expiry, with TungLok Seafood Restaurant on the 11th floor already vacated.

FEO’s executive director of property services Marc Boey said the next phase of growth for Orchard Road will come from an even stronger mix of retail and lifestyle offerings, homes, and workplaces across the precinct. The mall, which opened in July 2009 with 12 above-ground floors, two basement levels, and links directly to Somerset MRT station, has a total floor area of about 387,940 square feet. URA has granted in-principle approval for the introduction of offices alongside existing retail use on upper levels.

Deloitte said in a social media post that its move to Orchard Central will take place in 2027, where it will occupy several upper-level floors. Sona Aggarwal of Cushman & Wakefield said moving into an Orchard Road mall is in line with the global trend of workplaces shifting to retail precincts. She noted that office spaces tend to be on the higher floors while the main retail podiums remain for shopping.

The Singapore Tourism Board said it is supportive of a diverse mix of uses along Orchard Road, including office uses, adding that a steady flow of office workers and professionals will bring higher footfall to the precinct, especially during weekdays.