Indie bookstore Book Bar to move from Duxton Road to Tiong Bahru Community Centre

The independent bookstore's new home at Tiong Bahru Community Centre is currently undergoing renovation and will be about twice the size, allowing it to stock more titles and hold more literary events.

Book Bar is an independent bookstore co-founded by a couple, Alex Chua and Sara Ng, in 2023. (Photo: Instagram/@bookbarsg)

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Independent bookstore and reading space Book Bar is bidding farewell to Duxton Road – but its story won't end there. It will continue at Tiong Bahru Community Centre, where its new home will be about twice the size of its current shophouse space.

Founded by book-loving couple Alex Chua and Sara Ng, Book Bar opened on Duxton Road in July 2023 with a focus on Singapore literature, stocking genres ranging from contemporary fiction and memoirs to essays and children's books.

It also doubles as a cafe and community space, regularly hosting book launches, author conversations, workshops and other literary events.

Speaking to CNA Lifestyle, Chua said the search for a new home began earlier this year as the bookstore approached the end of its lease.

"Our lease was originally scheduled to end in June 2026, so we started looking for options earlier this year," he said. "Tiong Bahru Community Centre was one of the options suggested to us. We decided it would be a good fit, so we tendered for it and we got it."

Rent was one of the biggest considerations behind the move, Chua said, particularly when thinking about the bookstore's sustainability in the Duxton and Chinatown area – home to other indie bookshops including Littered With Books, Grassroots Book Room and Korean bookstore Bommoi.

"When we rented the place at Duxton, we knew it would be tough, but we managed to make it and sustain the business for three and a half years," Chua said.

"It will be sad leaving Duxton, as this is the place that gave us our start," he added. "But we're also excited to have a bigger space, be in a new neighbourhood and get to know the residents while bringing our community there, too."

Book Bar's new Tiong Bahru home will be approximately twice the size of its current space and is undergoing renovations, which Chua said are expected to be completed by December 2026.

The additional room will allow the bookstore to expand its selection and host more events, while continuing the community-building that has become part of Book Bar's identity.

"A bigger space can mean more titles we can carry, more events, and building our community – bookstores aren't just about selling books, it's nurturing community," Chua said. "Hopefully, the new space is where people will love coming to and make connections based around the love of reading and books."

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这家独立书店位于中峇鲁社区中心的新址目前正在装修，面积将扩大一倍左右，使其能够储备更多书籍并举办更多文学活动。

Book Bar是一家独立书店，由Alex Chua和Sara Ng夫妇于2023年共同创立。（图片：Instagram/@bookbarsg）

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独立书店兼阅览室 Book Bar 即将告别达士敦路，但它的故事并不会就此结束。它将在中峇鲁民众俱乐部继续营业，新址面积约为目前店屋的两倍。

Book Bar 由热爱读书的夫妇 Alex Chua 和 Sara Ng 创立，于 2023 年 7 月在达士敦路开业，专注于新加坡文学，藏书涵盖当代小说、回忆录、散文、儿童读物等各种类型。

它还兼作咖啡馆和社区空间，定期举办新书发布会、作者访谈、研讨会和其他文学活动。

蔡先生在接受 CNA Lifestyle 采访时表示，由于书店的租约即将到期，他们从今年年初就开始寻找新的店址。

他说：“我们的租约原定于2026年6月到期，所以我们今年年初就开始寻找其他选择。中峇鲁社区中心是别人推荐给我们的选项之一。我们觉得它很合适，所以就参与了投标，最终成功拿下。”

蔡先生表示，租金是此次搬迁背后最大的考虑因素之一，尤其是在考虑到书店在杜克斯顿和唐人街地区的可持续性时——该地区还有其他独立书店，包括 Littered With Books、Grassroots Book Room 和韩国书店 Bommoi。

“我们在杜克斯顿租下店面时就知道会很艰难，但我们还是挺过来了，并且维持了三年半的生意，”蔡先生说。

“离开杜克斯顿会让人难过，因为这里是我们起步的地方，”他补充道。“但我们也很高兴能拥有更大的空间，来到一个新的社区，结识这里的居民，同时也把我们的社区带到这里。”

Book Bar位于中峇鲁的新店面积将是目前店面的两倍左右，目前正在进行装修，蔡先生表示预计将于2026年12月完成。

新增的空间将使书店能够扩大藏书范围，举办更多活动，同时继续推进已成为 Book Bar 特色之一的社区建设。

“更大的空间意味着我们可以销售更多书籍，举办更多活动，并建立我们的社区——书店不仅仅是卖书的地方，它也是培育社区的地方，”蔡女士说。“希望新的空间能成为人们喜爱光顾的地方，并让他们因为对阅读和书籍的热爱而建立联系。”

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