Wisma’s Japan Food Town Abruptly Closes, Tenants Told To Move Out Within Four Days

Japan Food Town, the massive multi-concept Japanese food enclave in Wisma Atria, has closed. It opened in August 2016 on the mall’s fourth floor, housing a dozen eateries with individual concepts. On January 31 this year, it was reported by The Business Times that Japan Food Town’s landlord, Isetan, had terminated the tenancy agreement due to non-payment of certain sums for its lease. As the landlord, Isetan holds the right of re-entry to the enclave’s premises, and the place was shuttered on February 29.

According to the manager, the town’s tenants are now in a dire position, having been given only four days' notice to vacate by February 29. “We’re not sure if this is permanent. Some [tenants] said this is permanent, some said it’s temporary. We still don't have the details,” he tells us. Meanwhile, Japan Food Town’s official website has already posted a notice of closure (pictured).

The manager reveals, “It’s very tough for us. We had to [remove] all our things. Some tenants are still negotiating with Isetan about moving their heavy [kitchen] equipment. Some of them are temporarily taking a warehouse space to store their things, or move to their other outlets, or go back to Japan. But we cannot consider anything, because this is too short [a] notice.”

It appears that the food town had hoped to continue its business beyond February 2020 — its last Facebook post was dated a very recent February 25, cheerfully promoting chicken karaage diner Rang Mang Shokudo's chook:

While Japan Food Town’s closure came suddenly, some of its tenant eateries had already started moving out or expanding with other outlets before the rental negotiations fell through. Tonkatsu restaurant Ginza Anzu moved to the newly revamped Great World City, while popular saba fish specialist Sabar has an outlet at the new Don Don Donki JCube’s food court. The well-loved Rang Mang Shokudo also ran a short-lived, now-defunct outlet at Don Don Donki City Square Mall food court. Nabe Seizan already has two other offshoot daifuku and uni ramen stalls within food park Picnic, which is also located in Wisma Atria.

Picnic’s owner Cheng Hsin Yao tells us over the phone that he is in discussion with some of Japan Food Town’s tenants to possibly continue their operations. “We are looking at doing pop-ups,” he says, adding that he will confirm the pop-ups once discussions have been finalised.

In the meantime, here is where you can find Japan Food Town’s former tenants:

Seizan Uni Ramen & Daifuku by Seizan
Picnic Food Park, #03-15 Wisma Atria, S238877. www.picnic.sg.

Hokkaido Izakaya
95 Tanjong Pagar Road, S088516. Tel: 6221-7118. www.hokkaidoizakaya.sg.

Nana’s Green Tea
#03-80/82 Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839. Tel: 6684-4312. www.facebook.com/nanasgreenteasingapore.

Sabar
#B1-51 Don Don Donki Food Court, JCube, S609731. www.facebook.com/SABAR-Singapore-1797616277150664.

Shabu Shabu Gyu Jin
#02-09 Millenia Walk, S039596 & #03-10 Itadakimasu by Parco at 100AM. www.facebook.com/GyujinShabuShabuAndSukiyaki.

Yakiniku Heijoen
#03-11 Itadakimasu by Parco at 100AM. Tel: 6262-3294/ 6538-2981. www.facebook.com/Heijoensgofficial.

Ginza Anzu
#01-113/114 Great World City, S237994. Tel: 6262-3408. www.facebook.com/pg/GINZA-ANZU-SG-680761165437943.

MAIN PHOTO: JAPAN FOOD TOWN