The news that Jurong East’s JCube mall will be closing its doors in August this year came as a surprise to many. The mall, which originally opened its doors in 2011, was a popular hangout spot for the young people of Jurong East and had become an integral part JCube Condo of the community. However, the mall will now be making way for a new residential development, JCube Residence Condo.
The new development, slated for completion in 2027, will feature commercial space on the first and second floors. According to CapitaLand Development (Singapore) (CLD), which is developing the site, a sales launch is expected in the second half of 2023.
The JCube mall had been a popular shopping, dining and entertainment spot in the area since it opened its doors. It housed many tenants, including food and beverage outlets, retail stores, and a cinema. Its closure will no doubt leave a void in the area, as many local businesses and their employees have been relying on the mall as a source of income.
The news of the mall’s closure has naturally left many of the tenants, and their employees, in limbo. Many of them had only just signed their contracts when they heard the news, while others had heard rumours of the closure prior to that.
In response to this, CLD has stated that notices were sent by registered mails and emails to the authorised representatives of JCube tenants before the announcement was made to the public. CLD has also said that it is in the process of reaching out to individual tenants directly to provide them with the necessary support to ensure a smooth handover of the premises and, where practicable, to discuss their future plans.
JCube staff who spoke to the press have expressed sadness at the news, as many of them had been working there for several years. Some of them have expressed concern about what the future holds for them, with many not knowing where they will be transferred to after the mall closes.
The planned JCube Residence Condo will be located on the site of the former mall. It will feature a variety of residential units, as well as commercial spaces on the first and second floors. The development is expected to be completed in 2027, and the sales launch is scheduled for the second half of 2023.
This new development is expected to bring about a revitalisation of the area, as it will provide more housing options for the people of Jurong East. The commercial spaces, meanwhile, will no doubt provide new employment opportunities for the local community.
The closure of JCube mall is undoubtedly a sad day for the people of Jurong East. The mall had become an integral part of the community, providing a variety of shopping and dining options, as well as entertainment. However, the new JCube Residence Condo development is expected to bring about a new era of growth and prosperity to the area.
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JCube mall in Jurong East Central, Singapore, will be closing its doors on August 6, 2021, to make way for a 40-storey residential development. According to CapitaLand Development, the new residential building is expected to be completed in 2027 and will provide new homes, businesses, recreational facilities and amenities to the Jurong Lake District. The mall will close at 10 pm on August 6th and CapitaLand has stated that they are working with the tenants to ensure a smooth handover and transition of the premises.
The new residential development will be linked directly to the Jurong East MRT interchange station, Westgate and IMM Building via J-Walk, a covered elevated pedestrian network in the district. The Jurong East Interchange now serves the East-West and North-South lines and will link up with the future Jurong Region Line, scheduled to open in phases starting in 2027. Additionally, the development will be connected to the upcoming Jurong East Integrated Transport Hub which is set to include an air-conditioned bus interchange, a public library, a community club and a sports centre, among other commercial spaces.
The planned development is expected to become Singapore’s largest business district outside the central area and is set to provide approximately 100,000 new jobs and 20,000 new homes between 2040 and 2050. This will add to the one million residents already living in Singapore’s west region. CapitaLand has also stated that the development is expected to be launched for sale in the second half of 2023.
JCube mall is home to Singapore’s only Olympic-size ice-skating rink and is a training venue for national athletes from the Singapore Ice Skating Association and the Singapore Ice Hockey Association. The only other ice rink currently located at Leisure Park Kallang. In response to queries from The Straits Times, a Sport Singapore spokesman said the organisation is currently working with the respective national sports associations to identify alternative training facilities for athletes.
The closure of the ice-skating rink has been met with disappointment by recreational figure skater, Willis Lau. “This will mean that many skaters would lose a key practice venue. This is especially important for competitive skaters,” said Mr Lau who has been skating at JCube once or twice a week since 2017.
The closure of JCube has also affected tenants such as PastaGo, a takeaway pasta kiosk. The co-founder of PastaGo, Edwin Lim, has stated that he is hoping to find a suitable replacement in Jurong due to its ideal demographic and vibrant food and beverage scene. He has also expressed his disappointment that when negotiating with CapitaLand for a three-year lease in February 2022, there was no mention of the impending closure.
The closure of JCube is sure to have an impact on the local community, with the loss of a key practice facility for athletes and a favoured mall for locals. However, the planned development is sure to provide many new opportunities for businesses and residents alike. CapitaLand has stated that they are working closely with tenants to ensure a smooth handover and transition of the premises, and with the planned development set to launch for sale in the second half of 2023, the local community will soon have a new platform to look forward to in the near future.