No Signboard closes its Esplanade outlet as Singapore reopens

Despite easing of curbs, it foresees long wait for return to pre-pandemic levels

Janice Lim

Published Sat, Apr 2, 2022 · 05:50 AM

Singapore

AFTER 2 years battling the Covid-19 pandemic, seafood restaurant No Signboard said in a bourse filing late on Thursday (Mar 31) that it would be shutting its Esplanade outlet, just when Singapore is reopening its borders.

The Catalist-listed company said that it had carefully considered keeping the outlet open until all Covid-19 restrictions are fully lifted. However, it may take several more months before travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, even though the government had recently eased restrictions, such as increasing the maximum group size for dine-ins from 5 to 10. This will continue to adversely affect the business of No Signboard's Esplanade outlet, said the company in the filing. Hence, the board believes closing the outlet to reduce operating costs would be in the best interests of the company in light of its current financial situation. No Signboard will continue to operate its other restaurant outlets, namely Little Sheep Hotpot at Orchard Gateway and No Signboard Sheng Jian at Northpoint City.