The Cathay mall to close for revamp from August 2023

COME August, The Cathay mall will no longer be open to the public as it closes for a revamp, said its spokesperson on Friday (Feb 17).

Works are set to begin in August and are expected to span about one and a half years. The mall targets to reopen in late 2024, ahead of Christmas, said the spokesperson, adding that all tenants of the mall have been informed and will move out by Aug 18.

Residents of The Cathay will not be affected as the residences remain accessible via the private main entrance on Mount Sophia.

“The revamp is aligned to the planned facelift of Dhoby Ghaut and the vicinity as The Cathay continues to create long-term value and be at the forefront of Singapore’s changing landscape.

“Our patrons and community alike can look forward to a refreshing and eclectic tenant mix with a differentiated experience that will endear all.”

The revamp will be undertaken by DP Architects, which previously designed the Golden Mile Complex, Esplanade, as well as the HometeamNS Khatib Recreation Centre.

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The Cathay, which was built in 1939, is a mixed-use 17-storey cinema, shopping mall and apartment building in Handy Road.

The front facade of its theatre building structure was gazetted as a national monument for conservation in February 2003.

The building’s famed cinema, the Cathay Cineplex, closed on Jun 27, 2022, after 83 years. The space is currently occupied by cinema operator The Projector, as a pop-up for movie screenings.

The Straits Times reported in June 2022 that The Cathay’s crowd was greatly affected by the pandemic, and tenants were concerned with the mall’s decline in footfall over the last two years.

Unoccupied units were seen across the building, and popular brands such as Adidas and Ben & Jerry’s had ceased operations.

The report also noted that The Cathay’s retail scene was not as vibrant as nearby competing malls such as Plaza Singapura, which is connected directly to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.