Books Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City opens, features reading room and outlet-exclusive items

Bibliophiles can rejoice as they'll be able to explore Books Kinokuniya's new Raffles City outlet — originally slated to open in August — sooner than expected.
Books Kinokuniya's newest store opened its doors to the public on Friday (July 18), the Japanese bookstore chain announced in a press release on July 15.
The store is located on the third level of the shopping centre, taking over the unit formerly occupied by consumer electronics chain Challenger, with this being Books Kinokuniya's third location in Singapore.
The Raffles City outlet spans 3,433 sq ft and visitors might be drawn to its major feature located in the heart of the store: The Reading Room.
With shelves painted deep blue, the room offers a quiet and tranquil vibe for visitors and is a clear distinction from the wooden tones of the rest of the store.
The room is intended to evoke a sense of contemplation and to be a distinct cove for booklovers, the brand shared in its press release.
A curated selection of popular genres such as Asian Literature, Romance, Fiction and more can be found here.
Something for visitors to note is that there are no comics or children's books in this section of the store.
Magazines and books in Chinese or Japanese are not available at the new space, but visitors can find them at Kinokuniya's two other outlets.
There's also a selection of outlet-exclusive stationery and merchandise, from cat-themed products by Matsuo Miyuki to rare Pickles the Frog items only available at this location.
Customers can also get Books Kinokuniya merchandise such as pouches or paper clip boxes with a minimum spend of $30, while stocks last, said a company spokesperson.
There will also be a variety of events held at the new store, including mascot appearances by characters such as Smiski and Moomin, so keep your eyes peeled on Books Kinokuniya's socials for more information.
In the wake of its sister company NBC Stationery & Gifts's closure in the same mall earlier this year, along with the recent downsizing of Books Kinokuniya's flagship store in Takashimaya Shopping Centre, news of this opening may also come as a welcomed start for the brand and book lovers alike.
Recently, customers and book lovers in Singapore had lamented at the sight of empty shelves at the Takashimaya outlet.
The 38,000 sq ft store was in the midst of downsizing operations, with the vacated space set to be replaced by a new cafe among others, The Straits Times reported.
Many members of public took to social media, dismayed by the thought of the nostalgic outlet downsizing.
Books Kinokuniya then shared an announcement to reassure their fans that business operations would continue as usual.
Address: #03-22/23, 252 North Bridge Road #03-22/23 Singapore 179103
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
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