Food Republic announces its grand re-opening following a transformative two-month renovation since October 2024, with a new food atrium thematic concept at its VivoCity outlet. Showcasing the richness of traditional Chinese culture through transformative growth, the new food atrium concept will also feature local and international food brands launching as Mini-Restaurants – another transformative concept in the casual dining scene in Singapore.
Given the high cost of starting and operating a restaurant in Singapore, Food Republic has seen an increase in enquiries and demand from restaurant owners wishing to lower their cost of operations, and long-time hawkers who intend to expand, but who find the cost of starting a standalone restaurant a daunting challenge. Along with an increase in consumer sophistication and appreciation for ‘branded food’, Food Republic’s Mini-Restaurants business unit has grown over the years. To better support tenants, Food Republic has invested more resources in marketing, operational support and technology so that tenants focus on what they are good at – preparing good food.
“We hope to continue helping hawkers remain viable despite rising costs and shifts in technology, to ensure that our Singapore hawker food remains an integral part of our culture. Especially for hawkers who find difficulty in passing down their trade to the next generation, Food Republic’s support will help operationalise and train a new generation to continue the legacy,” says Andy Kiu, General Manager, Food Atrium Division, Food Republic Singapore. “Starting with the revamp of Food Republic VivoCity, which is one of Singapore’s first thematic concept food atriums, Food Republic will strive to remain at the forefront of our casual dining scene, helping the industry grow and remain relevant.”
Local single-stall hawkers such as Huat Huat BBQ Chicken Wings, First Street Teochew Fish Soup, Seng Keen Hokkien Mee and LiXin Teochew Fishball Noodles have progressively expanded their reach to many parts of Singapore via Food Republic over the last decade.
A Homecoming Feast at Food Republic VivoCity: A Comfort Within Changing Times
First opened in 2006, Food Republic VivoCity impressed Singapore with its museum-like setting depicting a traditional village. It was one of Singapore’s first experiential, thematic setting within a humble food court. Spanning 27,000 square feet with 870 seats and a large variety of affordably-priced local and international cuisines in a comfortable, air-conditioned setting, Food Republic VivoCity quickly became the talk of the town, capturing the hearts and imaginations of diners from all over Singapore who visited simply to experience this unique food centre.
Close to two decades on, the Food Republic team has once again created an eye-catching, emotionally captivating and nostalgic theme that illuminates a tribute to the transformative journey of a settlement from humble village to bustling town. Here, the echoes of our ancestors’ aspirations and hard work remain interwoven with the charm and intricacies of a bygone era, a setting synonymous with Food Republic’s growth along with its patrons, who have dined at the outlet since childhood and now as working adults with their own families.
Along with the revamp, the Food Republic Group has managed to woo viral street food and hawkers to debut their brands in Singapore through the food atrium: Mon Chinese Beef Roti (flavourful halal-certified beef and chicken fillings wrapped in extremely flaky and crispy pastries made fresh daily), and Xi Dian Dim Sum (handmade Cantonese dim sum recipes dating back to the 1960s in Hong Kong and Macau). Several brands will also be setting up Mini-Restaurants for the first time, including Zhang Liang Mala Tang and Mizuya Kaisen Don & Tempura, poised to attract a larger pool of diners by offering their signature dishes in a casual, welcoming setting.
Long-standing tenants who have delighted diners for years remain as key tenants and partners of Food Republic VivoCity. Popular stalls such as Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice, Xia Yi Tiao Prawn Noodles, Sambal Delicious, Chinatown Tan’s Tutu Cake, and Feng Xiang Bak Kut Teh remain at the heart of the food atrium, making typical hawker-only fare accessible to tourists and working professionals.
As part of the opening celebrations and to usher in the new year, Food Republic VivoCity will host a Fortune 8 Bundles promotion with attractive discounts of up to 51% across set meals purchased at 17 participating tenants from now till 31 January 2025, excluding public holidays and eve of public holidays.
