The official Pokémon store will reopen on 1 July following its first full-scale renovation since opening in 2019, marking the first major Pokémon Center redesign outside Japan. 

The updated space leans heavily into Singapore-inspired design cues, new event-focused experiences, and a fresh visual identity led by the Legendary Pokémon Solgaleo.

At the entrance, visitors will be greeted by installations featuring Solgaleo and Pikachu against a backdrop inspired by Singapore’s skyline. 

Solgaleo, recognisable by its sun-like mane, now serves as the symbol Pokémon for Pokémon Center SINGAPORE and appears across the store façade and updated branding.

“We chose Solgaleo as our new symbol because we want this store to be more deeply rooted in Singapore,” said Shunsuke Sasaki, Managing Director of Pokémon Singapore. “This is not just a grand reopening, but a commitment to elevate the store experience by transforming Pokémon Center SINGAPORE into a place where people from all walks of life can come to love Pokémon, and where fans can connect globally.”

Beyond the retail floor, Pokémon Singapore is also building out a dedicated event space equipped for video game, trading card game, and app-related activities. 

Positioned at the rear of the store, the area is designed to host community gatherings and tournaments as Singapore continues cementing itself as Southeast Asia’s fandom capital, somewhere between anime convention circuit and Changi transit lounge.

Commemorative merchandise tied to the reopening will roll out in phases, beginning with 12 Special Edition products available from launch day. 

The collection includes plush toys featuring Solgaleo and Pikachu, as well as merchandise inspired by Singapore’s kopi culture. 

Additional items, including a Pikachu-themed bag charm and kopi cup-inspired products, will follow in August.

Pokémon Singapore said the store interior also incorporates design references drawn from Singapore’s cultural identity, creating what it described as a more localised experience for fans and tourists alike.

Meanwhile, crowd management measures suggest organisers are preparing for heavy turnout during opening week. 

From 1 to 5 July, entry between 10am and 1pm will require advance reservations through the Store Visit Application system, while same-day queue tickets will be distributed onsite from 8.30am daily.

The reopening also reinforces Jewel Changi Airport’s growing role as Singapore’s unofficial fandom district. 

In recent months, the complex has hosted everything from LEGO botanical showcases to immersive pop-culture activations, turning the airport mall into a battleground for tourist attention and Gen Z spending.

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The first outlet will be located at 39G, Jalan SS 21/37, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Additional locations are expected to open in the following weeks, with a grand opening celebration planned for July 2026 in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

The Malaysia debut will introduce menu items including the HOT-N-READY® Classic Pepperoni Pizza and Crazy Puffs Pepperoni, alongside locally adapted offerings such as the Chicken Hawaiian, 3 Cheese Edge to Edge, and Classic Veggie pizzas.

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The brand said its Malaysia strategy will balance its global core menu with regionally inspired flavours, with an emphasis on freshness, convenience and value.

The expansion is led by franchisees Dato’ Vincent Choo and Datin Cynthia Cheong, who operate multiple quick-service restaurant brands in the country and bring prior experience in local market development.

They said the rollout will focus on maintaining operational consistency and guest experience across outlets as the brand scales in Malaysia.

“We’re proud to introduce Little Caesars to Malaysia and share its world-famous pizza with our community,” said Dato’ Vincent Choo and Datin Cynthia Cheong. “We believe there is strong demand for high-quality, affordable pizza, and we’re excited to bring something new and exciting to the local dining scene.”

The Malaysia launch marks part of Little Caesars’ wider international expansion strategy as it continues to enter new markets globally.

Paula Vissing, President and Chief Executive Officer at Global Retail, said, “Launching in Malaysia marks an exciting milestone as we continue to grow our global footprint. We’re thrilled to introduce Malaysian guests to our delicious offerings made with fresh ingredients and incredible value. With Malaysia’s dynamic food culture and strong sense of community, we’re excited to become part of this thriving market.”

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The brand, which operates under Singapore’s Fei Siong Group, opened the new outlet on 6 May 2026 at Lot G17 of the airport. The launch marks the company’s first expansion into Malaysia, following the brand’s existing footprint of 21 outlets in Singapore and one in Jakarta.

Encik Tan focuses on halal Chinese-style hawker food aimed at providing accessible street food classics for Muslim diners and travellers. While the Malaysian outlet is currently in the process of obtaining halal certification in accordance with the requirements of Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia, the brand said its menu is prepared using halal-certified ingredients.

The outlet occupies about 1,800 square feet and can accommodate up to 50 seated diners. The space features a contemporary interior design with banquette seating, armchairs and tables, along with a backlit mural and open ordering counter reflecting the brand’s orange-and-white visual identity.

Encik Tan’s entry into Malaysia is being carried out through a partnership with Bake With Yen, a Malaysian baking supplies retailer that has been serving the country’s food and hospitality sector for more than three decades. The collaboration aims to support the brand’s expansion and operational scaling within the Malaysian market.

“Subang SkyPark presented a timely opportunity for Encik Tan to enter the Malaysian market – from the heart of Singapore to the heart of Kuala Lumpur – bringing heritage hawker flavours loved by the masses that is honest, nostalgic and full of comfort.” said Tan Kim Siong, Founder and Managing Director of Fei Siong Group.

“This opening kickstarts our regional expansion into Malaysia, with further outlets planned across key cities including Johor and Kuala Lumpur, in line with the Group’s broader long-term expansion ambitions.”

Founded in 2014, Encik Tan has built its reputation around familiar hawker dishes such as fishball noodles and chicken cutlet curry rice. The brand reports that more than 10 million bowls of its fishball noodles have been sold to date, along with over 1.5 million plates of chicken cutlet curry rice.

Looking ahead, Fei Siong Group said it aims to continue expanding Encik Tan across Southeast Asia, with future plans that may include markets such as Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as exploring ready-to-eat product formats.

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Located at Van Hanh Mall, the store represents MINISO’s latest concept, built around character-driven merchandising and immersive in-store experiences. 

The format places intellectual property (IP) at the centre of retail design, with approximately 70% of the product mix dedicated to IP-based items.

The space is organised into themed zones featuring collectibles, blind boxes, plush toys, beauty products, and accessories. 

Installations based on globally recognised characters such as Stitch and Winnie the Pooh, alongside MINISO’s proprietary IP YOYO, are integrated into the store layout to encourage exploration and social sharing.

The store also serves as a launch platform for new and exclusive product lines, including collaborations with Sanrio and Chiikawa, as well as the introduction of additional IPs such as Star Wars into the Vietnamese market.

The opening featured appearances by Quân A.P and a series of on-site activities, including blind box exchange events and mascot performances, aimed at driving consumer engagement and footfall.

MINISO entered Vietnam in 2016 and has since expanded across more than 30 cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang, and Hai Phong. The launch of MINISO FRIENDS reflects the company’s continued push towards IP-driven retail strategies in Southeast Asia.

The new format underscores MINISO’s focus on experiential retail, combining product, entertainment, and character-led storytelling within physical store environments.

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Taiwan is viewed as a strategic market for Kenangan Coffee’s continued international growth. The company’s entry into the country was made possible through a partnership with a local partner that supports the brand’s expansion into the market, where it sees growing demand for quality coffee amid shifting consumer preferences. 

The opening ceremony, held last April 10, 2026, was attended by Edward Tirtanata, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Kenangan Brands; Peter Wu, Co-Founder of Kenangan Coffee Taiwan; Sophia Hsu, Partner of Kenangan Coffee Taiwan; and other partners and invited guests.

Prior to the launch, Kenangan Coffee Taiwan had a soft opening starting March 28, 2026, which has drawn an average of around 350 visitors per day on weekends and 250 on weekdays. As part of the launch, the outlet introduced a special pistachio macchiato alongside its core menu featuring Indonesian coffee beans adapted to local tastes.

The expansion into Taiwan follows the brand’s presence across Southeast Asia and other international markets. Founded in 2017, Kenangan Coffee now operates more than 1,400 outlets globally, including in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and India.

Commenting on the launch, Tirtanata said, “We are very proud to introduce Kenangan Coffee to Taiwan as part of our global expansion journey. Through this expansion, we want to introduce the richness of Indonesian coffee to a wider audience, not just as a commodity, but as a brand from Indonesia to the world. We hope to build strong connections, not only with the Indonesian community in Taiwan, but also with the local Taiwanese community.”

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Located along Pagoda Street in the heart of historic Chinatown, the new concept store reinterprets the essence of old teahouses—places where merchants met, friends gathered, and stories were shared—for today’s generation. The space aims to revive what teahouses once symbolised in the district: community, creativity, and connection.

Designed as a modern social living room, the store combines heritage elements with contemporary aesthetics, featuring warm timber, patterned tiles, soft lighting, and communal seating that encourages visitors to pause and connect over tea.

The façade showcases a hand-painted mural by local creative collective Tell Your Children (TYC). Titled “Where Jasmine meets Orchid”, the artwork celebrates the meeting of cultures and generations, reflecting both Chinatown’s diversity and CHAGEE’s broader mission to bridge tradition and modernity through design.

Pagoda House also marks CHAGEE’s first retail outlet in Singapore, offering exclusive merchandise that extends tea culture beyond the cup. Visitors can explore Singapore-exclusive collectibles, lifestyle products, and a limited capsule collection created in collaboration with TYC, available only at this location.

The opening continues CHAGEE’s SG60 narrative celebrating Singapore’s cultural tapestry — following the launch of the Orchid Biluochun drink in August — and is now expressed through this heritage-inspired flagship experience.

For the first time, CHAGEE is introducing interactive cultural programming at Pagoda House. Beginning in November, visitors can take part in palm-reading workshops inspired by Chinatown’s fortune-telling heritage, calligraphy sessions led by local artists, and guided photo walks through the neighbourhood. Nanyang-inspired conversation cards will also be placed on communal tables to spark meaningful exchanges over tea.

These initiatives will be introduced progressively, positioning Pagoda House as a weekend destination for culture, craft, and connection.

To commemorate the opening, CHAGEE will host a three-day Grand Opening celebration from 31 October to 2 November. Guests can enjoy a 1-for-1 promotion on large drinks and participate in the “Tear & Win” activity for a chance to win prizes. Mediacorp artistes Zhang Ze Tong and Nick Teo will also make guest appearances, serving tea and interacting with visitors during the event.

“Chinatown was once the heart of Singapore’s teahouse culture, where people gathered to rest, trade stories, and build community,” said Lawrence Wen, CEO of CHAGEE Singapore. “Today, it continues to be a place where people from all walks of life come together — locals running errands, office workers taking a short break, and tourists exploring the neighbourhood. This store is where the past and present meet, a space that welcomes anyone to pause for a moment of connection, just like the old teahouses once did.” 

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Established in 2019 under Shanghai Huaqiao Catering Management Co Ltd, Ma Ji Yong is a modern Chinese noodle chain that upholds the tradition of Lanzhou beef noodles through the use of high-quality ingredients, handmade noodles, and standardised operations within a contemporary dining setting.

With over 360 directly operated stores across Mainland China, the brand currently holds the largest network of directly managed Lanzhou beef noodle outlets in the country.

The Hong Kong office forms part of the company’s Hong Kong, Macao, and Overseas Business Unit, which oversees business expansion, store operations, and strategic partnerships across Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia.

Zenna Huang, deputy general manager of the Hong Kong market and development director for Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asia at Shanghai Huaqiao Catering Management Co Ltd, said the brand aims to use Hong Kong as a springboard for further regional expansion. Plans include introducing digital ordering systems and membership platforms designed for international customers.

“Hong Kong’s diverse food culture, highly sophisticated consumers, and status as an international financial centre provide an excellent platform for Ma Ji Yong to build its brand image and enter overseas markets. It is an ideal gateway for us to promote Lanzhou beef noodles globally,” she said. 

She also noted that Hong Kong’s supportive business environment and diverse consumer base position it as a regional hub for culinary innovation and global food culture exchange.

“We will leverage its diverse consumer base to widely promote Lanzhou beef noodles to the world, bringing the fusion and innovation of its flavours with various regional cuisines for our customers,” Huang added. 

Meanwhile, Arnold Lau, associate director-general of Investment Promotion of InvestHK, said, “We welcome Ma Ji Yong to choose Hong Kong as the first stop for its global expansion. As a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland and the international market, Hong Kong is the best springboard for Mainland enterprises to go global. We believe that Ma Ji Yong will bring new vitality to Hong Kong’s catering industry and use Hong Kong as a stepping stone to the international market.”

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Positioned as more than a retail outlet, the Xtep Running Club (XRC) serves as a hub for local runners, offering high-performance gear alongside immersive displays and multi-category presentations. The store also provides services tailored for professional athletes, including marathon events, training camps, coaching sessions, and pacer programmes.

Designed as both a retail destination and community base, the XRC will host group runs, training sessions, and member activities. Products range from performance footwear for competitive athletes to versatile apparel suited for training and daily wear.

Guided by the principle of “professional runners influence mass runners”, the brand aims to appeal to elite competitors who validate product performance, while also engaging beginners and recreational runners.

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Xtep’s entry into Singapore builds on the country’s strong running culture, supported by marquee events such as the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and a growing calendar of community runs.

To mark the opening, Xtep held a kickoff “XRC RUN” on September 20, where more than 200 participants joined a community run starting outside the store. The event highlighted both the enthusiasm of Singapore’s running scene and Xtep’s efforts to connect with it.

The store reflects Xtep’s wider goal of linking professional running with everyday participation, positioning the space as a venue where runners can find equipment, receive guidance, and share experiences.

This latest expansion follows the brand’s opening of its first mono store in Malaysia in November 2024, dedicated to sports enthusiasts seeking athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories.

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The group plans to open its first Encik Tan outlet, along with its dim sum brand Pao Pao, in Jakarta by the end of December under a joint venture, according to a report by The Business Times International. Both brands will carry halal certification.

Future Encik Tan outlets in Indonesia will be developed through a franchise model, with Fei Siong targeting 100 locations across the country by 2030. The group is also considering franchising Pao Pao, depending on the performance of the initial kiosk.

Fei Siong has also identified Malaysia as its next market, with discussions underway to open its first Encik Tan branch in Johor by the third quarter of 2026, followed by a Kuala Lumpur outlet in the first quarter of 2027. The group aims to establish 50 outlets in Malaysia within five years and double that figure by 2035.

To support these expansion plans, Fei Siong is seeking growth-stage capital and has not ruled out the possibility of an initial public offering.

The overseas push comes as Fei Siong marks its 30th anniversary. The group previously gained experience managing the Singapore franchise of the US fried chicken chain Popeyes, which it exited in 2023.

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The CR7 LIFE official flagship store is designed to offer an engaging, tech-enhanced environment where digital features highlight key moments from Cristiano Ronaldo’s career and personal journey.

Located on the 7th floor of Times Square and set to open in June, the store will feature a curated range of products selected and signed by Ronaldo, including apparel, homeware, and fragrances—each reflecting elements of his lifestyle and identity.

The store will also feature a Portuguese coffee shop that highlights the flavours and traditions of Ronaldo’s home country. Designed to reflect the ambiance of cafés in Portugal, the space will serve items such as freshly baked pastéis de nata, premium coffee, and other traditional pastries and delicacies.

Situated in one of Asia’s busiest shopping districts, the CR7 LIFE official store aims to attract fans, lifestyle enthusiasts, and tourists alike. From its curated merchandise to its immersive setup and café, the store is positioned as a distinctive addition to Hong Kong’s retail scene.

The flagship store opening marks a notable step in Cristiano Ronaldo’s efforts to engage more closely with his global fanbase, particularly in Asia. Launching in Hong Kong, the store will open alongside the upcoming CR7 LIFE Museum, a space dedicated to documenting Ronaldo’s career and impact on sports culture.

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