After decades as the gateway to ferry trips to Batam and Bintan, cruise holidays and overseas getaways, HarbourFront Centre has officially closed today (27 July), marking the end of another familiar Singapore landmark.
The closure is part of Mapletree’s redevelopment of the HarbourFront precinct. The ageing mall will make way for a new 33-storey mixed-use development featuring Grade A offices, retail and lifestyle spaces, as well as a 13,000sqm elevated park overlooking the Singapore Strait. The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2031.
Image from ingenhoven LLP
From World Trade Centre to Singapore’s gateway for weekend getaways
Long before HarbourFront Centre existed, the site was home to the World Trade Centre, which opened in 1977. Besides serving as Singapore’s gateway for ferry services to Indonesia, it became a familiar landmark for exhibitions, conventions and major international events, including the 1987 Miss Universe pageant.
Following a major redevelopment, it reopened as HarbourFront Centre in 2003 and soon became the starting point for countless trips to Batam, Bintan and regional cruise holidays. Before online booking became the norm, thousands of travellers visited daily to buy ferry tickets, exchange currency, enjoy a quick meal or pick up last-minute essentials before boarding.
Beyond its role as a transport hub, the mall was home to travel agencies, money changers, restaurants, Japanese discount stores, fashion retailers and the Singapore Cruise Centre. Even after VivoCity opened next door in 2006, HarbourFront Centre remained a familiar stop for many Singaporeans heading off on their next overseas getaway.
The final few days of HarbourFront Centre
In the days leading up to its closure, HarbourFront Centre felt noticeably quieter. Many shopfronts had already been emptied, while long-time tenants held farewell promotions to clear their remaining stock before moving out.
DON DON DONKI was among the first to leave, closing its outlet on 19 July. Other retailers, including Vivian & Sean, Moley Apparels, Vacanza, REFASH and Design & Comfort, also rolled out clearance sales as the mall counted down to its final day.
One familiar name that quietly disappeared was Poh Kim Video. In an era dominated by Netflix and streaming services, the HarbourFront outlet remained one of the few places where collectors could still browse Blu-rays, DVDs and TV box sets.
By the final weekend, the once-bustling transport hub looked very different. Empty storefronts, shuttered units and farewell notices replaced the usual crowds of travellers heading to Batam, Bintan and regional cruises, marking the end of another chapter in Singapore’s retail history.
The Singapore Cruise Centre Has Relocated
While HarbourFront Centre has officially closed, ferry and cruise services continue as usual. The Singapore Cruise Centre have relocated to a new passenger terminal at 5 HarbourFront Avenue, just 70 metres from the former terminal inside HarbourFront Centre. Travellers heading to Batam, Bintan or regional cruises can continue using the new terminal with no changes to routes or schedules
Image from Singapore Cruise Centre
Everything seems to be shutting down in Singapore lately
HarbourFront Centre is just the latest familiar name to disappear. In recent months, we’ve also said goodbye to Golden Village Tiong Bahru, Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura, Snow City and The Mind Cafe’s original outlet.
Singapore is constantly reinventing itself, and that’s part of what keeps the city moving forward. But every redevelopment also means saying goodbye to another place filled with memories. HarbourFront Centre may return in a brand new form by 2031, but for many Singaporeans, it will always be remembered as the place where every holiday began.
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