An official Apple Singapore store is set to open on Orchard Rd in 2106.

At least, that’s the word of tenants of a shopping centre space who have been evicted to make way for a multi-story Apple showcase, which would be the US tech giant’s first company owned store in the city state.

According to a report by technology news website Stack, members of Pure Fitness, a gym located in the Knightsbridge Mall on Orchard Rd, have been told the gym is closing to make way for Apple’s first store.

The 15,000 sqm gym overlooks Orchard Rd and there are reports other tenants in the mall have been given notice so Apple can build a giant flagship.

According to Stack, an email from Pure Fitness gym management said: “The reason for closing the gym is that we were given formal notification only recently that we need to hand back our Knightsbridge space.”

While Apple has been well-served in the Singapore market by several authorised Apple resellers, its lack of an official Apple Store in the city has at times perplexed Apple devotees. Apple has recently opened its fourth store in Hong Kong, despite a large network of retailers selling its products in that city. It also has a large network in Australia and a rapidly expanding chain in Mainland China. A Macau store is under construction with staff recruitment underway and it recently teamed with Tata-owned Croma to open official stores in India.

When it enters a new market, Apple always first builds a high profile flagship store with expansive street frontage and unique architectural features. Locating such a site on Orchard Rd could well have proven a challenge to date. The design and central location of Knightsbridge Mall would lend itself to conversion.

Subsequent stores, if it opens more, would be smaller and more suited to internal shopping centre sites.