The Popular bookstore at Thomson Plaza has closed after 31 years. The outlet, which has traded since 1988, has been closed due to what the owners describe as “lease issues”.

Popular invited its customers to share their memories of the Thomson Plaza store in a Facebook photo contest which will end tomorrow. Three winners will get SG$20 worth of Popular vouchers.

The Popular chain is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, but like all book retailers worldwide, the company is facing challenges from the growth of digital books and consumers moving to other media to read or entertain themselves.

The top 95 spenders at the Popular bookstore at Thomson Plaza have been rewarded with a complimentary three-year membership of the company’s loyalty program, valid also at UrbanWrite stores.