The renovated West Mall appears to be more than just a functional neighborhood mall

SINGAPORE – A new community gathering place, new dining options and an updated public library. Visitors to West Mall in Bukit Batok can enjoy most of these experiences now, with further updates to follow over the next 12 months.

The mall, owned and operated by Singapore Land Group (SingLand), is in the final stages of an asset improvement initiative that began in 2023.

The first and most important expansion stage was presented in June 2025, which includes an improved “front yard” with a fresh garden facade and a new basement wing, EAT@W.

Approximately 22,000 square feet of the original basement and parking lot were converted into rental space for EAT@W, which offers more than 20 new dining and retail options. The mall now has a population of 205,000 square feetand also has two levels of underground parking

Tenants include new dining concepts such as Gochiya, which offers single-serve teppanyaki, and the first branch of halal-certified Japanese restaurant Hatsumi Donburi & Soba in western Singapore.

Also at EAT@W is the first inland branch of Jo Ju Bang, which started as a Korean kimbap kiosk at Tanjong Pagar Plaza.

EAT@W is located next to the original basement room. But shoppers can also access the mall's “front yard” via a new escalator, which has also been redesigned to provide direct, sheltered access to Bukit Batok MRT station.

Previously, this was an open-air space that sometimes hosted pop-up events under temporary tents.

Now there is a proper awning and a small seating area. The seating is a mini version of the steps at Star Vista Mall in Buona Vista, which have become a popular gathering spot for shoppers.

Mr Sean Wong, deputy general manager (commercial) for SingLand, tells ST: “The development (of this “front garden space”) was in line with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s vision to create more inclusive and engaging public spaces.

“We have already hosted events there, such as an SG60 celebration, which included a live broadcast of the National Day parade.”

Further events are being planned for the Christmas season and beyond.

While the West Mall hasn't undergone a radical makeover, the changes are aimed at dispelling its long-standing reputation as a functional — rather than a glamorous and cutting-edge — neighborhood hangout.

Since opening in 1998, the long-term tenant mix has included “neighborhood mall standards” such as the Bata shoe stores, Watsons and Guardian pharmacies, Popular Bookstore, KFC and other fast food chains, as well as local bakeries such as Bengawan Solo and Four Leaves.

“We want to move away from providing basic services and towards upscale experiences similar to what (an Orchard Road shopping center) could offer – while staying true to our community roots,” Mr Wong says.

Because “with the emergence of the Tengah district, more young families, multi-generational households and new residents are coming to the area,” he adds.

Nearly 12,000 Housing Board flats in Tengah have been completed, accounting for about 40 percent of the 30,000 flats so far in the new city.

When these apartments are completed, the area is expected to become the “Punggol of the West”, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in March at the official opening of the Tengah Community Club.

West Mall is also visited by the nearby community of Hillview, which has grown and developed. Just a 10-minute drive away is Midwood Condominium, which received its temporary use permit (TOP) in 2023.

And next to Midwood is the Hillhaven condominium, which is under construction and expected to reach top condition in 2027 or 2028.

“As these communities and demographics develop around the mall, so do their expectations of what their local mall can offer,” notes SingLand’s Mr Wong.

“We wanted to ensure that we meet these higher expectations of the developing communities in Bukit Batok, Hillview and Tengah and have carefully selected the F&B and retail offerings in the new EAT@W to meet these different expectations,” he says.

SingLand plans to further review West Mall's tenant mix.

A new Kopitiam food court is scheduled to open on Level 4 by the end of 2025. Three lifestyle tenants will be added in the second quarter of 2026. It's likely one will replace the top floor of the Cathay Cineplex until its sudden closure in September.

Finally, the new and improved Bukit Batok Library is expected to open in the first half of 2026. In addition to its original space on Level 3, it will occupy the unit on Level 2 previously occupied by Tom & Stefanie department store, which closed in 2024.

“The idea is to continue to position West Mall as a welcoming hub of inclusivity and togetherness – a place where people can come together, socialize and share unforgettable experiences,” says Mr Wong.