The Straits Conservancy
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The Straits Placemaking Programme · Singapore
For independent operators who keep Singapore's streets alive

Your first heritage flagship, de-risked.

Open in a conserved shophouse without betting the company. No deposit. Rent is a share of your takings, so slow months cost less. And you launch with a street behind you: residents upstairs, museum programming outside, press on opening weekend. Your brand becomes part of the Straits Revival.

Apply for a space See the offer
A restored corner row of conserved shophouses at Petain Road in Singapore
The offer

A launch, not a lease.

Five things, plainly stated.

Space

A ground-floor unit in a conserved shophouse. We match each concept to a unit with a compatible approved use and coordinate the required planning, conservation and technical submissions. No new use or fit-out begins until the relevant approvals are in place.

Terms

Start with no deposit. Rent is a percentage of your takings, not a fixed sum. First 90 days: if it isn't working, either side can walk away. No penalty.

Launch

A content kit while you set up, a launch shoot and press kit at opening, and an opening-weekend programme run with the street.

Demand

Residents living upstairs, museum visitors at the door, and year-round street programming. You open with customers, not an empty street.

Status

You open as a Founding Operator of a Straits House, with your brand first and our street behind it. Part of the Straits Revival from day one.

Available spaces

Choose a street, then shape the room.

Two ground-floor opportunities are open for discussion and viewings now. Every concept is checked against the unit's approved use before terms are offered.

Available now
The conserved facade of Kongsi House at 6 Sam Leong Road
The fitted ground-floor entrance and interior at Kongsi House
Jalan Besar · Little India

Kongsi House, 6 Sam Leong Road

A characterful ground floor in an established conserved house, suited to an independent operator who wants a ready-made neighbourhood address.

  • Approximate area1,200 sq ft, ground floor
  • Approved useCommercial. Final use and licences are checked against the proposed concept.
  • AvailableNow, for discussions and viewings
  • Existing fit-outFitted heritage interior with existing lounge and meeting areas. Final handover scope confirmed at viewing.
  • Indicative structurePop-up or residency with no deposit at entry stage and rent linked to gross takings. Exact terms are agreed in writing.

All areas are approximate. Opening, use and fit-out remain subject to the relevant approvals and signed terms.

Apply for Kongsi House
The five-foot way and ground-floor frontage at 589 and 591 Serangoon Road
The clean commercial shell inside the ground floor at 589 and 591 Serangoon Road
Farrer Park · Serangoon Road

589 / 591 Serangoon Road

A double-width ground-floor opportunity with main-road visibility and two adjoining floor plates that can be taken together.

  • Approximate area2,400 sq ft across two adjoining ground-floor units
  • Approved useF&B / commercial. Operator licences and concept-specific technical requirements still apply.
  • AvailableNow, for discussions and viewings
  • Existing fit-outClean flexible shell with air-conditioning, two toilets and emergency lighting. Tenant lighting, kitchen and private metering are not included.
  • Indicative structurePop-up or residency with no deposit at entry stage and rent linked to gross takings. Exact terms are agreed in writing.

All areas are approximate. Opening, use and fit-out remain subject to the relevant approvals and signed terms.

Apply for Serangoon Road
A restored shophouse airwell adapted as a light-filled gathering space
Ornate conserved shophouse facade and five-foot way at Petain Road
Public value

Heritage that earns its keep.

A conserved street survives when the buildings are used, good local businesses can stay, and the public has reasons to return.

Heritage businesses first

We give priority to heritage trades, longstanding local businesses, independent makers and operators whose work belongs in the neighbourhood.

Interpretation in the street

Selected houses can support labels, open days and neighbourhood programmes that help visitors understand the building and its setting.

An active local economy

Flexible entry terms let good concepts prove demand and grow without removing the character that drew people to the street.

Singapore-centred heritage

The programme opens more conserved interiors and deepens appreciation of Singapore's living neighbourhoods, craft and street life.

Clear institutional line: The Straits Conservancy manages each commercial tenancy. The Straits Museum separately curates any public cultural programming. Museum funds do not pay commercial rent, tenant fit-out or inventory.
How it works

Start small. Grow into the street.

One application, three ways in. Move up when the numbers say so, on terms we agree before you start.

01 · POP-UP

Prove the concept

One to three months in a fitted unit. Test your brand on a real street with real customers.

No deposit · share-of-takings rent
02 · RESIDENCY

Build the trade

Six to eighteen months. Your launch shoot, press kit and opening weekend happen here.

90-day break option · terms agreed up front
03 · FLAGSHIP

Take the house

A multi-year tenancy on the terms we set together on day one, not a renegotiation after you've proven the site. Standard tenancy terms, including a deposit, apply from here.

Your trading record, your terms
Who it's for

Selected independent operators.

We curate the street the way a museum curates a gallery. We're looking for:

Pop-up concepts are welcome to apply. If we can't offer you a unit now, we'll invite you to our markets and fairs first, and keep you on the list as houses open.

Why we do this

"Restored buildings without living streets are stage sets. The point is streets that work."

The Straits Conservancy has spent three decades restoring Singapore shophouses, with nine URA Architectural Heritage Awards. We hold our buildings for the long term, so we'd rather grow a great operator than squeeze a passing one. That is why the terms look the way they do.

Conserved Singapore shophouse facade
Who you'll deal with

Principals, not agents.

Fang Low
Founder, The Straits Conservancy

Three decades of family stewardship of conserved shophouses. You'll speak with him directly.

Karen Tan
Head of Real Estate

Runs the portfolio and your terms, from first viewing to flagship tenancy.

Jessica Wong
Creative Director, The Straits Museum

Curates the street's programming, exhibitions and openings around your space.

FAQ

The practical questions.

Who handles licences and approvals?

We match the concept to a compatible approved use and coordinate the landlord-side planning, conservation and technical submissions. You remain responsible for the licences needed to operate your business. No change of use or fit-out starts before the required approvals are in place.

What utilities are included?

Each proposal states what is separately metered and what is shared. Where a private meter is not yet installed, the agreed allocation or installation responsibility is written into the terms before you commit.

Who pays for fit-out?

We provide the unit in the condition listed for that space. Concept-specific fit-out is normally funded by the operator unless the written proposal expressly provides for co-funding. All plans require landlord approval before work begins.

What uses are permitted?

Permitted use depends on the specific unit, its approved use and the authorities relevant to the concept. We screen for compatibility first, then confirm any planning, conservation, fire-safety, building-control and operating-licence requirements.

How is revenue-share rent calculated?

It is a percentage of reported gross takings for the space. The precise share, any minimum base, reporting method, exclusions and review dates are set out in writing before launch.

What happens after I apply?

We review the concept, then invite the strongest fit for a short call and viewing. If the unit and approved use align, you receive a written proposal covering term, revenue share, fit-out, licences and opening steps. There is no commitment until both sides sign.

Apply

Tell us about your concept.

Five minutes, no deck required. We reply to every application.

Applications go directly to the founder's office. We review in curation rounds and reply to everyone; if there's no unit today, strong concepts join our markets, fairs and waitlist.

A restored conserved shophouse on Blair Road with its doors open