12 Years to the Edge of Closure: Pantler Starts Countdown to "Find a Buyer," Could Shut on August 30
This Japanese-French dessert shop, beloved for its Yatsura chocolate hazelnut cake and strawberry cream cake, isn't being pushed out by the market—it's laying its books on the table and admitting "we can't keep going," pinning its last hope on finding a buyer.
A dessert shop that's been open for 12 years, moved locations once, and survived the pandemic isn't being abandoned by customers—it's being talked into closing by its own numbers. Pantler's announcement on Instagram doesn't mince words: "We still hope to find the right person to continue Pantler's story. If we can't, this chapter will end on August 30, 2026."
Founder Matthias Phua was even more blunt in an interview with 8days.sg: "The reason is the same as most F&B businesses—it just doesn't pay off. Current market conditions make it really hard to keep the business going." He also mentioned the team had considered closing the physical store and switching to a central kitchen model for online orders and takeaway only, but that transition would also cost money, "and we can't guarantee that investment would pay off." So Pantler isn't looking for a quiet exit—it's looking for someone willing to "take over or acquire" the brand.
Pantler was founded in 2014 by Singaporean Matthias and Japanese pastry chef Tomoharu Morita. Matthias originally worked as a writer before switching to baking; Morita spent nearly a decade with the pastry team at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. The two worked together at that hotel in Tokyo, then later at Joël Robuchon in Singapore. The brand first set up shop on Telok Ayer Street as a small storefront, with a simple goal: "to make good things people would love." After weathering the pandemic, they moved to a bigger space with a dine-in area on River Valley Road in February 2021.
What kept the shop going all these years were a few signature items: the Yatsura chocolate hazelnut cake, layered with hazelnut dacquoise, dark chocolate mousse, and hazelnut feuilletine; the Chou à la Crème with its crisp shell filled with custard and praline; the Pantler Cheesecake; and the light, refreshing strawberry cream cake—alongside croissants, tarts, cookies, and seasonal cakes. A line from the team's announcement says it better than any marketing copy could: "It has been an honour to be part of your birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or just a quiet afternoon with a good slice of cake and coffee."
If no buyer steps forward before August 30, that day will mark Pantler's final bake. Matthias says he hasn't figured out what comes next—"let's sort this out first, then see where things go from here"—but he's still holding onto a bit of hope that someone else can pick up the story and keep writing it. Pantler is currently located at 474 River Valley Rd, S248359, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:30am to 6:30pm, closed Mondays. Check its Instagram for more details.
