Epigram and Huggs Coffee open the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop
SINGAPORE — Epigram and Huggs Coffee are pleased to announce the opening of their first collaboration, the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop.
The concept store is located at 45 Maxwell Road, #01-01, and occupies a space of more than 980 square feet on the ground floor. It will be open from Mondays to Saturdays.
“Our tagline for the store is ‘Hold Singapore in Your Hands’,” says Edmund Wee, founder of Epigram, adding that members of the public are encouraged to come and pick up a local book along with a cup of local-style coffee.
“We also want to tell our visitors from overseas that the best souvenir they can bring home is a Singapore book,” he added.
There are several unique features of the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop. Firstly, it offers only Singapore books. These are books written about Singapore, books written by Singaporean authors or books published by Singaporean publishers. The bookshop will not only stock books by Epigram, but those from other Singapore publishers, along with URA books and literature – in all, more than 400 titles will be stocked at any one time.
Another unique feature of the coffee bookshop is that one table will be allocated to an author or artist during opening hours. The author/artist can use the space to write or draw, share a drink with customers, or simply use it to gain inspiration. Visitors to the coffee bookshop can also get their books signed by these content creators.
Epigram will also be using a cashless payment system for its book purchases. Accepted methods of payment include credit card, Nets and PayNow, among others.
For those seeking a brew (coffee brew, that is) with their books, the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop will serve the full range of speciality coffees by Huggs Coffee, ranging from espresso-based to Sumatra coffees (local-style coffee), along with convenient bites such as pastries, wraps, sandwiches, cakes and sweets, and wholesome lunch sets such as Salmon and Brown Rice, Meatball Bolognese Pasta, and Creole Chicken and Brown Rice, among others.
The design of the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop also differs from other book cafes. Facing the coffee counter, for example, is an 11m-long bookshelf that isn’t merely a display area for books, but also lends itself well for Instaworthy moments.
“When we set up Epigram Books nearly eight years ago in publishing, we wanted to champion Singapore literature and books,” says Edmund. “Extending our operations into the retail scene is marked by this same desire.”
“We are happy to collaborate with Epigram on this new concept outlet. We believe in local talent and this blending of local coffee and local books seems a natural fit. We look forward to this being a long and fruitful partnership,” says Ron Choo, founder of Huggs.
With its location near Maxwell Food Centre and Ann Siang Hill, the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop makes it an ideal place to be a one-stop shop for readers interested in picking up Singaporean literature, or tourists who want to pick up a memento of Singapore, or those who simply want a good mug of kopi and a good read.
Read local, drink local – it’s time for everyone to hold Singapore in their hands.
Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop is located at 45 Maxwell Road, #01-01 (opposite Maxwell Food Centre).
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri coffee (7am to 5pm); books (10am to 7pm);
Sat coffee (8am to noon); books (10am to 2pm)
Closed on Sun
* * * * * * * *
ABOUT HUGGS COFFEE: Huggs Coffee was created in 2007 to primarily cater to the everyday coffee and food needs of individuals and groups working in varying business clusters. Huggs Coffee manages a chain of outlets in the business district areas and is growing at a measured pace to meet the growing demand for everyday speciality coffees and beverages for the global communities. To date, there are 13 outlets in Singapore, with four more expected to open by the end of 2019. Huggs Coffee is probably the only coffee brand here offering the most diverse coffee and beverage experience ranging from espresso coffees to traditional coffees and teas, whether it’s a divine espresso or café latte or simply a morning Sumatra Kopi or Masala Tea.
ABOUT EPIGRAM: Epigram’s trade publishing imprint was started in July 2011 to champion Singaporean literature. It has published around 300 titles and several books have won awards both locally and globally. These include The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye (winner of three Eisner Awards); State of Emergency and Ministry of Moral Panic (Singapore Literature Prize for English Fiction); The Gatekeeper, Mount Emily Revisited, Understanding Singaporeans and Now That It’s Over (Singapore Book Awards); and The Rock and the Bird and Where’s Grandma? (Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Awards). Epigram also runs the annual Epigram Books Fiction Prize, which offers S$25,000 and a publishing contract to one winning manuscript every year.