It’s a sad day for hobbyists in Singapore. Beloved geek haunt Stargek Tamiya is closing down after decades of being the main distributor of Tamiya products for the country, with the store putting out an official announcement on Facebook.
As stated in the post, business operations have “ceased till further notice”, understood to have taken place with immediate effect. The news comes as a surprise, and will certainly mark the end of an era for the local community.
While it’s difficult to trace its very beginnings, Stargek Tamiya has long held a strong presence in Paya Lebar for the last 20 years or so. With its prominent signage, it was hard to miss the store if you drove or strolled by, tempting many to walk in to take a look. Apart from selling Tamiya products, the toy shop was also known to frequently host Mini 4WD activities, such as practice sessions and tournaments, making it the go-to destination for enthusiasts.
Here’s a tour of the space, for those interested:
Tamiya is a Japanese manufacturer of plastic model kits, radio-controlled cars, acrylic and enamel model paints, modelling tools and supplies, and more. Although its products can be bought in other hobby stores, Stargek is the only one-stop here for all things Tamiya.
It’s always sad to see a community gem go, especially one that has created many memories over the years. As the scene bids farewell to an icon, there are alternatives in Singapore that can help fill the void, including MF11 MINI 4WD.
Thank you Stargek Tamiya, you’ll be dearly missed.
Here’s an extra dose of nostalgia for some Avante Junior in Tomica form for your viewing pleasure!
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
Linette Lin
