On the second floor of Old Airport Road hawker centre in Singapore, an unassuming little bookstore has appeared.
Called Dakota Dreams, it sells children’s books and comics by Singapore authors as well as pre-loved titles.
Its neighbours are clothing stores and a Covid-19 Quick Test Centre. Elderly residents stop by to browse magazines; children pull their grandparents over to look at the picture books on the racks.
When it comes to bookshop locations, a hawker centre may not seem the obvious choice. But to the five founders of Dakota Dreams – all retired or semi-retired, several with some prior connection to the book industry – it makes sense.
“It is unusual,” says retired lecturer Sng-Fun Poh Yoke, 68.
“People are often surprised to see us here. But why not? Our motto has always been to reach out to ordinary folks who may not even go to a mall, let alone a bookshop, but who do go to…