Grassroots Book Room

Grassroots Book Room was founded in 1995 by Yeng Pway Ngon, a former journalist and Chinese-language poet and novelist later honored with Singapore's Cultural Medallion. The store began at the Qiaobei Centre, across from the National Library, as an outlet for Chinese-language literature, history, philosophy and art at a time when such independent stock was scarce in Singapore. In November 2014 it relocated to its current premises on Bukit Pasoh Road in the Chinatown/Outram area, close to Exit H of Outram Park MRT station. In 2015, Yeng passed the business on to three successors: Lim Jen Erh, a former journalist and dramatist; Lim Yeong Shin, who runs day-to-day operations; and Lim Wooi Tee, a medical doctor. Under their stewardship the shop has kept its core categories — Chinese and Western philosophy, Chinese modern literature, translated Japanese and Western literature, art and film — while adding newer sections such as picture books, food writing and lifestyle titles, maintaining its role as one of Singapore's few dedicated Chinese-language independent bookstores.