Shirley TayPhoto Essay
Shopping centres hold special memories for many of us. It was probably where we bought our first pair of BATA shoes, where we hung out after school, and where we even had our first date. While some of us treat shopping malls like our second homes and others abhor their mainstream existence, there’s no denial that malls are an integral part of our lives.
According to official statistics from SingStat, the total retail sales in Singapore between January and October 2014 was estimated at $3.2 billion. With 98 (and counting) fully operational malls, it’s no wonder shopping’s 1 of our nation’s favourite past times.
But before sparkling malls like ION Orchard and Jem dominated the shopping scene, predecessors such as Queensway Shopping Centre and Beauty World Plaza were the coolest places to be seen in the 80s and 90s.
As Singapore’s 50th birthday approaches, this photo essay travels back in time to revisit some of the oldest malls in Singapore, as well as discover how our shopping lifestyles have evolved over the years.
Queensway Shopping Centre (Established in 1975)
Since its establishment, Queensway Shopping Centre has been widely recognised by locals as the ‘Sports Mall’ of Singapore, due to its wide array of sporting goods and apparel from badminton rackets, soccer boots, to decade-old club jerseys.
Mr Yee, a tailor who has been working at Queensway Shopping Centre since the early 1980s, shares his story while deftly tying pieces of fabric into a bundle.
“The height of Queensway’s popularity was in the 1980s. Back then, it used to be so packed on the weekends that you can’t even see the floor,” recalled Mr Yee. “People used to come to my shop to custom make suits and outerwear, but more and more are buying ready-made ones outside.”
“Actually, I came here for the laksa [spicy noodle soup],” laughed Grace Sim (pictured, left). Her friend, Alvin Lim (pictured, right), pipes in: “I came here for the snapbacks!” Both students, they revealed that they traveled over 40 minutes to get to the mall.
“As the years go by, I feel our generation and the ones after us will come here to experience the ‘vintage feel’, but if there were newer shopping centres offering the same things as Queensway, I think lesser people will come here,” said Grace.
As a long time patron of the mall for over 20 years, Mr Tan (who declined to reveal his full name) is adamant about keeping old malls in their original state. “They hold a lot of precious memories for many older people in Singapore, especially since there are so few old malls left. If Queensway is still making business, there’s no reason to renovate or close it,” said Mr Tan.
Plaza Singapura (Established in 1974 and revamped in 2013)
On the 6th level of Plaza Singapura (affectionately known as PS in short), many parents are spotted along the corridor outside Yamaha, presumably waiting for their children to finish their music lessons.
Madam Wong (who declined to be photographed), a field trip coordinator in her mid 40s, recalls with a smile, “My mum used to bring me here all the time when I was my daughter’s age, and I would always frequent the amusement park at the basement while they shopped. Now, I bring my daughter here for her weekly piano lessons.” When asked about her reaction to the revamp of PS, her face lights up and she responds with a thumbs-up.
Sharing the same sentiments as Madam Wong, 40 year old Mr Lim (not pictured), an engineer and frequent shopper at PS, says, “From time to time, there’s a need to rejuvenate and inject new life into old places. If not, no one will come anymore.”
Jem (Established in 2013)
With the establishment of shiny new suburban malls such as Jem, Westgate, and J-Cube in the once-sleepy western part of Singapore, the Jurong East area has been touted by many as the ‘Orchard Road of the West’.
“Such heartland malls are for the heartlanders and Singaporeans, whereas Orchard Road is for tourists. We each have our designated spots so we don’t need to squeeze,” said Madam Tay (who declined to be photographed), a homemaker.
Glancing around her, Joey Tan (not pictured), a 19 year old student, shares: “Because it’s in the heartlands, people are generally more relaxed and most of them come here with their family members on weekends. It’s not a rare sight to see people in slippers and shorts here!”
As the shopping malls in Singapore evolve with the times, it’s interesting to note that they are coming full circle to where it all began – in the heartlands.
With more heartland malls slated to open in the next few years (Punggol Waterway Point and the recently opened Big Box in Jurong East), travelling the distance to Orchard Road to shop may soon become a thing of the past.
Photos taken with an iPhone 6 and a Canon EOS 550D.