Sep 21, 2010
Sengkang market turns into ghost town
At least 18 stallholders have moved out, citing thin crowds, high rents
By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_580912.html
SOME stallholders in Sengkang's first wet market-cum-food centre are calling it quits, citing a lack of crowds and high rents.
Kopitiam Square, located opposite Sengkang MRT station, is the first stand- alone market and food centre that the Housing Board (HDB) has allowed a private operator to build and run.
It opened in December and the $12million market was billed as the first one here with a supermarket ambience: The place is equipped with an air-cleaning system that offers better ventilation, and eliminates the odours and wet floors traditionally associated with wet markets.
Now, at least 15 out of the 60 food stalls and three wet market stalls out of 48 have moved out.
One stallholder who sells cooked food left in May, saying business was so poor he did not have more than 30 customers a day. He breached the three-year contract and now owes the operator about $6,000 in arrears. The 48-year-old, who declined to be named, said: 'Initially, everyone thought this location was good because there isn't a market here. But now, we really can't sustain our business.'
The centre, which serves about 250 HDB blocks in Sengkang, opened to great fanfare as residents had been asking for a wet market to be built there since 2007.
But concerns were raised when Renaissance Properties, a subsidiary of foodcourt chain Kopitiam, won the tender to build and run the centre at $500,100 a month. Residents were worried the price would translate into higher rents and, thus, higher food prices.
Indeed, the monthly rent for a stall there is between $2,000 and $6,000, higher than that of between $1,500 and $3,000 in an HDB-run market.
Cooked food also costs more. A bowl of fish soup, for example, costs $4, about $1 more than what other food centres charge.
Those who use Kopitiam stored-value cards, however, enjoy a 10 per cent discount at the food centre and a 5 per cent discount for wet market produce.
The stallholders interviewed said business was good initially. It was reported in January that 20,000 patronised the place daily. But the crowds soon thinned as customers complained about the prices, poor ventilation and poor food quality.
Retiree Richard Pang, 62, who shops at the wet market occasionally, noted that pork could cost about $2 more a kg compared to that sold in other wet markets.
Housewife Lum Wai Leng, 40, felt the food centre was not up to standard.
'The food is quite expensive but the taste is so-so. There is no air-conditioning too so the price just isn't justified.'
Earlier this year, Kopitiam cut the rental by 30 per cent but some stallholders said they are still struggling to cover the rent. Other measures, such as introducing free shuttle services for Sengkang and Punggol residents and offering an hour of free parking, also failed to draw the crowds after the initial surge.
Kopitiam declined to be interviewed.
The Straits Times understands that it has sent letters to stallholders who have left, asking them to pay their arrears. These stallholders also forfeit their deposits of a few thousand dollars.
Besides Kopitiam Square, there is another wet market in Sengkang, in Rivervale Mall, about 1km away. But residents have complained about its small size and poor service standards.
Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said he was concerned about the closure of the stalls as residents' needs may not be met. He said grassroots leaders have sought approval from the authorities to organise events such as movie screenings in the open area near the market to draw the crowds.
He added that HDB should relook its practice of awarding tenders to the highest bidder, to ensure that businesses are viable.
Despite the exodus, some stallholders said they will stay on. One vegetable seller, who wanted to be identified only as Madam Ang, 61, said: 'Residents, especially the housewives, do want a wet market and food centre here.'
Sengkang market turns into ghost town
At least 18 stallholders have moved out, citing thin crowds, high rents
By Jamie Ee Wen Wei
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_580912.html
SOME stallholders in Sengkang's first wet market-cum-food centre are calling it quits, citing a lack of crowds and high rents.
Kopitiam Square, located opposite Sengkang MRT station, is the first stand- alone market and food centre that the Housing Board (HDB) has allowed a private operator to build and run.
It opened in December and the $12million market was billed as the first one here with a supermarket ambience: The place is equipped with an air-cleaning system that offers better ventilation, and eliminates the odours and wet floors traditionally associated with wet markets.
Now, at least 15 out of the 60 food stalls and three wet market stalls out of 48 have moved out.
One stallholder who sells cooked food left in May, saying business was so poor he did not have more than 30 customers a day. He breached the three-year contract and now owes the operator about $6,000 in arrears. The 48-year-old, who declined to be named, said: 'Initially, everyone thought this location was good because there isn't a market here. But now, we really can't sustain our business.'
The centre, which serves about 250 HDB blocks in Sengkang, opened to great fanfare as residents had been asking for a wet market to be built there since 2007.
But concerns were raised when Renaissance Properties, a subsidiary of foodcourt chain Kopitiam, won the tender to build and run the centre at $500,100 a month. Residents were worried the price would translate into higher rents and, thus, higher food prices.
Indeed, the monthly rent for a stall there is between $2,000 and $6,000, higher than that of between $1,500 and $3,000 in an HDB-run market.
Cooked food also costs more. A bowl of fish soup, for example, costs $4, about $1 more than what other food centres charge.
Those who use Kopitiam stored-value cards, however, enjoy a 10 per cent discount at the food centre and a 5 per cent discount for wet market produce.
The stallholders interviewed said business was good initially. It was reported in January that 20,000 patronised the place daily. But the crowds soon thinned as customers complained about the prices, poor ventilation and poor food quality.
Retiree Richard Pang, 62, who shops at the wet market occasionally, noted that pork could cost about $2 more a kg compared to that sold in other wet markets.
Housewife Lum Wai Leng, 40, felt the food centre was not up to standard.
'The food is quite expensive but the taste is so-so. There is no air-conditioning too so the price just isn't justified.'
Earlier this year, Kopitiam cut the rental by 30 per cent but some stallholders said they are still struggling to cover the rent. Other measures, such as introducing free shuttle services for Sengkang and Punggol residents and offering an hour of free parking, also failed to draw the crowds after the initial surge.
Kopitiam declined to be interviewed.
The Straits Times understands that it has sent letters to stallholders who have left, asking them to pay their arrears. These stallholders also forfeit their deposits of a few thousand dollars.
Besides Kopitiam Square, there is another wet market in Sengkang, in Rivervale Mall, about 1km away. But residents have complained about its small size and poor service standards.
Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said he was concerned about the closure of the stalls as residents' needs may not be met. He said grassroots leaders have sought approval from the authorities to organise events such as movie screenings in the open area near the market to draw the crowds.
He added that HDB should relook its practice of awarding tenders to the highest bidder, to ensure that businesses are viable.
Despite the exodus, some stallholders said they will stay on. One vegetable seller, who wanted to be identified only as Madam Ang, 61, said: 'Residents, especially the housewives, do want a wet market and food centre here.'
