A walk along Orchard Road reveals that the coronavirus pandemic has hit Singapore's famous shopping streets hard.
Gone are the days for popular restaurants like Modesto's, which closed last month after 23 years. Chinese tourists outside Chanel and Louis Vuitton are also missing in line. Once one of Asia's top shopping destinations, the 2.4-kilometer (1.5-mile) shopping mall is full of empty shops. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, it's worth noting that many clerks were idle on shelves cleaning up dust or playing with their phones instead of saying hello.
"This is the worst crisis in Singapore and Orchard Road," said Kiran Assodani, who has been running a sanctioned sewing shop in an older shopping mall for 35 years. Since the outbreak of the virus, sales of remodeled stores aimed at both tourists and locals have fallen by 90 percent. "I don't know if the store can weather this storm."
The discomfort of Orchard Road is a microcosm of the suffering of this city-state. After a successful containment of Covid-19, dozens of outbreaks of dormitories hosting foreign workers triggered a two-month partial lockdown that plunged the economy into its worst recession on record. Global travel restrictions are robbing Singapore of about $20 billion in travel revenue, and the domestic market is too small to make up for the gap.
Orchard Road was originally home to fruit, nutmeg and pepper farms in the early 19th century, hence the name. Orchard Road was transformed into a luxury shopping mall – the first department store to open in 1958 – reflecting Singapore's relatively weak trade growth outpost to one of the world's wealthiest countries.
Now, it is tracking the recession of the economy.
Italian restaurant Modesto has survived the SARS outbreak and the Asian and global financial crises in more than two decades on Orchard Road, but succumbed to the coronavirus. Owner Ashok Melwani did not renew the lease, but instead decided to reduce the loss and close it permanently.
The 62-year-old said: "If I renew my contract, I am signing up for the roller coaster in the dark. "He also closed a second Modesto store nearby." I may bleed, and the bleeding is endless. ”
The economic downturn has hit luxury brands and low-price retailers equally hard.
Robert Chua, who runs a discount luggage store in Far East Plaza, estimates he can stay another two months. In the past, he sold suitcases and backpacks to mostly U.S., European and Chinese tourists each month, earning about S$25,000 ($18,000) a month. Now, S$300 a day is a good choice, and some days there are no customers at all.
The 50-year-old said: "Every day I come to this store I feel sad. "In his books, he kept three S$50 bills – Chinese superstitious intentions to keep money flowing in, but to no avail." I couldn't sleep thinking about what I had to pay. After the rent rebates offered by the government and some landlords ended in July, his monthly rent was S$6,000.
At least 20 shops in Far East Plaza are empty, optimistically plastered with the words "for rent" on the shutters, which are owned by the billionaire family behind RB Capital.
A few blocks away from the more upscale part of Ngee Ann City, the Silhill Global REIT portfolio, is a similar story. Several stores are closed, including a Japanese restaurant and a linen fashion retailer british India.
Nana Sahamat, manager of Japanese clothing store Fray ID, said: "I've been in the retail business since 1994 and it's never been so bad. Before the crisis, I was busy entertaining clients, but now I spend more time in the background to take stock. ”
To be sure, before the coronavirus infection, Orchard Road had lost its luster. The stores at Marina Bay Sands attract luxury retailers like Christian Louboutin, Fendi and Gucci, as well as wealthy tourists and domestic consumers such as fine dining restaurants like Cut by Wolfgang Puck.
Meanwhile, more cost-conscious shoppers are heading to suburban shopping malls where high street brands like Uniqlo, Zara and Topshop are converging, eliminating the need to venture into Orchard Road.
"Before the pandemic, there was already a decline in foot traffic and sales on Orchard Road," said Wong King-hyun, a lecturer in the Department of Marketing at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
"Only when international tourism fully recovers, the economy recovers, everyone is willing to spend, and Orchard Road offers not only shopping but also a unique experience, the region will be able to attract people as much as it did during peak times," she said. "Said.
Several attempts have been made to revitalize the region. CapitaLand Ltd.'s futuristic Ion Orchard, which opened in 2009, gives shoppers access to everything they need – from luxury jewellery and fashion to affordable brands such as Swarovski. There is also a huge underground food court showcasing fast food and Singaporean street food. The strip also dabbled in midnight shopping, monthly pedestrian nights and a S$40 million redevelopment project to widen the sidewalk.
Wong said: "The experiences introduced still can't 'appeal' to consumers. ”
Last year, the government announced new plans to transform Orchard Road into a "lifestyle destination". The strip is expected to be divided into four zones, each with its own focus, such as arts and culture, youth centres and garden areas.
"Like many other cities, Singapore is studying possible changes in consumer behaviour and the impact of the pandemic on our urban development plans," Tourism Singapore and the Urban Renewal Authority said in an email response to a Bloomberg question. "In due course, we will look at tweaking and fine-tuning specific programs."
For melwani, the restaurateur, it was too late.
He said: "Orchard Road definitely has its charm, but I am afraid that the ship has sailed. "Honestly, I don't know what brings back glamorousness."
< Welcome to read the wonderful content presented to you by the new journey, if you like or want to know more, please add a follower collection plus comments to support the editor. It's also better to bring you different and wonderful content every day! >