Orchard Road

Plans are being drawn up to transform Singapore's main shopping belt, Orchard Road, into something more than rows of boutiques and malls, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Chee Hong Tat said on Wednesday (Oct 17). These plans could include turning Orchard Road into an innovation district, where start-ups and social entrepreneurs use the precinct as a "living lab" to test out ideas for new...

ONE has to concede that Orchard Road is not the shopping belt it once was during its halcyon days. No longer do you see throngs lining the 2.2-kilometre boulevard, not even on weekends. Once regarded as the shopping and entertainment destination for Singaporeans and tourists alike, are Orchard Road's glory days dwindling? To better understand the wane of such a key shopping destination, it is worth...

AVERAGE prime retail rents on Orchard Road fell for the sixth consecutive quarter in the second quarter of this year, CBRE Research said on Thursday. Prime Orchard Road rents stood at S$32.50 per square foot per month (psf/month), on average, in the second quarter, down 1.1 per cent from the first quarter of 2016. The prime suburban retail rents fell less sharply, with the average prime rent in that...

A more differentiated and customised shopping experience, as well as greater prominence for Singaporean craft and design could be in the works to strengthen Orchard Road’s appeal. A proposal for a “special precinct” called Upper Orchard, comprising the area stretching from Tanglin Road to Scotts Road, has also been put forward by City Developments (CDL). The district will have a “unique...

Once a famed shopping haven for Singaporeans and tourists alike, Orchard Road is at risk of going out of fashion, never mind the opulence and grandeur of new and refurbished malls lining the 2.2km boulevard. Even on weekends, the crowds have visibly thinned and vacancy rates have risen — at some of the older malls, more than half the shops on entire floors are empty. Faced with the combined...

As Singapore retailers face pressure from the slowing economy, Orchard Road malls are looking for new ways to draw the crowds. Besides renovating the mall and changing the tenant mix, landlords are also throwing in free performances in a bid to attract the crowds. For example, over the weekend, shoppers at ION Orchard witnessed a series of aerial circus acts. The performances marked the completion of...

When Singaporean Hidayu Mustaafa craves for retail therapy, she walks to a mall five minutes from her home in the eastern suburb of Tampines instead of bussing down to Orchard Road - the island-state's shopping Mecca. That is bad news for Orchard Road's glitzy malls, which showcase brands such as Inditex's Zara and H&M, as well as luxury names like Chanel and Prada. Increased competition from...

The Centrepoint along Orchard Road will soon go through another facelift to make itself more attractive to shoppers and tourists. But in an increasingly competitive landscape, malls along Orchard Road must also offer other leisure activities and facilities to complement the retail experience, according to property experts. Orchard Road receives more than seven million visitors each year, but it is...

Twenty months and S$80 million later, Shaw Centre is all decked out in time to welcome shoppers this festive season. The 42-year-old mall was given a facelift to improve its appeal and pull in a younger crowd, and property consultancy Chestertons say the makeover could also give Scotts Road a much-needed lift. The new Shaw Centre now has a wider sidewalk and a glass facade. It also has a new Urban...

Tanglin Shopping Centre is trying for an en bloc sale for the second time. It failed to find a buyer on its first attempt last year at a reserve price of S$1.25 billion. In fact, there has never been a successful en bloc sale in the Orchard Road shopping belt. Teresa Wong purchased a freehold shop spanning 330 square feet at Far East Plaza 25 years ago. For the beauty therapist, the need to control...