ONE of Singapore's newest heartland malls, nex at Serangoon
Central, opened in November last year. Since its launch, the new
mall has encountered several teething problems including complaints
over limited parking spaces and insufficient public seats.
The 7-storey suburban mall has over 600,000 square feet of
retail space and cost $1.3 billion to build. It is one of many
heartland malls mushrooming up across the island.
Nearly twenty years ago in 1992, Singapore saw its first
heartland mall built in Yishun. Managed by Frasers Centrepoint,
Northpoint had only 90 shops then. However, after a $30 million
facelift in 2008, Northpoint now boasts a wide array of shopping
choices with 168 tenants, including a wet-and-dry playground on its
top floor.
In addition, retailers like King & King Wong, Doggiestyle
Cafe and Magic Shop are opting to open their flagship stores in
heartland malls instead of Orchard Road.
With bigger and better heartland malls closer to our homes, is
there still a need for Singaporeans to make a trip downtown?
-- ST