You cannot go a day in Singapore without news about some international brand pulling out of the country due to dwindling profits, or a long-time local favourite brand losing the unending battle of sky-high rentals and e-commerce.
Two months ago, we explored the brands that, in recent years, had to shut down operations after suffering sustained losses in the current market conditions.
Now we'll look at more retail locations and attractions that have had to succumb to the demons of rising costs and competition.
Underwater World
We begin by tugging at your heartstrings. If you grew up in Singapore, you would definitely have been to Underwater World Singapore at least once in your life. For those who didn't, I'm sorry but your chance has been destroyed with its recent closing on June 26, 2016.
Photo: The Straits Times.
The signature tunnel that runs through its main aquarium holds many special memories for anyone who has visited it, and for many, it was the first encounter they had with undersea creatures as children.
As with any enclosed wildlife attraction, they were not too far away from trouble, and most recently came under scrutiny in 2014 for the health conditions of its pink dolphin inhabitants. This is nothing new, as a decade back in 2004, they came under fire from the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) for the way the dolphins were acquired.
Perhaps the final nail in the coffin came with the opening of the S.E.A Aquarium in Resorts World Sentosa at the tail end of 2012, then the largest oceanarium in the world.
Where Underwater World was becoming very dated and awkwardly located at one corner of Sentosa, the shiny new S.E.A Aquarium was located in the heart of Resorts World Sentosa, and is currently one of the more popular tourist attractions in Singapore.
Thanks for the memories, Underwater World.
77th Street
While I personally have not bought a single thing from 77th Street, I have accompanied friends who did.
Photo: Elim Chew.
From the latest trendy backpacks, to even getting some bling-bling, they were a synonymous brand among teenagers of the 1990s and early 2000s. What's more, their stores are as cool as their enigmatic founder Elim Chew.
In a perfect world, Elim would have wanted the last two outlets at Bugis Junction and Ang Mo Kio Hub to soldier on, but with consistently rising rentals, and also the lease of her store in China having ended in June, it was time to bid farewell to the brand.
Catch your last whiff of nostalgia of our very own streetwear store at its last location in Ang Mo Kio Hub before it finally winds down… for good.
California Fitness
Update July 20, 2016: California Fitness has announced that, with immediate effect, all its remaining outlets will be shut down.
This was the source of an Internet uproar within the local community this past Friday.
Photo: The New Paper.
While technically not fully closed down as of yet, the tell-tale signs are there, and soon the writing will be on the wall.
Merely a day after news outlets reported that California Fitness has closed all of its branches in Hong Kong, with those in China to follow suit, gym-goers were stunned to find out that the one in Raffles Place was also closed "until further notice".
With the branch in Orchard having closed earlier this year in February, they went from four branches to two in less than six months, and if the news from Hong Kong is anything to come by, those who have signed long-term memberships with the gym are already preparing for the inevitable.
Park Mall
More popularly known as somewhere to get the latest swanky furniture for your home, Park Mall will be closing its doors come end of September this year.
Photo: The Straits Times.
This comes after the property was bought over through a joint venture for a cool $411.8 million, and there are plans to turn the site into a two-block office property with a retail component, so say goodbye to Park Mall as it will be demolished not long after it officially closes.
In the meantime, you can still snag a good deal or two from the many furniture stores clearing their stocks from now until September.
Perhaps what Park Mall will instead be greatly missed for is actually right beside it - where the largest Fish & Co restaurant has taken residence for 14 years.
Many company dinners, school gatherings and reunions, and birthday parties have graced its dining hall. There's just something special about having a get-together with large amounts of people while indulging in deep-fried seafood here.
Originally slated to close last month, they instead have extended operations to coincide with the closing of Park Mall itself, so you have until Sept 26 to reminisce over a plate of fish and chips.
Funan
The only other place in the list to have closed recently in June after Underwater World Singapore is of course everyone's favourite IT mall Funan.
Often preferred to Sim Lim Square due to its more convenient location, as well as customer safety (of not getting conned), this place has been the go-to place to get your hands on the latest gadgets and accessories.
Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source:
The Straits Times, The New Paper, AsiaOne
In its heyday, the mall hosted a large variety of events and product launches, from the latest and biggest game titles and consoles, to the latest cameras and computers. The most famous tenant to have graced its floors would definitely be Challenger, which took up the entire sixth floor and even has its roots in the mall - having been started there by founder Loo Leong Thye.
Now, the tenants have so far been scattered mostly to nearby CapitaLand properties such as Bugis Junction and Plaza Singapura, while others have decided to stay in the vicinity by moving to neighbouring buildings such as The Adelphi and Peninsula Shopping Center.
Raintree Cove
If you've ever had your fill of chilli crab and seafood from Long Beach Seafood Restaurant, or feasted on Korean barbecue with your friends at Ju Shin Jung East Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant, you will know that this place is a favourite for gatherings with friends and family.
Photo: The Straits Times.
As part of the redevelopment plans by the National Parks Board, the plot of land that Raintree Cove sits on has a lease that will end on Feb 28 in 2017, with NParks not revealing too much about what visitors can expect in the future, saying that "it is too early to reveal the plans for development".
The site is also home to Singapore's only drive-thru Burger King outlet.
This move was not a surprise considering that redevelopment of East Coast Park has been ongoing in stages, with the Marine Cove area being opened again just last month with a spanking new McDonald's outlet.
Big Splash
Another East Coast Park establishment with a lease expiring with NParks, albeit much earlier, is Big Splash.
Closing on Oct 21 this year, Big Splash is home to several food and beverage establishments, much like Raintree Cove.
After 40 years, the company behind Big Splash has decided to call time on the business. While it no longer offers the exciting and colourful water slides that made it famous and gave the area its name, many people have fond memories of playing there as kids.
Photo: The Straits Times.
As for the future of the tenants, many have already made plans to move to nearby locales, while also having secured lease extensions at their current location to better facilitate their move.
It won't be long now until all of East Coast Park loses the old charm that we grew up with, replaced with modernist designs and facilities that we need to grow accustomed to.
The Changing Faces Of Singapore; Online And Off
Change is constant, as proven by the examples above.
While some suffer due to the presence of new players and an inability to adapt to new business models, others are simply at the mercy of developers, as shopping malls in Singapore seem to have an ever-decreasing lifespan.
Perhaps it is time developers think about ways to retain both tenants and customers, before they have nothing left to redevelop as more people go online to make their purchases.
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