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With a majority of the shops still closed, there was a thin crowd, with most of the visitors seen at the supermarkets or food outlets.
After a two-week closure to contain a “likely ongoing transmission” of COVID-19 among visitors, Jem and Westgate malls reopened for business on 6 June, reported Channel News Asia (CNA).
However, crowds at the two shopping malls were thin when CNA visited them at around 11.30am. With a majority of the shops still closed, there was a thin crowd, with most of the visitors seen at the supermarkets or food outlets.
Jem and Westgate shared that they have completed deep cleaning and disinfection works prior to the reopening.
CapitaLand, which runs Westgate, said cleaning protocols and precautionary measures at the mall has also been ramped up.
In fact, stagnant air at the air-conditioned part of Westgate will be “purged” before it opens each day, said CapitaLand. To improve air intake for the kitchens and toilets, all air dampers within the mall are also fully open.
Ultraviolet technology is also used to kill germs within the mall’s central air supply system, while ultraviolet air disinfectant devices are being tested at some enclosed areas.
Meanwhile, retailers at the malls were not surprised by the low footfall.
“Even before the closure, we had no customers,” said Alex Chen, a tenant at Westgate, as quoted by CNA.
Chen, who is the General Manager of shoe shop iBeryl, revealed that his five outlets had been registering dismal sales since Singapore entered Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) in May – taking in less than $100 each on some days.
“To be honest, the two-week closure actually brought some relief because I didn’t have to worry about rent since we were given rental waivers,” he said.
“Now that we’re open again, I have to worry about poor business.”
To stay afloat, CSK Laser Aesthetic Clinics at Westgate, plans to make some drastic cost-cutting measures.
“We were already thinking about whether we should carry on when our lease at Westgate ends (around end-2022) because the situation has been very discouraging,” said Shiau Ee Leng, Medical Director of the Group.
“It feels like we’re taking so much risks, and there’s always this uncertainty of a lockdown which would force us to close,” she explained as quoted by CNA.
“We are actually looking at letting go of some staff throughout the group. Because if this is just going to be the norm, where every few months we’re forced to close down, then it’s very hard to operate business … it’s not consistent.”
Despite the gloomy situation, some retailers remain positive, luring in shoppers with personalised shopping services and discounts.
Lena Ong, who operates a kiosk selling socks at Jem, is offering a 10% discount on her items.
“It’s giving an incentive to our regular customers to buy slightly more than what they usually buy and also hopefully, attract new customers,” she said as quoted by CNA. “It could also help to clear our stock and get things moving again.”
Happy Walker, which specialises in orthopaedic shoes for patients with diabetes and the elderly, has informed customers of their reopening at Jem and ongoing promotions.
“We have quite a few regulars and most of our customers are seniors so they may not know that the malls have reopened,” said Teo Shu Tong, Director of Happy Walker.
“Hopefully, they will come back because we offer personalised services, which can’t be done online,” he added as quoted by CNA.
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Victor Kang, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this story, email: victorkang@propertyguru.com.sg
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