15 Defunct Department Stores We Miss Most

[Confuseous]

To digress, opposite Cold Storage -you had the iconic car park hawker stall (nights).
Popular for eats, el cheapo dates.

Remember the slim Malay always dressed up like a cowboy, complete with hat, and Texas "tie" round his neck.
He also packed a toy six-shooter on his hips and swagger around. He did not cause any problem.

 

[zhihau]

Many of the Indian stall owners there could speak fluent Russian - there were lots of Russian sailors walking around.

Thought the rooskies were free roaming only after Perestroika, learning new things.

 

[zhihau]

He also packed a toy six-shooter on his hips and swagger around. He did not cause any problem.

Come on... things were more happening in the past, and folks knew the rules and kept within their boundaries.

 

[Nice-Gook]

Many of the Indian stall owners there could speak fluent Russian - there were lots of Russian sailors walking around.

those indians in change alley spoke all kinds of languages too

not to mention the whole of Robinson's square were Indians, hardly much Chinese or a single malay businesses

the entire Battery Road ,where our Standard Chartered Bank is ,were Indian stationery shops selling all the offices needs ..the biggest was Gulam ,right next to bank of china and Malayan Bank building ,and right at the bottom was Wahab ,(think this name still exists ) ....the only Chinese stationary shop among them was Liang Bros ...where the Battery Road ends the Malacca street interjection, here is where the Chettiars or the indian money lenders were ,and along the road ,there werr at least two Thosai shops serving indian meals

and right where the current UOB building is ,there was an indian Mosque, still is ,but underground

the whole place was a mini india like except that it was our only commercial centre before buildings and high scrapers started to mushroom along Shenton Way road

incidently ,LKY had his office in Malacca street as a young lawyer and some of his earliest clients were Indian Muslims ,involved in the Maria Hedgehog riots

 

[Nice-Gook]

Thought the rooskies were free roaming only after Perestroika, learning new things.

the rooskies buisness than shifted to the High Street plaza ...some of the shops in the second floor were exclusive to Russians only even the signboards were in russian,usually cheap electronics....it was a strange mixture ,shops catered to mainly Russians and indians ,but the offices had many law firms ..one of which was Chiam See Tong, you can always catch him having his coffee break in the first floor canteen

 

[Confuseous]

those indians in change alley spoke all kinds of languages too

not to mention the whole of Robinson's square were Indians, hardly much Chinese or a single malay businesses

the entire Battery Road ,where our Standard Chartered Bank is ,were Indian stationery shops selling all the offices needs ..the biggest was Gulam ,right next to bank of china and Malayan Bank building ,and right at the bottom was Wahab ,(think this name still exists ) ....the only Chinese stationary shop among them was Liang Bros ...where the Battery Road ends the Malacca street interjection, here is where the Chettiars or the indian money lenders were ,and along the road ,there werr at least two Thosai shops serving indian meals

and right where the current UOB building is ,there was an indian Mosque, still is ,but underground

the whole place was a mini india like except that it was our only commercial centre before buildings and high scrapers started to mushroom along Shenton Way road

incidently ,LKY had his office in Malacca street as a young lawyer and some of his earliest clients were Indian Muslims ,involved in the Maria Hedgehog riots

The chettiars (money lenders) sat on low "desks" with folded "sarongs". Commonly referred to Big Ear Hole Devils - because it was quite
common to see uncles and aunties sticking coins into their ears; from which they "dig" to pay for their bus fares.

 

[zhihau]

because it was quite common to see uncles and aunties sticking coins into their ears; from which they "dig" to pay for their bus fares.

I did all the time that till they changed into those farecards, easier to just tekan the lowest fare amount

 

[mixmasternrv]

I remember as a youngster heading to Yaohan in Plaza Singapura. My parents would leave me at the kid's play service where they had lots of lego while they did their shopping. Dinner was at restaurant there which was a bit dark but had great spaghetti bolognaise. Never forget the deliciousness of it until today.

 

[Confuseous]

I remember Peter Chew and Mohans but not Gian Singh. Was there aircon in the overhead bridge that connects Change Alley to Clifford Pier?

There was. There were also some food and drink stalls in the middle of it.
Once, a crane driver forgot to lower its boom; luckily there was no serious damage.

 

[Confuseous]

Oh man, you must be very old already. Robinson fire was in 1972. Now 48 years later - 2020.

Ah pek, I like all your grandma stories and post.

The deaths of people in the lifts during that fire led to the current IN CASE OF FIRE, DO NOT GO INTO LIFTS signage regulations.

 

[glockman]

There was. There were also some food and drink stalls in the middle of it.
Once, a crane driver forgot to lower its boom; luckily there was no serious damage.

Yes I remember that incident. I googled to find the exact date, and the article :

AsiaOne
Sunday, Jan 01, 2012

SINGAPORE - A crane crashed into the Change Alley overhead bridge at Collyer Quay on Dec 31, 2011, causing a part of it to come loose.

SCDF verified the accident and told citizen journalism website Stomp that they had received a call at about 4.45pm.

"The location given to us was 1 Fullerton Square overhead bridge near the Fullerton Hotel," said SCDF.

Two fire engines and one ambulance were dispatched.

SCDF said that they found debris on the road when they arrived at the scene, however, no one was hurt.

The Change Alley link bridge connects pedestrians from Hitachi Towers to Clifford Pier.

https://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120101-319322.html

 

[Balls2U]

What's the name of the department store at People's Park Complex on the second floor? It used to be quite big, but have shrunk considerably over the years.