I remember the neighbourhood "indian shops" that used to found all over the island. They would sell everything from light bulbs, comic, newspapers, panadol,.... All this convenience & prices were also cheap
Today their roles have been taken by the big companies like Cheers, 7-11, .... and Singpost. However the prices are not cheap:(
Nothing is cheap anymore except the 'promises' of the PAP
Yes Johnny333, the "lima-kaki" or "five foot-way" stalls were famous back then.
All it took was a a huge cupboard in which all the articles from A-Z was kept. They were usually run by South Indian Muslims, who were a very enterprising and deeply religious Muslims. I personally know of one such Mamak, Din, who operated from the five-foot walkway of the Yew Lian Hotel, Lorong 29, Geylang Road. These is where you can find the famous Hokkien mee and duck rice stalls.
Din was an old man who would never miss his Friday prayer at the nearby mosque. The other prayers he will perform on a mat at the side of his shop. Even being so deeply religious, Din will never ever show off his religiosity to others.
In his absence, the stall will be "looked after" by the coffeeshop operator. Just imagine the trust these mamak had on the local Chinese operator?
No one dared to take items from his display cabinet. The Chinese coffeeshop man protected the mamak's possessions. Just see the espirit de corp between people of other faiths.?
The mamak operator even slept infront of his shops and open it in for business in the morning, avtering to almost everyone from women in need of menses pads to school kids wanting to buy exercise books and other stationeries. These mamak stalls sold cigarettes, condoms, magazines, Student World, lighters, Ronson gas fillers, cheap chocs, sweets, panadol and many more items. Their prices were low as their operational costs were low.
These mamaks were also very respectful of their clientele, regardless of religion and culture.
They were frugal and could even send money to their kids in South India to excel in universities. Din was one such man. He ided in India a few years ago. His son came here but have since packed off too
Their (mamak stalls) death-knell came with the arrival of 7-11 and it's competitor, Cheers. Slowly this humble shops started to disappear from all over the island.
In its place are HDB kiosks at void-decks which rent out "only to the highest bidder". So naturally the price hits the roof.
DO WE REALLY NEED 7-11, CHEERS and others???????
Maybe some readers can enlighten members as to where we may still find such a mamak shop that may have escaped the probing eyes of the authorities.
Across the causeway, these shops are still giving a run to 7-11 and other operators.
Is it worth the while paying a price for such modern-day air-cond facilities like these new outlets supported by giants like Cold Storage and rich NTUC?
