Clarice was saying the other day, how un-Singaporean I am. There are many times where I struggle to find my place, and maybe it’s what gives me space for my expression here.
I am exploring some ideas about what makes my local areas so special, and I personally think one of the most Singaporean aspects I have come to realise is the Singaporean Mall checklist. We have the same set of shops in every, if not most, of our malls in Singapore.
1. Uniqlo
There is definitely a Uniqlo somewhere in the building, and it’s got the Singaporean uniform on sale. The crucial part to Singaporeans and Uniqlo is the sale section, where we have to see the red tag, and we’ll fluff through it until we find something in our size.
2. Decathlon
“Click and collect within 2 hours” is part of Decathlon’s selling point in Singapore, but also because you can get sportswear at a really cheap price. We’re all about the discounts, and you’ve got to at least have one quick dry towel from Decathlon in your house. If not a cheap backpack to keep your water bottles in.
3. McDonalds
I don’t know a mall that doesn’t have a McDonalds (pronounced MAX, in Singlish). It’s where you go to sit down and wait for your friends or for a McSpicy burger. Both ways, if you’re in a mall in Singapore, there’s one of these.
4. Hock Hua Tonic (or similar brands)
These are a Chinese Herbal Tea shop, selling Chinese tea. Chinese tea would carry “cooling” properties to combat against the “heaty” foods and lifestyles. An example would be to drink some liang teh after a very stressful and hot day.
5. Supermarket (Cold Storage/NTUC Finest/Sheng Siong/Giant)
Malls do need a supermarket main around for sure, and the Singaporean staples are the four named above. Most have self check out counters now, but everyone knows you’ll have to get checked still for alcohol.
6. Bubble Tea shop
There is one, but it ranges from location. Sometimes there are two. The bare minimum bubble tea shop is Each a Cup. The higher end ones would be Hey Tea, where you could sit down and drink your overpriced mango cheese ice blend. I’m not judging, I’m speaking from personal experience.
7. Sketchers?
Why? I don’t understand? There are so many Sketchers shops, and they’re always with a Korean idol standee in front. I get we always need shoes, but this one is really a little beyond me.
8. Chateraise
This Japanese pastry shop is just all over the place. After the double fantasy recipe change, I’ve stopped getting them so often. But it’s still a very easy way to get a quick cake before going to a friend’s place. Impressive looking, at a cheap cost. Singaporean.
9. Daiso/Threepy
Daiso is a great place just to sit there and soak in how cheap everything is. Not 2 dollars, but about 2.18 now, and it’s still quite reasonable. In the Threepy versions, there’s so much more quality, but you do pay a price for it.
10. Handphone repair shop
A little harder to find these days, but there is one somewhere, if not just outside the mall. They carry phone cases of all sorts, and they have impeccable skills in replacing your phone screen covers with tempered glass options. If you’re daring enough, you could even buy a phone from them, but being Singaporean, you’d probably get it from Shopee.
I think I covered most of them. DM me if you think I’ve left something out. I might make a zine out of this one. lol.