Northerners, we’ve got news for you. There will be way more shopping options in North Singapore besides Causeway Point and YewTee Point by 2020.
Plans are in motion to open shopping spaces at 3 northern MRT stations – Woodlands North, Woodlands and Woodlands South – in December.
Source
And we picture them to resemble Japanese-style underground malls.
That’s because JR East – Japan’s largest train line operator – just won the $24 million retail operation bid in August.
The shopping malls may reportedly house some Japanese brands that are also operating in Japan malls run by JR East.
Lumine Est, one of the shopping centres operating at Shinjuku Station in Japan, is one of those brands
Source
These JR East shopping spaces are expected to occupy 27 out of 32 MRT stations along the Thomson-East Coast Line.
If you’ve travelled to Japan, you’d surely remember their underground shopping complexes inside train stations, like Shinjuku Station. A majority of these shopping malls are operated by JR East.
According to Japan Times, JR East will open shopping areas at 27 of the 32 MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast Line, AKA the Brown Line.
Source
The Brown Line spans 43km starting from Woodlands North, all the way to Sungei Bedok. It’ll have 7 interchange stations linked to the North-South Line, East-West Line, North-East Line, Circle Line, and Downtown Line.
Still a work in progress, the Brown Line is expected to begin partial operation by the end of 2019.
JR East, formally known as East Japan Railway Co., is opening shopping spaces in our MRT stations as part of their overseas business expansion.
Source
They’re also reportedly aiming to “cash in on purchasing power in Southeast Asia’s richest economy”.
With this venture in Singapore, the Tokyo-based company also earned another feather in its cap. It’s the first Japanese railway operator to develop commercial facilities at stations in foreign countries, reported Japan Times.
JR East won the retail operation tender for the Brown Line with SMRT, and Alphaplus Investments – a subsidiary of NTUC FairPrice – on 27 Aug.
They’ll be renting a 5,000 sq m space from the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for 16 years starting from the end of 2019.
Source
Meanwhile on NTUC FairPrice’s side, they’ll be opening Cheers convenience stores in these shopping spaces.
Once the Brown Line is completed in 2024, it’ll be Singapore’s third longest MRT line.
By then, we foresee that the underground shopping scene would be a lot more vibrant since JR East may be bringing Japan-style malls to us.
If you’re not planning to go to Japan for the next few years, we hope shopping in JR East-operated malls along the Brown Line will give us a taste of the authentic ‘ekinaka’ experience once they open.
Featured image adapted from Thomson Line Construction and Nippon.
"It is difficult to say goodbye," said WSJ editor-in-chief Emma Tucker.
He had always been strong and healthy and his family had no history of heart…
The owner of the portrait has since taken it down to avoid disturbing neighbours.
The match will be held on 6 June at the National Stadium.
He accused the officer of being "scared" of him as well.
Consumption of the health products can have severe side effects.