Photos Of Deserted Orchard Mall Stuck In Time Evoke Nostalgia, Memories Of Once-Lively Hangout

Ming Arcade Used To Be A Hotspot For “Live” Music Performances In The 80s, Now It’s Mostly Empty

Ask Gen Zs to name iconic hangout spots on Orchard Road, and *SCAPE and ION Orchard would probably be top of the list.

But before these buildings existed, where did youngsters of yesteryear go to grab a drink and entertain themselves in Orchard?

Here’s the name of a building that not many people born after 1995 would have heard of: Ming Arcade.

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However, the once-lively mall off Cuscaden Road is now deserted, as can be seen in these pictures uploaded on Reddit by a user named jensonslog, who calls himself an urban photographer.

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Ming Arcade is now mostly empty

In a series of photos, the Redditor captures the old mall’s empty corridors and vacant stores.

Evidently, most units are now vacant, leaving Ming Arcade primarily unoccupied.

Since most units are empty, even the escalators have been switched off, jensonslog says.

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However, some of the few businesses that are still in operation are the pub restaurant on the ground floor, and a karaoke joint in the basement that gets pretty good reviews to this day.

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Though the mall seems quiet, when he visited, he could hear a nostalgic 80s jazz track still playing from the speakers, transporting him to a time when the mall was very much alive.

Netizens reminisce about the old times

While the mall might now look unappealing, almost eerie, it was a paradise for Singaporeans who frequented Orchard Road.

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Some left comments recalling their experiences back in the days.

A cafe with the “cheapest beer you could find in Orchard Road” can still be found in the mall as one of the few surviving tenants.

Netizens recommend the excellent hot wings and cheap drink deals, which you might want to try after the Covid-19 situation blows over.

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Rainbow Lounge was the hottest nightspot in town

While the basement levels house a karaoke outlet now, few would realise that the premises used to house the hottest “live” music performance space in town, called the Rainbow Lounge.

The iconic nightspot hosted bands like Tokyo Square, Speedway, Gypsy and Culture Shock, according to a report by The Middle Ground.

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In fact, legendary rock artist David Bowie was almost slated to perform there.

The Rainbow Lounge was opened in 1983 by Dr Goh Poh Seng, a doctor and playwright who won the Cultural Medallion for Literature in 1982. He was also good friends with Bowie, and brought him to Singapore for his first concert in the Republic in 1983.

Sadly, after public complaints, the Rainbow Lounge lost its entertainment licence and was shut down by the Public Entertainment Licensing Unit.

The establishment ultimately closed for good in 1988, according to the National Heritage Board.

Old-school lifts look desolate

While the karaoke outlet that replaced the Rainbow Lounge and pub restaurant are the last vestiges of life in the building, most of the surrounding stores, would up their businesses long ago, making it rare to see customers roaming around.

That’s probably why even the lifts look desolate.

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Gives off a nostalgic vibe like no other

Certainly, the pictures of this old-school structure do evoke a great sense of nostalgia, reminding us of other vintage buildings like Beauty World and Far East Plaza.

Despite the haunting atmosphere that now occupies Ming Arcade, some netizens seem to be fans of this photo series, considering it’s rare to come across buildings untouched since the 80s nowadays.

Maybe after the ‘Circuit Breaker’, we can take a trip down memory lane and explore the deserted mall.

Featured image adapted from Reddit & Imgur.