Centrepoint to undergo revamp as its lustre fades

SINGAPORE — As it seeks to recapture its glory days amid stiff competition from new swanky malls, The Centrepoint will be undergoing a S$50 million facelift in May.

Major renovation work will be carried out on the ground floor and basement levels, and the new-look mall will have an open-concept layout, with a new tenant mix and thematic zones for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, sports, dining and home, Frasers Centrepoint Malls said yesterday.

Details of the makeover — which was set in motion in November last year when Metro replaced Robinsons as the anchor tenant — came after two big-name tenants, Marks & Spencer and Cold Storage, separately announced within a week that they would be closing their outlets there.

Tenants told TODAY that business at the three-decades-old shopping centre has slowed over the years, and consists largely of regulars and tourists now. The mall has about 130 tenants in all, said its website. Because of the renovation, which is slated to take place over 16 months, about 40 tenants, including Marks & Spencer and Harvey Norman, will have to move out. The remaining tenants will carry on business as usual.

In its heyday, The Centrepoint enjoyed iconic status, with the term “Centrepoint kids” coined for youth who loitered at the mall.

“Walk-ins slowed when Robinsons moved out (last May), but it picked up after Metro moved in (last November),” said Ms Puja Pawa, store manager at Angelique boutique. Angelique has two branches on the mall’s second floor, both of which have to be vacated by August, because of the upcoming renovation.

Another tenant — who asked to be known only as Ms Tan — suggested that the mall management offer more free parking to draw in the crowds during the renovation. Currently, shoppers who spend a minimum of S$50 on weekdays are entitled to an hour of free parking.

Apart from sprucing up the mall, Frasers Centrepoint said there will be a sustained line-up of activities, events and promotions to add new buzz to the mall. It added that it will work closely with all stakeholders to minimise any inconveniences to shoppers and business during the renovation.

Mr Christopher Tang, chief executive officer of Frasers Centrepoint Commercial, said: “The mall’s improved connectivity, expansion of offerings and distinct frontage will certainly create an integrated identity for The Centrepoint.”

Last Thursday, Dubai-based Al-Futtaim Group said it will close its John Little stores in Marina Square and Tiong Bahru Plaza, as well as the Marks & Spencer outlet in The Centrepoint. In an interview with TODAY, Mr Kesri Kapur, the conglomerate’s head of business in Asia, said Singapore has “far too many” shopping malls that are similar to one another.

Retail experts agreed, adding that older malls such as The Centrepoint have suffered from the surge of new malls sprouting up along Orchard Road.

They said the shopping centre has its work cut out to attract the crowds back.

“People go for novelty. Older malls have lost attractiveness,” said Mr Samuel Tan, course manager of the retail management diploma at Temasek Polytechnic. He felt that the mall was dealt a blow when Robinsons moved out as the anchor tenant. “Robinsons represented the mall ... It’s not going to help when Marks & Spencer and Cold Storage move out,” he said.

“It’s going to be a difficult time for the next 1.5 years. Customers won’t want to go there because it’s going to be dusty and noisy.”

Dr Prem Shamdasani, an associate professor of marketing from the National University of Singapore, added: “With the increasing trend of online shopping, malls such as The Centrepoint have to work harder to engage shoppers offline and consider offering more value-added services, such as product returns or exchanges and pre-booking parking lots to attract shoppers.”