'It feels like a regular pasar malam': Geylang Serai bazaar returns with more stalls but fewer crowds

SINGAPORE — It was the first weekend of Ramadan 2023 and the bazaar in Geylang Serai has returned for a second year after its hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Last year, 70 stalls were available for rent in a muted version of the bazaar. This year, the number has gone up tenfold to around 700 stalls, according to bazaar organiser Wisma Geylang Serai.

But for civil servant Kevin, the bazaar seemed less crowded than it used to be before the pandemic.

“It’s a good thing I guess, because it’s not crowded so it’s not as stuffy as it was in previous years,” said the 28-year-old, who declined to give his full name. He spoke to TODAY at around 5pm on Sunday (March 26).

“It used to be very chaotic, very noisy, but it adds to the festivities. I think that’s what is missing. Right now, it just feels like a regular pasar malam.”

Ms Emerald Tan, who runs sandals store Blackout Singapore with Mr Emerson Ong, 27, echoed the sentiment.

“It used to be a lot busier. Right now it’s still okay, but not as good as the crowd in 2019 — I think it’s because there are too many bazaars going on this year,” said Ms Tan, 25.

This is their third time selling footwear at the Geylang Serai bazaar and their first since the pandemic. Prior to this, they had also set up stalls in 2018 and 2019.

The Geylang Serai bazaar opened last Friday and is due to run until April 21. It operates daily from 10am.

More than 200,000 visitors have been to the bazaar in the past week, with an estimated 40 per cent of these visitors being non-Malays, bazaar organiser Wisma Geylang Serai said in a press release.

The bazaar has also seen a “healthy response” from business vendors, it added, with take-up rates for food and beverage stalls at 95 per cent and retail booths at 80 per cent.

Bazaar goers TODAY spoke to said that food prices have gone up.

Kevin, the civil servant, estimated the increase to be around 20 per cent, which he described as acceptable, taking into account inflation over the years.

Full-time national serviceman Hendra, who goes by one name, noted the increase too, though he was not put off by the higher prices.

“It’s a good comeback from the Covid era,” the 23-year-old said, adding that he was drawn to the bazaar by the variety of fusion food and trending food items available.

RISE IN RENTAL COSTS, BUT BUSINESS OWNERS EXPRESS UNDERSTANDING

Like Blackout Singapore, many of the vendors are returnees.

Mr Andin Hidayatullah, 27, is running Burger Dell at the bazaar with his co-founder Muhammad Hazri, 37, for a second consecutive year.

Their stall, which opens from 1pm daily, sees an average of “10 hours of non-stop queues”.

The duo pay about S$18,000 to rent their stall – which is up from what they paid last year, though they cannot recall the exact sum – but have chosen to maintain the prices of their food items in spite of the increase in rent.

“We grew up here since the 90s,” said Mr Andin with fondness, adding that he was keen to continue setting up stall there for more years to come.

The founders of sandals store Blackout Singapore said they paid around S$8,000 in rent, up from S$5,000 in 2019.

While they foresee it might be challenging to break even, they understood the reason for the increase in rent.

“Everything is going up, so the organisers have to raise the rental for their manpower, their tentage and everything,” said Mr Ong.

“We have to pay a bit more, but we have to be understanding as they are also trying to make a living.”

In the spirit of giving back to the community as “the economy is not doing well now”, they were also distributing 250 packets of free briyani and bottled water at their stall on Sunday.