Orchard Central Shopping Centre (10 floors)

[ScaniaLuver]

Originally Posted by redstone

Nope... I saw a huge ground based crane on the ground. It's still the largest crane Ive ever seen before

Hmm im not sure about it then. Sorry.

[keil]

hope there will be developements at the post office side..tt will make somerset area even more vibrant!

cant wait to see this glass beauty soon!

[odim]

had wanted to post a while back but kept procrastinating...took this in june 08 actually....where they used two supercranes to hoist the super long escalator high up in the air!

[RafflesCity]

That is a rare sight! Thanks for sharing

[RafflesCity]

Orchard Central duplexes split up

5 Sep 08

Level 1 duplexes turned into single-storey units due to slow economy and lack of demand

GLOOMIER times appear to have taken a toll on the upcoming Orchard Central mall near Somerset MRT Station.
The mall will no longer house two-storey shops, or duplexes, on its ground floor as had previously been announced, the project's developer Far East Organization has told The Straits Times.



These duplexes were intended to have been glitzy, eye-grabbing outlets likely to have been leased by top-notch brands.

Instead, the three duplexes planned for level 1 have been split into single-storey units and leased to retailers wanting smaller premises.

Industry watchers said demand for the higher-rent duplex stores is likely to have waned due to the economic slowdown.

Also, the area, considered by some to be the more downmarket end of Orchard Road, may lack the cache needed to pull in the large brands that are more likely to take those spaces, they said.

Orchard Central is one of three new shopping centres to go up in Orchard Road in more than a decade.

The 14-storey mall is slated to open early next year, and will boast underground shops, restaurants with outdoor balcony seating, as well as a special 'jewel box' - a glass-fronted shop to be suspended in mid-air outside the building.

When contacted, Far East said: 'We had more demand for single-floor units, and we are happy to report that the key level 1 shops facing Orchard Road have been snapped up. We also decided to change the original plans as this would mean more shopping diversity and choices for our customers.'

It added that the mall has one more duplex unit, on levels 3 and 4, which has attracted interest but has yet to be leased out.

Ms Lau Chuen Wei, executive director of Singapore Retailers Association (SRA), said it is 'not surprising if there is a lack of demand' for the double-storey units.

'A duplex would definitely require a higher rental commitment, which is, by and large, something that retailers find quite hard to commit to at this time.'

Property consultants The Straits Times spoke to said duplex stores have high visibility so landlords would 'normally want a very high-end brand' to occupy them.

'If I were the landlord, I'd have to give it to someone who is really worthy of it,' said one retail property specialist, who declined to be named.

'If not, splitting a unit into two will get higher rental,' he added.

Some observers also say the fact that several malls are springing up at about the same time has created more intense competition in the battle for the brands.

Previously, Far East had told The Straits Times that its 'jewel box' store, to be designed by renowned Egyptian-born industrial designer Karim Rashid, will 'as its name suggests...be occupied by an upmarket jeweller'.

But Cupid Jewels, a home-grown firm specialising in lower-priced bling, has now confirmed its tenancy there.

It has four showrooms in decidedly less swanky locales - Clifford Centre, Harbourfront Centre, Novena Square and OG Orchard Point - but said it will rebrand itself as a more upmarket jeweller at Central.

In contrast, Ion Orchard, the other mall being built at Orchard Turn, has snagged glitzy labels like Cartier and Louis Vuitton to front its duplexes, as well as haute jewellers Harry Winston, Chaumet and Boucheron to occupy its first floor.

But industry experts also defended Orchard Central's positioning, saying the area near the Somerset MRT Station is no less attractive than the strip nearer to the Orchard MRT Station.

Mr Danny Yeo, deputy managing director of Knight Frank, said: 'It's not that this part of Orchard Road does not have a draw, it's just not a main draw for the high-end segment.'

'The malls near Somerset are all internally connected to each other. And there are enough young people who will find that this side will provide a good alternative to the strip between Ion and Ngee Ann City. Now Orchard Road has two distinct and strongly positioned areas.'

And Ms Daisy Loo, head of leasing and consulting at Sandalwood Retail, said: 'Mass market brands can have duplexes too. It doesn't mean only luxury brands can afford a duplex, and it doesn't mean a duplex is the only thing that will earn you top dollar.'

She added: 'It's part and parcel of business to rethink strategies and review plans when market conditions change. Decisions are always based on changes in demand and tenant requirements.'

By Michelle Tay
Straits Times

[babystan03]

Will be interesting to see how interesting the mall is...

[kurakura]

thats a bad move man....the more u need to differentiate urself at trying times so that u can pull the crowd....the top 2-3% of the worlds population can still spend like no tomorow.

[ddes]

I think Orchard Central, as well as 313 know that the Somerset area chases more of the mass-market brands. I'm sure they know they cannot compete with Palais Renaisance/Hilton/Ion Orchard/Taka/Paragon combi. It's useless to do so.

[keil]

hah, they overdelivered during the press launch the other time..what new brands to be seen..what bull!

on the papers some brands to be expected are dockers all these..nothing new at all!

seems that ion is better, at least to expect h&m, uniqlo all these..

[ddes]

There's no H&M at Ion Orchard, at least that's what recent press releases confirm.

There is still relevance for existing brands in Orchard Central, as long as they innovate and adapt. Giordano and G2000, for example, are good examples of old brands innovating to capture new markets.

Shopping is not just about high-end brands. Recently, there has been an exodus of mid-market and mass brands in the Orchard Road region. Singapore is made up of different peoples of different social standings, most of which, rely on mid-market brands. We cannot do without mid-market brands for the masses.

However, Orchard's loss is Marina Centre's gain, the latter obviously chasing the mid-market to high-end markets with great success.

[keil]

all in all, we need something new..nt repeats..period.

[spikeshamz]

Certainly true, what i supposed is that, not only should they rely on high end market but they can opt for the mid market and low end market too.. At least, everybody are able to shop there. Frontage should be given not only to foreign brands but locals and SE asian brands so that people are able to simmilate easily with them. Examples are charles and keith, greyhound, people of asia or even local designers... Go bold go strong.. One of the thing that i realised is that, even restaurants or foot outlets should be doing frontage.. look at Jumbo.. they are famous because of their frontage in Hongkong. Everybody knows the letterings...

[heirloom]

@keil

it seems every mall is guilty of promising new retail concepts and then underdelivering, not just orchard central.

also, imo, i really dont think h&m should take up space in ion orchard - its price levels and product quality are more suited to a place like great world city!

h&m/topshop/uniqlo/muji could form the duplex anchors of orchard central - making somerset the definitive high street of singapore.

on a personal note, i much prefer uniqlo and muji to topshop and h&m.

[tweedledum]

New retails concepts and profit rarely meet in between. New retails ideas usually mean alternatives to big merchant chains such as Cold Storage, Starbucks, MacDonalds, Harvey Norman or even Kopitiam, but its these very players who will have the financial capacity to pay for the floor space they occupy, something which developers ultimately look for. And since developers are not accountable to producing a unique retail "corner" along Orchard Rd, they will most likely fall back on the profit mode. Natural attrition will dictate the tenant mix in the end.

Just look at how the much hyped Japanese/Korean retail concept is falling apart in places like Clarke Quay's Central.

It will be interesting though to see how the LED facades replicate the look and feel of the Shibuya junction in Tokyo.

[glitz_boy]

@heirloom .. i like all brand la ... kekekekeke Celio also looks nice ... always go there take a look :P

[ddes]

At The Central, at least for dining options, the Japanese concept has remained faithful, especially with Marutama Ramen and Santouka Ramen, both of which opened their first outlets in Asia.

Personally, I had hoped for another cineplex in Orchard Road's rejuvenation. The fact that The Cathay, being so inconvenient, still receives high cinema visitorship highlights the fact that there is a lack of cinemas in the Orchard Road area.

[kurakura]

nooooo...my H&M!!!

[keil]

orchard central is taking shape real nicely, the sides are retro fitted wuth metallic strips..i believe overall, this new mall will look not too bad!

still waiting for them to put on those metallic mesh in front though!

[ddes]

Anyone read the TST article on Orchard Central getting a Mediterranean theme for its basement?

The moment I saw that, my mind shouted "FISH & CO!!!!"

[keil]

Originally Posted by ddes

Anyone read the TST article on Orchard Central getting a Mediterranean theme for its basement?

The moment I saw that, my mind shouted "FISH & CO!!!!"

rather refreshing, thumbs up for tt..
hope the upper levels will be as unqiue.