Victoria Street Wholesale Centre

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

one of the lost secrets of Singapore

The nearby Bugis MRT had already been built and running but yet they were still operating every night and the govt was powerless to close them down until the fire comes along. Good thing too although I sometimes wonder how the fire started.

Here's some pics of the backlanes which would be crowded with transgenders and their patrons at night:





Demolition of Johore Road shophouses for urban renewal. This would be the current site of the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre:

[RafflesCity]

Those old pictures are fascinating to look at....in a strange way, it seems bizarrely fascinating.

Before the IMF event, the authorities took great pains to repaint a lot of dirty-looking old buildings...but I've sometimes seen how captivated tourists are when they come across something 'rotting' in downtown Singapore....this would be one of such places if left intact and unrestored...

I suppose the 'crowd' moved to nearby Desker Rd after that?

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

Those old pictures are fascinating to look at....in a strange way, it seems bizarrely fascinating.

Before the IMF event, the authorities took great pains to repaint a lot of dirty-looking old buildings...but I've sometimes seen how captivated tourists are when they come across something 'rotting' in downtown Singapore....this would be one of such places if left intact and unrestored...

I suppose the 'crowd' moved to nearby Desker Rd after that?

Not sure where they really went but I read that some may have gone to Desker Road or Changi Village to ply their "trade".

I remembered those trishaw tours that take Japanese and Western tourists from the Rochor area to Kampong Glam some years back. The Johore Road backlanes were an obligatory stop by the trishaw riders for these tourists to get excited and take lots of flash photographs of the "dirty" crowd. Its hard for them to imagine such activities taking place in squeaky-clean and modern Singapore.

All these are now history.

[redstone]

Another heritage area destroyed...

[RafflesCity]

Not far away from the Victoria Wholesale Market and a stroll down the Rochor Canal (PUB plans to upgrade it) leads to the Sungei Road Thieves Market.

The area has been undeveloped for a long time. Not sure if the tourism board would promote it, but it provides a different kind of scene from other parts of the city.

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[Singapor3]

Ahh, I hate this scene the most(not saying your picture sucks =X), whenever my father drive past this road, the environment sort of changes, feels like malaysia or other neighboring countires

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by raptorsuperb

Ahh, I hate this scene the most(not saying your picture sucks =X), whenever my father drive past this road, the environment sort of changes, feels like malaysia or other neighboring countires

I actually love to rumage through their second hand wares when I was younger and working nearby. On weekends, it looks like an extension of Little India with the foreign crowd.

I suspect this place may not last more than a couple of years more once the Downtown Line MRT project gets underway. By 2013, Bugis station would be linked to Suntec City and Marina Bay and by 2015, it would be linked the other direction to Bukit Timah and Bukit Panjang.

I remember reading in the Chinese newspapers that as the current EW Bugis Station was built in the mid-eighties and not designed for a future multi-tier interchange, there is likely to be a second Bugis Station for the Downtown Line located under Ophir Road or Queen Street next to Rochor Centre, or possibly under the current Victoria Street Wholesale Centre. In my opinion, as the Thieves Market is so close by the new Bugis station, it would probably be cleared at the same time.

[RafflesCity]

That seems likely, a 'win-win' solution for urban transport and helping take full advantage of the central, 'waterfront' location. The new Bugis station will likely be an interchange to be built next to the current one. This area itself may even have its own MRT station before carrying on to Little India station.

I never used to like the area, but actually I now find such scenes fascinating, because theyre areas untouched by intense planning, and provide a change from the other parts of Singapore. In fact the only planning you see are the empty plots of land fenced up to prevent littering.

[Singapor3]

That's good news.

However, though they are fenced up, the amount of litter there is still intense, that makes it sort of an eyesore..

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by raptorsuperb

That's good news.

However, though they are fenced up, the amount of litter there is still intense, that makes it sort of an eyesore..

Yep .... its probably the only place in Singapore that does not quite fit in with the image of a clean and prosperous city. Hope the govt finds an alternative location for these stall holders to deal with second hand goods.

[SonofaDude]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

Not far away from the Victoria Wholesale Market and a stroll down the Rochor Canal (PUB plans to upgrade it) leads to the Sungei Road Thieves Market.

The area has been undeveloped for a long time. Not sure if the tourism board would promote it, but it provides a different kind of scene from other parts of the city.

[IMG]http://i19.************/4lo1zt5.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks RC for the memories. You know, it used to be said that if any of your belongings got stolen, there's a good chance you can buy it back at the Thieves Market. Obviously it's just a saying although my friend thought he saw the left side of his stolen Gucci shoe

[RafflesCity]

LOL...cant imagine anyone trying to sell just one side of shoe :-P

[RafflesCity]

Second-hand goods dealers in Singapore are feeling the pinch from the recession.

22 Feb 09

Vendors in one of the country's largest flea markets in Sungei Road have had to slash already-low prices even further, as customers drive a hard bargain.

"The Beatles record, last time you can sell for S$25, now S$4," said a vendor.

Sales at the Sungei Road so-called "Thieves Market", where some 500 vendors gather, have fallen by 20 per cent after the Lunar New Year.

A stall which sells high-end second-hand cameras, usually for S$200 to S$300 a piece, has had to reduce the price to S$150.

The price war has seen some dealers close stalls indefinitely.

And, the recent rainy weather has not helped the trade here.

Some vendors are considering asking the government to let them extend their operating hours, by allowing them to open for business at 11am instead of 1pm.

Currently, the stalls are allowed to operate daily till 7pm.

Ng Lian Cheong, Channel NewsAsia

[Blabbyboy]

Originally Posted by Singapor3

Ahh, I hate this scene the most(not saying your picture sucks =X), whenever my father drive past this road, the environment sort of changes, feels like malaysia or other neighboring countires

Then one day you'll have to go overseas just to experience this atmosphere. Have you ever thought that many people actually like the experience and disorderliness of street side markets, like you get all over Europe and Asia?

[RafflesCity]

Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in 2011

7 Dec 09

SINGAPORE : The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will relocate in 2011, and most of the dry food shopkeepers will be moving to the new location.

The market's merchant association hopes the move will also help revamp the market's image.

Construction of the new wholesale centre will start in April next year and is expected to be completed in late 2011 or early 2012.

The new 8-storey building will be situated along Kallang Road and on a plot almost half the size of the current location.

Two levels will be set aside for shop space - enough to take in up to 60 tenants.

The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre Merchants' Association said two other levels will be set aside for parking, another three will be for cargo storage, and the roof will serve as a leisure area.

Aside from being a one-stop wholesale centre, the association hopes the new building will help build up a new image.

"We can act as the middleman and introduce our products to different countries. And if possible, we'll try to organise education trips with schools," said Mario Chua Wui Neng, chairman of the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre Merchants' Association.

Although the new building is not as strategically located as the current one, shopkeepers are confident it will continue to draw in customers.

"It's very convenient - over at the new place, you can choose from 20 to 30 different stores," said Derrick Tan, a shopkeeper at Victoria Street Wholesale Market.

Despite the move, the association said the wholesale centre will continue to keep its name.

By Seet Sok Hwee & Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia

[SonofaDude]

Next to go - Sungei road 'Thieves' Market'? hmmmm ......................?

[Maverick713]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in 2011

7 Dec 09

SINGAPORE : The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will relocate in 2011, and most of the dry food shopkeepers will be moving to the new location.

The market's merchant association hopes the move will also help revamp the market's image.

Construction of the new wholesale centre will start in April next year and is expected to be completed in late 2011 or early 2012.

The new 8-storey building will be situated along Kallang Road and on a plot almost half the size of the current location.

Two levels will be set aside for shop space - enough to take in up to 60 tenants.

The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre Merchants' Association said two other levels will be set aside for parking, another three will be for cargo storage, and the roof will serve as a leisure area.

Aside from being a one-stop wholesale centre, the association hopes the new building will help build up a new image.

"We can act as the middleman and introduce our products to different countries. And if possible, we'll try to organise education trips with schools," said Mario Chua Wui Neng, chairman of the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre Merchants' Association.

Although the new building is not as strategically located as the current one, shopkeepers are confident it will continue to draw in customers.

"It's very convenient - over at the new place, you can choose from 20 to 30 different stores," said Derrick Tan, a shopkeeper at Victoria Street Wholesale Market.

Despite the move, the association said the wholesale centre will continue to keep its name.

By Seet Sok Hwee & Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia

Kallang Road? Can't think of any plots there being available unless it is using the vacant lands around Kampong Bugis/Kallang Riverside Park.

[RafflesCity]

Building an 8-storey building makes it sound kinda mid to long term though...and those lands are part of the Kallang Riverside vision. But who knows maybe it could be like having those steamboat properties at Marina South for 20 yrs before they packed and left.

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by SonofaDude

Next to go - Sungei road 'Thieves' Market'? hmmmm ......................?

I think its hard to actually phase those out cos individuals can easily roam anywhere else in the vicinity if they really wanted to hawk their goods...I actually feel they add some character and buzz to the area. They should be integrated with the plans to transform the Rochor Canal

[Mith252]

Here is a news on the relocation to the new site.

Victoria Street Wholesale Centre to relocate in April
By Seet Sok Hwee | Posted: 25 January 2012 1814 hrs


New wholesale centre at Kallang Road

SINGAPORE: The Victoria Street Wholesale Centre will be relocating to Kallang Road on April 1 this year.

Its Merchants' Association has received about 100 queries about renting space in the new premises.

The new building, which costs S$30 million to build, was completed in December last year.

The eight-storey centre will be able to accommodate 60 shop units, 50 percent more shops than before.

However, more than 10 wholesalers have decided not to move to the new building.

This is partly because at 600 square feet per unit, the shop space is 30 percent smaller than before.

Rent is also three or four times more expensive, at about S$4000 to S$5000 a month.

A shopkeeper said: "The rent is higher and it's less convenient. It's very convenient here. Over there, you'll have to walk quite a bit."

Another said: "I'm old, my children don't intend to take over my business, so I'm not moving."

- CNA/al

source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...179012/1/.html

Here is a pic of the new building I found on their official site.



source:http://victoriawholesalecentre.com/

Here is the location of the building in relation to Kallang MRT station.


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