End of Changi Village Night Bazaar

FF Fashion

Channel NewsAsia
Sunday, December 20


Changi Village flea market closes due to parking complaints.

SINGAPORE: The Changi Village neighbourhood is famed for its sleepy charm. But the area is undergoing a major shake—up with the closure of its weekly night market.

Fifty stalls have been setting up shop in the area every Saturday night for the past year and a half, peddling all sorts of goods ranging from knick knacks to vintage clothing.

Organisers of the 70s—style night market have said that it provides an additional avenue of income for many stallholders, some of whom come from needy families or are retrenched.

However, the market will cease to exist after December 19 as organisers said they have been plagued by complaints about parking over the weekend.

Residents, on the other hand, gave another reason for the closure. They said several shopkeepers have complained that the night market has snatched their business — a view that is apparently not shared by everyone.

Ng Siew Hong, chairman of Changi Village Hawkers Association, said: "The flea market brings in more customers for us hawkers, and that means more business."

Organisers said some stallholders at the flea market were too upset by the closure to attend the last session.

Mohd Noor Ismail, resident at Changi Village, said: "People come, not only from Pasir Ris, Tampines. They come from, I’ve heard, Woodlands and Choa Chu Kang."

Johan Chin, manager of Simply Living Home & Garden, who operates a stall at the weekend market, said: "All of us work together — all the stallholders know each other. It’s a weekend family."

"Without them, this place is going to be really dead," said Arriola B A, another resident at Changi Village.

Residents and visitors said Changi Village has managed to maintain its own unique charm, but they hope the area will continue to attract crowds, even as the sun sets on the 70s—style flea market

jeanette

this is VERY very sad

Jacknlyly

Agree with all who disapproved the closure of Changi Flea Market.
Perhaps it mightl be re-launched again - better organised with crowd, tracffic control in place - of course the rental might skyrocket too !?

efashionshop

if it restart again..hopefully they change the organiser...she simply CANT make it...n only allow regular vendors to operate..not giving others a chance to set up a stall..but definitely, its sad tt it came to an end...i went their for makan n shopping...good atmosphere n like gg back to old days..prob first thing first, parking n organiser...these 2 issues mz look into it.

Jacknlyly

not true tt they only allowed regulars - I ws offered a stall when I approached her on my first peddling experience weeks ago. Do agree tt is shld be better organised in selections and categorising of vendors though.

efashionshop

tts lucky of you, i sms her almost every week to ask for a stall..but eithr no reply or she reply ask a few ques n tts it...

mayb its the products...prob she prefer your products than mine..

Jacknlyly

nt sure about choice of prdts - she ws telling me to sell recycled / 2nd hand items - which ws wat I wanted to do. but one thing for sure is tt regulars gets priority over choice of place / position - learnt it frm one regular.