No Shoppers Yet at Iluma - Page 2

FF Fashion

Talking about Far East Organization.... in today's news

Next change at Icon Village: A food haven

May 30, 2009
The Straits Times
Leow Si Wan

THE Icon Village, a shopping mall occupying the ground level of the Icon Condominium, is undergoing renovations and a rebranding exercise, less than two years after opening its doors.

Originally billed as a mall offering stress relief, the 30,000 sq ft retail space about five minutes away from the Tanjong Pagar MRT station now wants to remodel itself as a food haven.

Its developer, Far East Organization, said this rejuvenation will allow the mall to meet greater demand from several new developments such as hotels and residential estates.

Tenants are looking forward to the revamp as business has been poor, leaving many of them floundering. They chose to set up shop at the Icon Village because of its good location. But most tenants said they have 'yet to cover costs' and that there are days when they do not see 'a single customer'.

From late last year, the mall's tenants have dwindled from 50 to the current 14.

The main reasons for the low traffic, tenants said, are the confusing layout - many shops are hidden from plain view - and the lack of publicity.

Checks with 20 people working or living near the mall show that most do not know where or what Icon Village is.

Ms Jeanine Ang, 28, a clerk, said she knew of the condominium but did not realise there was a mall in the building. Others said the shops did not appeal to them.

Tenant mix is another reason residents at the Icon, which has 646 units, have given the mall a miss.

Mr Simon Buechi, 25, a bank consultant, said: 'The shops are not very exciting. Many are also closed on weekends when I am free to shop.'

A 40-year-old banker said he prefers shopping in town and would have appreciated a place where he could buy his groceries.

Ms Irene Tan, a realty adviser, added: 'The mall is in a very prime location so it is a pity it isn't popular. The tenant mix is important - people need a reason to visit.

'They could bring in a supermarket as an anchor tenant to cater to the residents in the condominium.'

To bring in more foot traffic, Far East Organization is spending $2 million to improve the layout and ambience of Icon Village. The rebranding will have a tenant mix of 65 per cent food and beverage outlets, with the rest devoted to lifestyle and service shops.

Other than the tenant mix, renovations - which started this month and will be completed in the latter part of the year - will also make the mall brighter. Plans are to transform an existing 7m walkway into a stretch of food outlets. Promotional activities are in the pipeline.

Mr Steven Toh, owner of the Advance Shoe Repair & Locksmith Services, recently signed another three-year lease: 'I am staying on because I am looking at the long run.

'There are offices, flats and other estates coming up in Tanjong Pagar. With the right tenants and promotional activities, I see a good glimpse of hope.'

FF Fashion

Something about Iluma, extracted from the Wikipedia....


Iluma is a 10 story shopping mall which is managed and owned by Jack Investment. The mall is located within the Bugis district and opened its doors on 28 March 2009. With a budget of S$100 million, the country's first urban entertainment centre will be targeted at the young professionals in their 20s and 30s. The mall is able to cater for up to 60 - 80 thousand consumers on a daily basis once the mall is open.

The 8921 m² site along Victoria Street and opposite the Bugis Junction and Hotel Intercontinential was previously put on a tender bid conducted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. Jack Investment then won the tender in 2005 for the Iluma site with a bid of S$46 million. Jack Investment has pumped S$160 million for the budget of Iluma, 60% more than its initial budget of S$100 million.

In line with the URA's plan for Bugis and the current high human traffic between Bugis Village and Bugis Junction, the opening of Iluma is expected to draw more patrons to the Bugis area as Iluma is visioned to set the Bugis arts and entertainment district alight. Iluma will be also prepared to host a series of art and musical performances within the mall's dedicated event plaza. Hence, the mall can be considered as the long awaited missing piece in the Bugis arts and entertainment district’s jigsaw puzzle.


Facilities
Being an icon for the Bugis area, the mall will play on a theme of light and illumination, having high-tech features such as a light- and media facade designed by the Berlin based architects and artists realities:united that will be envelop the convex part of the building and brightly-lit billboards will scatter across its flatter sides, unlike those in the Times Square. Its theme was inspired by its proximity to arts venues and tertiary institutions. The mall also have 27 191 sq ft of column-free space which is suitable for themed restaurant and concept-dining. The second storey of the mall will also be connected to Victoria Street via a pedestrian overhead bridge. The mall also has a car park with 325 lots.


Notable tenants
With a net-lettable area of 191 580 sq ft, more than 150 outlets are expected to be open in Iluma, with a mix of retail and entertainment outlets, with an emphasis on performing and exhibition space. 60% of the area will be used for entertainment outlets. On the fifth floor, there is a cineplex managed by Filmgarde which also have an outlet at Leisure Park Kallang. There is no supermarket operator in Iluma (Reminds me of Icon Village), unlike typical shopping malls in Singapore. The mall is likely to include dance clubs to attract more patrons who enjoy the night life. Rents are said to fall between S$10 to S$30 per sq ft per month, with the highest rent are said to have reach S$50 per sq ft per month.

Errmmm.... so now that it's open, who are the anchor tenants? Haven't had a chance to visit Iluma but this place sounds promising.

taufoong

I thought it is a good location. hence i went to check it out. I spoke to the iluma push carts vendors. one guy with curly hair say that half of them are vacating their stalls at the end of the month.

And he even said that the management there sucks. They use them as guinea pigs to see which atrium space better. one day, they are placed in the left side and the next day they are placed in the right side.

When i asked about management, they just sigh and say that the management like to nitpick every layout things they do. for example, cannot have anything touch the ground.

They also say that mondays to thursdays they open stall also no difference, cos wont make money.

The worse is their parking. wa lau. when i was driving up the ramp, i was so frightened i will scratch my car, cos the walls are dark red colour and absorb all the lights. i don't know why their designer so bad at design.

Their toilet doors are like bomb shelter and their escalator bypass the level two stalls. I wonder how the small children go to toilet with such a heavy door for toilet entrance.

some of my friends even think that the aura is very dark. not healthy for business.

At the next door, bugis village is a large contrast. Crowded at all times all days, despite it looking so old. Enough said man.

taufoong

Filmgarde. When you mention this name to me, I will strangle you. I watched Star Trek there on a Thursday 9.30 pm show. When the show started, the display perspective of the movie was distorted into a square perspective. Hence, subtitles were not visible and the actors' heads were cut off.

One of the caucasian guys in front of me stood up and shouted about the problem to the staff at the screening room. Then, within a few seconds, the perspective was ok to the normal movie long-width perspective and subtitles were ok.

This is not the end.

At the end of the very last scene, just when the credits are showing, they turned on the lights. I want to see the special effects at the end after the "Space the final frontier..." part but I could not. Wa lau, I want to see the names of the actors but I cannot. The caucasian in front of me just stood up and cursed some expletives and vowed never to return. I think the staff were all in a hurry to go home as it was 1130 pm.

The screw-up continues. When we exited the movie theatre, we realised that the lifts are shut down, and the escalators too. We had to walk down the escalators!

By the way, Filmgarde is owned by Jack Investment. I am not against them and have nothing against them, but I seriously think that my day at Iluma was one of the worst shopping and 'entertainment' experience of my life. One thing for sure, and I hope the journalists of Straits Times Are Reading this: I will never go back to Iluma again.

FF Fashion

Hey taufoong, thanks for sharing your Iluma experience. Sori, can't help but laugh when I read your postings.... poor thing. So Iluma is not that promising after all.... Wonder will this turn out to be the next Central....

taufoong

Central's main problem is their stupid architecture. A first timer in the building will curse at the prospects of being lost. However, this is a minor issue over time when you are more used to its edges and its weird interior design (especially the carpark). However, its restaurants are good. So what I normally do is eat and zao.

However, the problem with Iluma is actually quite amazing. It is a "concerted" effort to piss people off (just read my thread). I haven't told you. When I was walking down the mall from the cinema level, I passed by the arcade. You know what? the staff are all playing the arcade machines! haha.. there were two challenging each other on the Tako drum machine and several others playing other stations. You know what? That arcade also owned by Jack investment!! Deep inside me, I feel that maybe they should swap these arcade staff who dun wanna go home with the movie theatre staff. Then there may be some equilibrium. Sigh. Utterly disappointed.

FF Fashion

That happens to me! I was "lost" the first time I visited Central, seems to be walking in circles, spending most of my time looking for the way up or down to the next level. That was my first n last time there

pokerface

haha. the only shops i go to central for are ya kun kaya toast, marutama ramen, waraku and yamagawa supermarket!

that's because i keep getting lost in the area, and these are the only 4 stores that are either easy to assess (ya kun) and i took the effort to memorise the routes (the other 3 jap stores)

i was talking to a few group of frens the other day. when i asked if they've been to iluma, most did not know where iluma was (even when i mentioned bugis), those who went told me the things are rather ex (except for the movies at $9.50 on weekends. but reading taufoong's post, i guess i'll give it a miss

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FF Fashion

Iluma - Perhaps when the overhead bridge is done, biz will pick up....

Central - Perhaps they need to re-position themselves, change their concept haven't had a clue who they are really targeting at. Seems like everyone is going there for its food. Another food-haven for FE Organisation after its Icon Village change???

Tampines 1 - Yet to step into T1 Think perhaps they have the right AnP....the right tenant mix... a bit of a "Think Uniqlo Think T1" or vv.

Sq 2 - Now what do people think about Sq 2 at Novena? When they first started, I remember the floor plan I saw had a floor just for Korea thingy and Sq 2 is suppose to have a LevelOne concept (like FEP LevelOne??) ... but now that it is in operation, I think the korea theme is somewhat there but not obvious and didn't quite feel the LevelOne concept at all... just like any other mall to me or did I get it mixed up with Central On the whole, think Sq 2 is not too bad, can still see its streams of office crowds

pokerface

how's icon village crowd? haha.. used to work near there, but didnt bother to go there for lunch, cos dun even know what stores are there (opps!)

__________________

"My hands are the tools that God blessed me with so I may work creatively"