Specialists' Shopping Centre

infobox shopping mall
| shopping_mall_name = Specialists' Shopping Centre


caption =
location = 277 Orchard Road, Orchard Planning Area, Singapore
opening_date =
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number_of_stores =
number_of_anchors = 1
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floors = 6 storeys + basement + 20 storey hotel
website =

The Specialists' Shopping Centre (zh-s|s=专业购物中心) is the oldest shopping centre on Orchard Road, a shopping area of Singapore. It was constructed in the early to mid 1970s. The largest tenant is the Hotel Phoenix Singapore. The John Little, a large tenant, has closed in anticipation of redevelopment. The Visitor's Guide of Singapore describes the shopping centre as "revered". [http://www.visitorsguide.com.sg/shop-low-orchard.htm] There are plans to demolish the shopping centre to make way for a new development.cite news | author = | title = Shutters Down, One Last Time | publisher = "The Straits Times" | date = 10 July 2007]

Stores

The John Little store is Singapore's oldest department store. [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/singapore/S31571.html Specialists' Shopping Centre | Store/Shop Review | Singapore | Frommers.com ] ] The store opened in 1845 in Raffles Place. The main store is in the Specialists' Shopping Centre although there are four branch stores. [ [http://www.johnlittle.com.sg/about_us/about_us.htm John Little - Singapore ] ] The store is no longer in Raffles Place. Guidebooks refer to the prices as "very up-to-date" or reasonable. The John Little store displays bargain goods in the outdoor sections of the ground floor.

Specialty goods including, but not limited to Famous Amos cookies, winter clothing, and golf equipment are available. Leather goods, tools, household items, and a Korean restaurant are also located in the shopping centre. [http://www.contactsingapore.org.sg/lifestyle_shopping.shtml] [ [http://www.singaporeexpats.com/food-and-leisure/shopping-in-singapore.htm Food & leisure - Shopping in Singapore, Singapore Shopping Malls, Shop in Orchard, Marina, Suntec City, Little India, Chinatown ] ] A Starbucks cafe is located in the shopping centre. A branch of the OCBC Bank is also located in the shopping centre.

Above the shopping centre is the Hotel Phoenix Singapore, a "superior 4-star hotel" with 392 rooms. [ [http://www.ocbcproperty.com.sg/properties/retail_forlease.htm#c1 OCBC Property Services Pte Ltd ] ] The hotel is unique among hotels in that it offers an Intelligent Keycard which allows prepaid access to the bus and MRT system equivalent to the EZ-Link card. [ [http://www.hotelphoenixsingapore.com/keycard.htm Intelligent Key Card ] ] As such, patrons are given the same EZ-link discount fares. The Intelligent Keycard also acts as one's hotel room key. No other hotel is participating in this scheme though it may change in the future.

Redevelopment

As one of the smaller shopping centres in Orchard Road and located adjacent to vacant land used for a car park, the property is slated for redevelopment. It was reported that the shopping centre may be vacated by the middle of 2007. [http://lushhome.wordpress.com/2007/02/ 2007 February « Singapore Property Frontiers ] ] One of the requirements that must be overcome by receiving an exemption is the height limitation of 16 storeys for the site. The OCBC Bank, as one of the owners of the property, has restrictions in development. The Banking Amendment Regulations (2004) restrict demolition and rebuilding of structures to more than 20% larger Redevlopment plans will have to include a hotel as hotel use is safeguarded by the authorities. [http://www.asiaone.com.sg/orchardrd/20060605_001.html] Speculation regarding the site's redevelopment has been ongoing for several years and include connecting a redeveloped site with The Centrepoint, a shopping centre across the road and owned by the same owners as the Specialists' Shopping Centre. [ [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/181055/1/.html Channelnewsasia.com ] ]

On 9 July 2007, John Little closed its branch at the Specialists' Shopping Centre, after operating for more than 20 years. The shopping centre will be demolished at a later date to make way for a new development.

Location and accessibility

Centrepoint can be accessible from Orchard Road where vehicles can enter the carpark directly from Orchard Road. Somerset MRT Station is located next the shopping centre and is connected by a covered walkway. This connection makes the hotel conveniently located as most hotels, while they may be close to an MRT station, are rarely connected by walkways.

References

External links

*cite web | title =Uniquely Singapore - Shopping in Orchard | work = Singapore Tourism Board | url = http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home/what_to_do/shopping/where_to_shop/shopping_in_orchard.html | accessdate =31 October | accessyear = 2006