We all knew that, when the number of tourists coming to Singapore plummeted, Jewel Changi’s not going to have a good time.
After all, with Changi Airport located right at the tip of Singapore, people in Singapore rarely have a chance to travel all the way to the airport, especially when most aren’t flying overseas anymore.
But now that it’s Phase 2, and more people in Singapore are going out again, have things improved?
Well, it might not have.
Almost 1/3 of Stalls in Jewel Foodcourt Have Allegedly Closed Down
Almost one-third of the stalls in Jewel Foodcourt might have closed.
Due to Covid-19, the revenue of businesses at the Changi Airport terminals reportedly dropped by 70%, and almost one-third of Jewel’s 15-stall foodcourt owners decided to leave.
In fact, it’s not just foodcourt stalls as several shops in the 280-strong Jewel Changi has reportedly closed their doors for good as well.
They include local coffee museum D’ Good Cafe, souvenir shop Little Red Dot Gifts (although a Google search still lists them as being open), jewellery shop Risis and optical shop Vision Lab Eyewear.
Things Are Better On Weekends
It was noted that the food and beverages (F&B) outlets are faring better compared to their retail counterparts, and even after the lunchtime rush hour, there are still customers dining in the shops.
Retail shops, which are still open and valiantly struggling, are noticeably emptier.
Some of the shopowners, when spoken to, said that things are better on the weekends when locals come down to Jewel for a day of fun and laughter.
However, it’s still not enough to cover their losses on weekdays.
A staff member from the BATA outlet located at Jewel revealed that due to Covid-19, the outlet’s revenue has dropped by half.
Rental Rebate Key To Survival
That doesn’t mean, however, that F&B outlets are having an easier time.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, restaurants effectively halved their seating capacity, which essentially slows down their business.
In fact, the Shaw Theatres at Jewel Changi isn’t spared either.
Not only is there a limit on the number of people within a theatre, but they also have to deal with movie productions delaying their screening dates due to Covid-19, a spokesperson for the theatre said.
Now you know why cinemas in Singapore churned out old but gold movies recently, don’t you?
It was added that right now, while Jewel Changi and the whole of Changi Airport Group is making an admirable effort to draw in locals to the mall, rental rebates are really the best thing to help businesses in the area survive.
Keen on doing your part to keep Singapore’s crown jewel (pun intended) shining? You might want to bring your entire family there for some Christmas festivities where they let you go-kart in a terminal, take pictures with looming dinosaurs, and more.
You can find out more here.
P.S You can also check out the Jurassic Mile since it’s now made even safer after a celebrity’s son almost got K.O-ed by a golf ball.
Featured Image: Phuong D. Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
