Metro celebrates its 65th anniversary

[SINGAPORE] Metro Holdings is turning 65, and to celebrate this milestone, its stores in Paragon shopping centre in Orchard Road and Causeway Point in Woodlands will be offering discounts of up to 70 per cent on selected merchandise from March 8 to 13.

Metro began as a textile shop founded by Ong Tjoe Kim in 1957, when it opened at 72 High Street in a two-storey shophouse. The 250 sq m shop was known for its wide range of fabrics for making traditional costumes such as sarong kebaya and cheongsam.

During the 1960s, Metro set its sights on local and Indonesian housewives to grow its business, while other department stores such as Robinsons catered to British expatriates and some locals.

Ong's elder son Jopie joined the company in 1964 and was largely responsible for growing the retail division. He was instrumental in the setting up of Transmarco, a group that dealt in luxury brands such as Cartier and Piaget watches as well as computers.

He also guided Metro Holdings to its mainboard listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange in 1973. That same year, he became the company's managing director.

At its peak in the early 2000s, Metro had 11 stores in Orchard Road and in the heartland.

Sarojaini Nair, a Metro customer since the 1950s, has shopped at all its stores. She likes its wide range of kitchen essentials and clothes. The adult educator and curriculum developer now frequents Metro Causeway Point, which is near her home in Bukit Panjang. "I can get well tailored blouses and pants off-the-rack for work, as well as shoes and home essentials such as pots and pans. It saves me a trip to Orchard Road," said the 78-year-old.

In 2009, the elder Ong died of natural causes at the age of 98. His son managed the business till his death in 2016, when he was in his 70s.

His sister, Wong Sioe Hong, is now the executive chairman of Metro's retail division, while Lieutenant-General (Ret) Winston Choo - Singapore's first and longest-serving Chief of Defence Force - is the chairman of Metro Holdings.

In 2019, Yip Hoong Mun, who has more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, operations, hospitality, real estate investment and development, was appointed group chief executive of Metro Holdings.

In the last few years, the company has increasingly pivoted towards property investment and development in the light of the highly volatile retail industry, which has seen brands such as Robinsons, established in 1858, lose its physical outlets to operate now as an online store.

Today, Metro Holdings' global portfolio includes commercial, residential, purpose-built student accommodation and mixed-use developments in Britain, industrial, residential and commercial buildings in Singapore, residential projects in Indonesia, office and retail centres in Australia, as well as commercial and mixed-use development businesses in China.

THE STRAITS TIMES