Holland Village, Boat Quay and other destinations that have seen better days

[SINGAPORE] Holland Village was a favourite destination of mine as a young working adult. It had a charm that differentiated it from the typical shopping areas. It was pleasant strolling about the shophouses without being cooped up in an air-conditioned environment, and there was a casual vibe about the place.

When the weather turned too warm, there was the chance to duck into the air-conditioned comfort of the Holland Road Shopping Centre. There was Lim’s, the homeware store on the second floor, which was an inviting sort of place and offered the prospect of finding a bargain or an unusual item. The old-style shopping centre did not have the curation of tenants that is the case nowadays – a store selling antiques could be next to a barber shop or a shoe shop with a bookstore for a neighbour. In short, it was a browser’s haven.

Holland Village remains a manageable space to wander about on foot, but it has lost that quirky mix of shops. There was Thambi, with its international magazines and newspapers, as well as a toy store with fluorescent lights that screamed retro nostalgia.