Ramadan bazaar stallholders struggle with steep rents, competition
ALMOST two weeks after the Geylang Serai Ramadan bazaar restarted in full force for the first time since 2019, a litany of complaints from stallholders worried about high rents, low visitorship and steep competition has emerged.
Rents have skyrocketed to S$24,000 for some kebab stalls, while other stallholders have tussled with the organisers, with one making a police report after the cable providing electricity to his stall was cut.
Mohamad Haikel Suhaimi, 35, runs Ramly burger stall Original Taste From Malaysia in a tent behind Tanjong Katong Complex. While he paid S$16,000 to rent one stall, another Ramly burger seller in the tent paid S$20,000 each for four stalls.
“For the past four days, (the organisers) have been coming to the shop to tell us to change the signage (to not show Ramly burgers) and they even threatened to close my shop by bringing down the management from Wisma Geylang Serai with two security guards,” said Haikel, speaking to The Straits Times (ST) on the first day of Ramadan (Mar 23).
Wisma Geylang Serai is the social and cultural heritage hub in Geylang Serai, led by the People’s Association.
“My agreement didn’t state that I cannot sell Ramly burgers, so I’ve just continued to sell,” he added.
In the signed agreement between the stall and the organisers seen by ST, there is no clause stating what kind of food vendors are supposed to sell.
Mohamad Haikel’s girlfriend, who runs the stall with him, made a police report after they lost power in the stall and realised that the cable had been severed on Mar 19.
ST contacted the organisers last week to address the stallholders’ concerns. The consortium that runs the bazaar has yet to reply.
In a media release on Friday, Wisma Geylang Serai said more than 200,000 people visited the bazaar in its first week of operations.
This year, there are some 700 stall spaces available.
Wisma Geylang Serai did not address the issues in its reply dated Monday, saying only: “With the rental price ranging from S$2,000 to S$19,000 as announced earlier by the winning bazaar operator, the bazaar received a healthy response… with the take-up rates now standing at 95 per cent of F&B booths and 80 per cent in retail.
“Traditionally… more stalls will be taken up within the next few weeks into Ramadan. Also, several vendors would only open their stalls (in the) later part of the fasting month due to the relevancy of their products.”
This year’s bazaar, the longest-running at 36 days, began on Mar 17 to coincide with the Hari Raya light-up in Geylang Serai, and will continue until Apr 21. Hari Raya Puasa, which marks the end of the fasting month, falls on Apr 22.
Other stallholders said they have had to face high rents and had received promises by the organisers to be the exclusive sellers of a certain food type in a tent.
Rents have exceeded S$20,000, despite the bazaar operator earlier saying that the maximum charge for food and beverage stalls would be S$19,000.
Pasha Turkish Kebab owner Amr Elgoharoi said he was promised exclusivity to run a stall in the tent next to Onan Road if he paid S$24,000.
He added that that was the only reason he was willing to pay a premium. However, another kebab shop has popped up less than 50m from his stall. Prices for kebabs at both stalls start from S$5.
“They (organisers) told me I would be the only kebab vendor here but… another operator has shown up,” noted Amr, who has had a stall at the bazaar for the last 10 years.
“I’m worried that I can’t make back (the money I put in now), I regret it.”
The other kebab seller in the tent, The Botak BBQ & Grill, was also quoted a rental of S$24,000 and told verbally that there would be no other competitor there.
Stall owner Mahmoud Wagih, 45, who has been running a kebab stall at the bazaar since 2007, said: “This bazaar is for all Singaporeans to do business, not to kill each other (with competition)… this year – pray for us.”
Other stallholders are concerned that they will not be able to recoup their investment. Besides rent, they also have to pay for power points, sinks, lights and tables from the organisers.
“With the manpower and additional costs for electrical points and lights rental, this year I’m spending around S$100,000 altogether,” said Nenda’s Fritters operations manager Muhd Ridzuan Senin.
The vendor, which mainly sells Ramly burgers, has been part of the bazaar for the past 15 years. His Ramly burgers cost around S$5.
He added that business this year has been mixed so far. “Usually the queues for Ramly burger and kebabs are so long but this year is quite quiet… maybe because a lot of people are breaking fast at home,” he said.
“Hopefully the crowd will pick up.”
Satay Ummi owner Lydia Izzati, 31, said she is not too worried about recouping her investment of S$15,000. Her satay goreng ranges in price from S$10 to S$13 a box, depending on the type of meat.
This is her first time renting the space for a whole month. In previous years, she ran a stall for seven to 10 days.
“Many stallholders are worried about whether we can break even, but as long as the brand is good, the product is good, people will definitely come… there is spending power in the community, people are willing to pay,” said Lydia.
Home-based businesses have also been brought in this year via a flea market concept behind Tanjong Katong Complex, offering vendors far more affordable rental of S$2,000 for 36 days, or S$55 a day.
Consumers ST spoke to said they are feeling the pinch of higher prices at the bazaar this year.
“So far, the increase has been around S$2 or S$3… I used to pay S$3.50 or S$4 for a Ramly burger,” said Nurul Asyiqin, 24, who is pregnant.
“But I still wanted to come out because I had a craving for vadai and satay… I’m going into labour soon,” she added. She was visiting the bazaar with her husband and 15-month-old child, at the stalls near Engku Aman Road.
Sufiyan Samsul, 34, a freelance outdoor instructor, also noted that prices have gone up by S$2 to S$3.
“Prices of the food have been increasing over the years, but I just wanted to come… and soak in the atmosphere with my family,” said Sufiyan, who was with his wife and four children picking up takoyaki and otak otak. THE STRAITS TIMES
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