After about 18 months under renovation, the Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre has re-opened in Singapore, with many original stalls among the 72.
At Block 20 Ghim Moh Road, the market has been cleaned and now has wider walkways and improved ventilation.Tiles have been replaced, toilets improved and the roof modified for better airflow, says the National Environment Agency (NEA).
“It used to be very stuffy, especially on hot days, but now it’s so much better,” says 62-year-old Loke Koi Choon, who has owned the Jiu Jiang Shao La roast meat stall for 20 years.
Also back in business are Alexandra Village Avocado Fruit Juice, Ghim Moh Chwee Kueh, Hock Lye Noodle House, Heong Huat Fishball Noodles and Mohamed Faisal Seeni Eating House.
One old stall has returned in a new guise. Madam Chee, 67, ran a duck rice stall with her late husband, but found it hard to continue alone. She has now started a pancake store, Ong Pancake, with her daughter, Madam May Ong.
A change in rules allowing only original owners to continue trading after the revamp has seen one hawker return after a 20-year absence. Yap Yew Kok rented out the space to a hor fun stall for that time, but the 77-year-old has decided to revive his nasi lemak business rather than sell the space.
Most stall-holders are keeping their prices the same.
From this month, hawkers who relocated to Ghim Moh in the early 1970s have their rent subsidised. Their monthly fee is S$192 (US$138.85) while non-subsidised stall owners pay up to $1400.
