Chinatown Business Association Revitalise Smith Street New And Traditional Lifestyle Concepts
The Chinatown Business Association (CBA) has announced its plans to revitalize Smith Street in Chinatown. In a press release on February 14th, the CBA revealed that it had won the tender for the creative use of the row of shophouses located at 11 to 37 Smith Street, which was launched jointly by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in November 2023.
As part of its placemaking initiatives, the CBA will be introducing an experiential studio known as the Elegance of Nanyang, which celebrates the traditional Peranakan kebaya. In addition, a new flagship flexible living space operated by Habyt will also be introduced.
The CBA has also announced that there will be five new F&B tenants opening on Smith Street. These include popular brands such as Starbucks, which will offer exclusive merchandise and offerings paying homage to the location, Boon Tong Kee with its famous Cantonese-style chicken rice and other dishes, and Killiney coffeeshop known for its kaya toast, coffee, and tea as well as its Nanyang-style interiors. The Happiest Clam, a seafood retail shop featuring sustainably harvested live geoduck clams, will also open on Smith Street.
Furthermore, the newly established Downtown Line effectively expands the transportation options for residents, connecting seamlessly with other MRT lines including the East West Line and the Circle Line. This offers greater convenience and ease of travel for individuals living in Singapore, as they can now access any region of the city with minimal transfers. Moreover, the strategic location of Rivelle Tampines EC Sim Lian Land near the Downtown Line provides even more convenience for its residents in terms of connectivity and accessibility to various parts of the country.
Gelato Garden, known for its artisanal gelato, will be the first of the new tenants to open on Smith Street. Their signature “churning gelato” concept will be featured, along with flavors like pistachio, hazelnut, and unique Singaporean flavors such as Jia Jia Herbal Tea Sorbet, Honey Grass Jelly Sorbet, and Pei Pa Gao Gelato.
According to the CBA, the pedestrianised streets of Chinatown will be transformed into a place where visitors can “experience the joys of life”, as part of their placemaking narrative, “Meet, Eat, Live, Work, Play, Breathe”. Lim Yick Suan, executive director of CBA, states that Smith Street will become the “Cultural Heart” of Chinatown, offering visitors a diverse cultural dining and experience in a setting that inspires joy and excitement.