The new and improved Old Airport Road Food Centre will open to the public on 1 October 2024. The hawker centre had announced earlier this year that it would close for four months, from 1 June to 30 September, to facilitate renovations. On 18 September, Mountbatten Single Member Constituency MP Lim Biow Chuan shared the news of its reopening on Facebook, stating, “The work is progressing well… Yippee!!”
Background
The Marine Parade Town Council has undertaken significant efforts to enhance the dining experience at the Old Airport Road Food Centre. These renovations include repainting common areas, retiling the first floor, and replacing all indoor and outdoor tables and stools. Additionally, the town council has replaced bird spikes and bird netting for indoor pigeon management, installed new fans and lights, and upgraded the toilets.
In with the new
Lim Biow Chuan provided artist impressions of the new features on his Facebook page, showcasing the improvements made to the hawker centre. The renovations aim to create a more comfortable and enjoyable dining environment for patrons.
Business was slowing before renovation
The renovations were much needed, as the food centre had been experiencing a decline in patronage. With more comfortable and air-conditioned dining options available around the island, the Old Airport Road Food Centre struggled to attract customers. One stallholder expressed hope that the revamped hawker centre would help put the place back on the map. The National Environment Agency (NEA) previously assured that the renovations would not affect stall rental prices and that rental remissions would be granted to stall owners who had to cease operations during the works.
Related story
The Old Airport Road Food Centre’s temporary closure was first publicised through a post on Shin Min Daily News’s Facebook page. A photo of a poster geotagged to the hawker centre’s profile on Google Maps confirmed the renovation works, which lasted from 1 June to 30 September 2024. The renovation included the installation of energy-efficient amenities and the refurbishment of existing infrastructure, aiming for a more sustainable operation.
