For us longtime residents of Woodlands (no it’s not “so far up north that it’s part of Malaysia”), Ye Olde Woodlands Town Centre has been and will always stay close to our hearts.
Even though it’s only a shadow of its past bustling glory, the self-sufficient border town is actually a legit place to hang out — what with its 24-hour eating houses, Sheng Siong supermarket, affordable electronics shopping and inexpensive tailoring options. In its heyday back in the ’80s when it was a mandatory pit stop for transit to and from Singapore and Johor Bahru, it was a lively spot for shopping at the Oriental Emporium, and it even hosted a Shaw Brothers cinema.
Alas, nothing old stays gold in Singapore, and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) found it fit to demolish the rustic locale in favour of a brand new regional centre that’ll serve as “Singapore’s Northern Gateway”. They’re planning to spruce up the area with new commercial spaces, industrial clusters and the upcoming Woodlands North MRT station.
As longtime residents prepare to bid a bittersweet goodbye to the nostalgic neck of the woods, The Straits Times produced a short documentary depicting its last days. Much, much feels for those who spent their childhood at Woodlands Town Centre.
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