When something as big as Jewel Changi Airport opens, you know the masses will flock there. And so they did yesterday, the first day of the billion-dollar development’s series of public previews before its official opening on Apr 17. Singaporeans sure love to be the first to get their hands on everything, and we’ve got no qualms getting in line for that.
When approximately 60,000 people showed up at the dome-shaped mega-mall yesterday afternoon, they made a beeline for the freebies and the much-anticipated openings. Unfortunately, big chains like Burger and Lobster and Shake Shack will only open in late May and next Wednesday respectively, but there were plenty of other hotspots that the crowd, mostly consisting of families and older folk, swarmed towards.
The Pokemon Centre was an obvious favorite, since it’s the first one outside Japan and, well, no one ever loses their love for the likes of Pikachu, it seems. The queue started the moment the shop opened, and it never really relented, as a steady stream of fans joined the line in the hopes of adding a Singapore-exclusive Pikachu soft toy and more to their stash.
A&W was another attraction, especially for those who have been going across the Causeway for their root beer float and coney dog fix since the fast food chain exited our shores in 2003. By evening, which was when the crowd was at its peak, people were waiting in line for an hour just to put in their order, and had to wait another hour to pick up their food.
Elsewhere, some of the more recognizable eateries and brands like Lady M, Starbucks, Tim Ho Wan, Läderach, and even newcomer Pink Fish (Norway’s salmon chain) were perennially packed. Local bakery Rich and Good Cake Shop also experienced a throng of eager samplers whenever it put out Swiss roll nibbles for the public to try, and homegrown ice cream parlor Birds of a Feather was equally popular for its unusual flavors like spiced pear and masala spice.
The long lines understandably caused some frustration, prompting people to speak out in support of the F&B staff at Jewel, who were probably completely overwhelmed by the demand.
Anyway, if you’re one of those who got preview tickets over the next few days, we’d suggest you map out your route according to your preferences and hit up places most important to you first. Those waiting to check out Jewel when it officially launches next week can probably expect even bigger crowds and never-ending lines, at least for its first couple months.
