In the wake of the closure of Sungei Road Hawking Zone (or more popularly known by locals as the Thieves Market), vendors have been left in a lurch due to a still-pending move to a new site at Golden Mile Tower.
For now, they might have to temporarily relocate to the northern district of Sembawang, where space has been allocated for them to sell their second-hand wares and bric-a-brac at a pasar malam (night bazaar). A short-term space was reportedly offered to Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods chairman Koh Eng Khoon by the organizer of the bazaar, which will run for two weeks next to Sembawang MRT station.
“It gives them a chance to sell their things even though it is just a temporary solution,” says the 76-year-old man to the The New Paper.
Thieves Market vendors, however, are considering if they even want to take up the spots at the pasar malam. Those who’ve taken up the offer will start selling their wares tomorrow.
Plans to relocate the vendors to a permanent location at the carpark of Golden Mile Tower are still up in the air for now. News of Thieves Market 2.0 at the premises was announced in the days leading to Sungei Road Hawking Zone’s closure, but as it turns out, there was no formal agreement or approval from both the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Golden Mile Tower carpark owner LHN Group. Koh is still working on it .
