Present
THE CATHAY NOW
The re-branding of Cathay into a youth-oriented space has overshadowed Cathay’s rich history. Many of the mall-goers who frequent it do not know about its history; all they see is an ordinary mall in Singapore. While talking to people in the mall, almost no one interviewed knew about its rich and intriguing past. The only harking back to the days gone that remains is the free museum which stands empty, much like the majority of the mall that lacked the hustle and bustle of other local shopping complexes. What was once a place of culture and pride among Singaporeans is now a forgotten relic of the past that could use some reinvigoration. If nothing is done to re-imbue The Cathay with its past charms, the future for this mall looks bleak indeed.
The Cathay is a building which contains much of our local history. However, today, many view the Cathay as just an average mall and movie theatre, with little knowledge of the substantial amount of history this building holds and what it has stood for in the past. It has changed over the years from being a place of social gatherings and culture, to one that is now predominantly used by young adults for shopping, watching movies and as a quiet place to study.
After visiting The Cathay numerous times, it's apparent that the primary demographic of its visitors are students and young adults between the ages of 13-25. On its website, the place is described as a “youth-oriented shopping mall”. Due to The Cathay’s quiet environment and proximity to Singapore Management University and School of the Arts, there are many students who use it as a study area. In addition, after talking to numerous people, we discovered that one of the main appeals is its unique stores. Although it does not boast as many stores as other malls, it has many that target a younger market such as Naiise and Vol-Ta, and which are not as easily available in other malls. Other than that, the cineplex seems to be the main attraction.
During weekend nights, the foyer in front of The Cathay transforms to give off a completely different vibe from daytime. Buskers set up performances in different corners to attract crowds. The streets are enlivened and filled with people who come here to appreciate a broad range of street performances.
