Scotts Shopping Centre

Scotts Shopping Centre was a former shopping mall on Scotts Road in Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district. It opened in 1982 as the retail component of a mixed-use building that also contained The Ascott, a 23-storey serviced-apartment complex with 153 units. The mall occupied the building's first five floors and provided approximately 8,632 square metres of net lettable area. The centre was repositioned in 1985 through a makeover that shifted its identity toward an upscale boutique destination. Before that repositioning, it had reportedly catered particularly to affluent Indonesian visitors. Its later brand proposition focused on premium and specialist retail, with a target audience described as professional women. Tenants and outlets associated with the centre included Pois, Blush, Crème and Kiehl's. In the same year, Scotts Shopping Centre became home to Picnic Food Court, described in reference material as Singapore's first air-conditioned food court, adding a notable food-and-beverage component to the luxury-oriented retail environment. The property changed ownership in 2004, when The Ascott Group sold the entire building to Wheelock Properties (Singapore), then known as Marco Polo Developments, for S$345 million. The Ascott Group continued managing the serviced apartments until 31 December 2006, while management of the shopping mall moved from CapitaLand Retail to Wheelock Properties. This ownership transition placed the mall within a redevelopment strategy for the wider site. In 2006, Wheelock Properties announced plans to replace the existing building with a 43-storey luxury residential development incorporating three floors of upmarket retail space. Scotts Shopping Centre was demolished in 2007. The replacement development, Scotts Square, began construction in 2007 and was completed in 2011. As a result, Scotts Shopping Centre is no longer an operating retail brand, but it remains part of the commercial history of the Orchard Road area and an example of Singapore's redevelopment of older mixed-use shopping properties into higher-density luxury developments.

Scotts Shopping Centre opened in 1982 on Scotts Road, in the Orchard Road vicinity of Singapore. It formed the lower retail portion of a mixed-use building whose upper levels contained The Ascott, a 23-storey serviced-apartment complex with 153 units. The mall occupied the first five floors and had approximately 8,632 square metres of net lettable area. The centre's early commercial identity was revised in 1985. A makeover repositioned it as a high-end boutique mall, whereas its earlier business was described as being directed chiefly toward wealthy Indonesian tourists. The repositioned centre emphasized specialist and premium retail, including outlets such as Pois, Blush, Crème and Kiehl's, and was associated particularly with professional women. The same year saw the opening of Picnic Food Court, described as Singapore's first air-conditioned food court, broadening the centre's appeal beyond fashion and beauty retail. Ownership of the building changed in 2004. The Ascott Group sold the entire property to Wheelock Properties (Singapore), which was then operating under the name Marco Polo Developments, for S$345 million. Although ownership changed, The Ascott Group retained management of the serviced apartments until 31 December 2006. The shopping mall's management was transferred from CapitaLand Retail to Wheelock Properties. The new owner pursued a major redevelopment rather than a refurbishment of the existing centre. In 2006, Wheelock Properties announced plans for a 43-storey luxury residential building with three floors allocated to an upmarket shopping mall. The original Scotts Shopping Centre was demolished in 2007. Construction of the replacement project, later known as Scotts Square, commenced in 2007 and was completed in 2011. The original mall therefore became defunct through site redevelopment rather than bankruptcy or a documented operating scandal.

• 2011

  Scotts Square completed

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The redevelopment of the former mall site was completed as Scotts Square.

• 2007

  Original mall demolished

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Scotts Shopping Centre was demolished to make way for the replacement development.

• 2006

  Redevelopment plans announced

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  Wheelock Properties announced a plan to replace the building with a 43-storey luxury residential development containing three floors of retail space.

• 2004

  Wheelock Properties acquired the building

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The Ascott Group sold the entire building to Wheelock Properties (Singapore), then known as Marco Polo Developments, for S$345 million.

• 1985

  High-end boutique repositioning

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  A makeover repositioned the centre toward high-end boutique retail and professional women, while Picnic Food Court opened at the property.

• 1982

  Scotts Shopping Centre opened

  [1]Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org

  The shopping centre opened on Scotts Road as the retail component of a mixed-use property that also contained The Ascott serviced apartments.

A high-end boutique shopping centre oriented toward premium retail and professional women, with additional appeal to affluent visitors and tourists.

• Fashion and lifestyle retail · 1985

  Boutique retail outlets

  The centre's principal offering was a collection of upscale boutiques and specialist retailers. Reference material identifies outlets including Pois, Blush and Crème, reflecting the mall's repositioning toward premium lifestyle shopping and its stated focus on professional women.

• Beauty and skincare

  Kiehl's

  Kiehl's was among the named outlets associated with Scotts Shopping Centre. Its presence complemented the mall's premium beauty and personal-care positioning, although the available reference material does not specify the store's opening or closing date.

• Food and beverage · 1985

  Picnic Food Court

  Picnic Food Court opened at Scotts Shopping Centre in 1985. It was described in reference material as Singapore's first air-conditioned food court, providing a mass-market dining component within an otherwise upscale shopping environment.

• 2006

  Replacement of the mall through site redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Wheelock Properties determined that the existing mixed-use building would be replaced by a larger luxury residential project.

  Action taken

  The owner announced a 43-storey residential development with three floors of upmarket shopping space, leading to the demolition of Scotts Shopping Centre in 2007.

  Aftermath

  The replacement project became Scotts Square and was completed in 2011.

  Source

• 2004

  Sale of the mixed-use building to Wheelock PropertiesM&A

  Background

  The Ascott Group sold the entire building containing the shopping centre and The Ascott serviced apartments.

  Action taken

  Wheelock Properties (Singapore), then known as Marco Polo Developments, acquired the property for S$345 million.

  Aftermath

  The Ascott Group continued to manage the serviced apartments until 31 December 2006, while mall management transferred from CapitaLand Retail to Wheelock Properties.

  Property sale price. S$345 million (2004 transaction)

  Source

• 1985

  Repositioning as a high-end boutique mallStrategy

  Background

  The centre was seeking a more distinctive upscale identity after an earlier emphasis on affluent Indonesian tourists.

  Action taken

  A makeover shifted the mall toward premium boutique retail and a professional-women customer segment.

  Aftermath

  The repositioned tenant mix included outlets such as Pois, Blush, Crème and Kiehl's, while Picnic Food Court added a major dining offer.

  Source

1. 1Scotts Shopping Centreen.wikipedia.org