The disappearing 'mama shops'
Remember the days when you used to pop by the kiosk at your void deck to pick up a quick snack or some groceries?
Such standalone kiosks, affectionately known as 'mama shops' (mama stands for 'Uncle' in Tamil), have weathered the times since they started out as wall stores along shophouses in the 1950s. Selling sundry goods and traditional sweets, they have been hailed as icons of Singapore's architectural landscape and part of the nation's collective memory. But like provision shops, these wall stores, too, are fast disappearing.
When they were introduced into housing estates by HDB in the 1980s, they used to dot the precincts as numerously as every fourth block. At their peak in 1983, there were about 600 such shops. Low demand from prospective operators has resulted in that number dwindling to about 380 kiosks in the past five years. All 10 stores that The Sunday Times interviewed said it is hard to keep afloat amid rife competition from chain stores.
Why Singapore’s iconic ‘mama shops’ remain essential and enduring part of cityscape’s heritage
Every day at about 4.30am, A.R.V. Vivekraja, known simply as Vivek, rushes to open his family-run provision shop – affectionately referred to as a “mama shop” by Singaporeans – in Changi Road, on the eastern part of the island city state. With the help of two of his staff, Vivek, 24, must prepare for the delivery of spice powders and other food produce, such as onions and potatoes, ordered by restaurants, which have to be loaded onto trucks by 5.30am, before getting the store ready for walk-in customers.
This has been Vivek’s daily routine for the past five years, since taking over the management of ARV Stores from his 81-year-old father, after graduating with a master’s degree in marketing and innovation in the United Kingdom. “Although my father will support me if I pursue other career paths, I personally wanted to take over the store and continue this family business,” Vivek says. “I’ve grown up with this store. Every school holiday, my sister and I would visit my father in Singapore, sometimes for up to three months, and spend a lot of time in the store. It feels like home.”
As children, Vivek and his older sister lived with their mother in Tamil Nadu, in the southernmost part of India. Their father, Ramasamy Thevar Vadivelu, came to Singapore at the age of 13 to take over the shop from his uncle, but made sure he frequently visited his family in India. “My father first travelled to Singapore by ship,” Vivek says. “He loves the shop, and the customers are fond of him, too – often asking for him even after I’ve taken over.”
Singapore ‘mamak shops’ sell sundry goods — as costs rise and foot traffic falls, more of them are closing for good
In Singapore, “mamak shops” have a different meaning — it refers to standalone kiosks that sell provisions and sundry goods in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, rather than Indian-Muslim diners. Singapore’s Straits Times reported that these shops are however becoming a rarity, with many closing in recent years due to declining revenue as a result of competition from supermarkets, convenience store chains, and online grocery platforms.
“We are being forced into a corner by higher costs, online shopping, and lower foot traffic,” said Kelvin Lim, who operates the Hwa Lee Provision Store opened by her mother Chong Meng Choo back in 1984. “I might have to close the shop in a few years, maybe even next year.” Jannathun Abdul Hamid, 68, who runs another store opened by her husband Noor Mohamed, 70, in 1985 — said revenue fell by 50 per cent after a supermarket opened 10-minute walk away in 2015.
“The supermarket is so near, and it sells more things, so people don’t need us that much any more. Now our business mostly comes from selling snacks and drinks to the pupils of the primary school across the road,” she was quoted saying. ST reported that the shops, usually located at “void decks” — open areas on the ground level of HDB flats — started appearing in the 1970s, with around 600 of them at its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. However, that number had fallen to just 240 last year, which it said could be attributed to changes in HDB design and customer habits.
The Traditional Mama Shop
A mama shop is a typical supply shop that sells sundry products, canned goods, sweets and newspapers. Mama shops are primarily owned and run by Indian immigrants, although it is not uncommon to see proprietors from a variety of backgrounds. A simple mama shop, for example, maybe a kiosk that takes up the shophouse five-foot-way wall space. Many Singaporeans have relocated into shophouses or units at void decks beneath HDB flats.
According to the Singapore Provision Shop Friendly Association, there were roughly 3000 conventional provision shops in Singapore at their peak during the 1980s. There are currently less than 200 shops, despite the fact that non-members who own businesses have not registered. Many are mama shops, business owners.
A trip to the mama shop generally meant a present for the kids. Sweets and ice were popular during this period, as many homes did not have a refrigerator. Another interesting feature was the shop owner’s practice of offering buy-on-credit to their loyal consumers or inhabitants who lived above their store. The decrease in the supply and mama shop trade has been affected by a number of factors. Because the majority of them are little family firms, their operation has been hampered by a low take-up rate among the younger generation. This is why many current mama shop owners are in their sixties or older.
Mama Shops: HDB’s Beloved Convenience Stores
Before the time of 7-11’s, small shops, and supermarkets, small convenience stores called mama shops were the norm. Even today, they’re still found all around the HDB blocks, standing as small yet stark reminders of the country’s growth over the years. Started in the early 20th century by immigrant Indians in Serangoon Road, mama shops have long established themselves as an important part of comfortable city living and Singaporean culture since then.
Their very names are an allusion as to their origins – the name mama shop derives from the Tamil word Mama, meaning uncle or elder. That’s because those are the people usually manning the shops themselves. The HDB has made efforts to keep mama shops alive. Through the Revitalization of Shops (ROS) scheme in 2007, the government has pledged to co-fund mama shop budgets to help them stay afloat. Often found in the void deck area of HDB buildings, mama shops are small, non-air-conditioned convenience stores that sell a wide variety of very cheap and generic goods. Sundry items, canned goods, candies, and newspapers are staple items, though th e range of their merchandise is ultimately dictated by its owner.
One of the reasons why Singaporeans keep coming back to mama shops has a lot to do with nostalgia; old school snacks like the biscuit piring, haw flakes, and potato wheels are some of the hardest pickings to pass up for those who were able to enjoy them in their youth. Not to mention the fact that personalized service is another big draw – customers who frequent their local mama shop are often subjected to discounts and an attention to detail that simply can’t be found in larger retail chains. Many agree that a high value should be placed on mama shops due to its cultural significance, its community value, and its convenience factor. For those who are lucky enough to pass by one, why not pick up an item or two? Not only will doing so keep them on the Singaporean streetscape, but you’ll also be treating yourself to a trip back in time.
What are Mama Shops?
Mama Shops are small provision shops that are often tucked away in residential neighbourhoods. They are typically small, family-owned businesses that operate at the void decks of the HDB flats (the public housing in Singapore). For those unfamiliar, void decks refer to the ground floor of the HDB blocks — they are left open for residents to gather and hang out.
Mama shops are known to sell an eclectic mix of products, ranging from daily necessities like toiletries and spices or condiments used for cooking. They also sell magazines, newspapers, and a lot of local snacks. Amongst their catalogue of items also includes toys, which contributes to the multitude of reasons why we loved visiting these shops as kids.
Mama shops are best known for their cheap prices. But more than just a place to buy necessities at an affordable price, these shops were also an integral part in fostering a sense of community in the neighbourhoods. As the Mama shops are mostly frequented by residents in the area, a visit to these shops often meant you will see familiar faces — and the store owners probably knew everyone in the neighbourhood.
The Mamak shops of Singapore
“Come shop here,” said the elderly owner of the mamak shop tucked in the void deck of an apartment block. “We have microwavable food, frozen nuggets and meats. There’s no need to walk 15 minutes to the supermarket and there are no long queues here.” He pointed to a neat row of freezers lined up just outside his little shop that is filled with a selection of ready to eat frozen produce.
Mamak shops were traditionally owned and operated by Indians. Mamak means ‘uncle’ or ‘elder’ in Tamil. Mamak shops is a feature of Singapore’s heartland residential living and can be traced back to the 1960s when the Singapore government created the Housing Development Block (HDB) to build high-rise apartments for its growing population. The Mamak shop is a small convenience store usually no larger than 10 square meters that is located under a high-rise HDB apartment block. Shop owners usually speak a multitude of languages, knows the residents of the neighborhood, and commands a loyal patronage from the community it serves.
In recent years, mamak shops have struggled against modernization and rising competition, especially from large supermarket and convenience store chains that offers air-conditioned comfort, larger diversity of products, and home-delivery services. Many have closed as the elderly owners retired and the younger moved on to greener pastures. However, it appears that local mamak shops are fighting back. Brighter lights are installed to make the shop look bigger and more appealing. Freezers are installed along the open spaces of the void deck to extend the size of the shop. Instant and frozen food are carefully chosen to appeal to the modern time scarce generation – who can choose to purchase a frozen ready to eat microwavable meal and a packet drink on their way home upstairs.
The Mama Shop Of Memories: Exchange Your Memories Of Singapore For Childhood Goodies
Pay a visit to the Mama Shop Of Memories, a virtual store created by the National Museum of Singapore where you can “pay” for childhood goodies with your memories of Singapore’s past.
The Mama Shop Of Memories is an interactive, online space where the currency is people’s fondest memories of Singapore. It has been created with Home, Truly, an exhibition which explores moments and experiences of growing up in Singapore which have shaped our collective identity and memory.
As you enter the site, there are various elements that can interact with. Listen to the Mama Shop uncle or explore items around the online mama shop such as the mini Singapore flags or an old-fashioned children’s ride.
MacPherson Mamak Shop
Standalone kiosks operating at the void decks of old Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks, fondly known as mama shops, were common sights in the eighties and nineties. At their peak, they numbered more than 500 in different parts of the island.
However, by the late nineties, the rise of neighbourhood minimarts and convenience stores had edged out these mama shops, and their numbers dwindled to only 300-plus currently.
A typical mama shop, like the old mama shop located at the corner of a shophouse at MacPherson, sells mainly basic necessities, such as eggs, instant noodles, canned food and bottled drinks. Cigarettes, batteries, magazines and newspapers are also popular items on sale.
Mama shop
A mama shop at Buffalo Road in Little India
A mama shop or mamak shop (from Tamil மாமா māmā, meaning uncle or elder) is a convenience store or sundry shop in Singapore that is often located under a high-rise apartment block built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Traditionally, they are owned and operated by Singaporean Indians.
Unlike other stores such as 7-Eleven, mama shops are not air-conditioned and sell a variety of provisions within their limited area of approximately 9 square metres (97 sq ft). Local residents often make use of mama shops as location markers
The earliest mama shops were started by the early Indian immigrants to Singapore who were traders and businessmen. Many eventually became small shopkeepers along Serangoon Road in the early 20th century. In its early days, the mama shop served mainly villagers in the vicinity. Since the shopkeeper was most likely to be the shop owner, service was rendered largely on a friendly and personal basis. In earlier times many customers were granted unlimited credit, according to Ubid bin Ibrahim, co-owner of one of the oldest surviving mama shops. Bargaining, discounting of prices and personal delivery of goods were also common. Over time, shopkeepers became familiar with customers from the other racial communities, particularly the Chinese who observed the custom of reciprocity. As English was not a commonly spoken tongue back then, the Malay language served as the main form of communication between them.
The “Mama Shops”
A SINGAPOREAN HERITAGE - Provision shops located at the void decks of HDB flats
They have been around since Singapore's inception. Our parents and grandparents grew up patronizing these Mama shops. And to think they still exist till this very day, selling everything from Pocky sticks to Pokemon cards. Surely this deems it worthy of being called "an important part of our heritage".
Mama shops are facing increasingly stiff competition from various parties with more resources and popular support such as supermarkets and wet markets. The days where the Mama Shop industry flourished are long gone. With the rise of supermarkets and big shopping malls, a Mama Shop owner would have a very hard time maintaining his or her business.
Mama shops have been outclassed and overpowered by newer supermarket chains. They need to adapt to the times with new methods and means to remain relevant, or risk disappearing altogether. Society should nevertheless support them as they represent apart of Singapore’s unique heritage.
‘I might have to close in a few years’: Singapore’s ‘mamak shops’ could soon disappear
A resident shopping at Hwa Lee Provision Store with his daughter on his shoulders in the evening on Sept 24
The Hwa Lee Provision Store has been an enduring fixture of the void deck at Block 304 Shunfu Road for 40 years. Its shopfront and nondescript signboard have remained the same since Chong Meng Choo, 90, first opened the store in 1984, when the Housing Board flats in the area were built.
But the store, which has survived financial crises, pandemics and much more besides, might be on its last legs, said Kelvin Lim, Chong’s youngest son. "We are being forced into a corner by higher costs, online shopping and lower foot traffic. Worst of all, it is very hard to find someone reliable who is willing to take over," said Lim, Hwa Lee’s second-generation owner. "I might have to close the shop in a few years, maybe even next year. I’m very tired, and there are many other things I want to do with my life, like travelling or product design."
Known colloquially as "mamak shops" (mamak means uncle in Tamil), standalone kiosks that sell provisions and sundry goods like Hwa Lee have been a fixture of HDB living for many decades. But many of these businesses have shut, and operators who still run them say earnings have fallen over the years as they face growing pressure from supermarkets, chain convenience stores and online grocers. Operators also say there are few candidates willing to take over their businesses as they approach retirement.