Written by Joyce
"Mama" shops are independent kiosks that are usually seen at the
void decks in Housing Development (HDB) blocks in Singapore. These shops sell
assorted daily products to traditional sweets and snacks and they have been
hailed as ‘icons of Singapore’s architectural landscape and part of the
nation’s collective memory’.
‘Mama’ shops were first set up in the 1950s along shophouses. ‘During
the 1980’ and 1990s, there shops have become were a common sight in HDB estates
all over Singapore and there were about 600 such shops at their peak.
However, in recent years, convenient stores and franchise stores
such as 7-eleven and Cheers have also made their way into the heartlands and
HDB estates as well. With competition from these convenient and franchise
stores, ‘mama’ shops have dwindled to 380 kiosks in the past few years.
During an interview with Mr. Deen, owner of a ‘mama’ shop in
Yishun, we have found out that his regular customers have decreased as more
people are visiting 7-eleven or Cheers stores. Despite the steep competition,
Mr. Deen is still upbeat about continuing his ‘mama’ shop business till he
retires.
CELS Task 9 Recording
