Latest news with #UnderOneRoof
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Walk through 1950s history at the newly reopened Chinatown Heritage Centre
CHC's executive director Cai Yinzhou (far left) and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan (third from left) at the formal reopening ceremony of Chinatown Heritage Centre on May 13. PHOTO: WOOPA TRAVELS SINGAPORE – Step back into the sights and sounds of Chinatown's bustling 1950s marketplace at the newly reopened Chinatown Heritage Centre (CHC). After closing its doors in March 2021, the centre in Pagoda Street reopened in January 2025, following a major revamp under a new operator Woopa Travels. It had closed due to difficulties arising from the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions. A depiction of Chinatown's marketplace in the 1950s. PHOTO: WOOPA TRAVELS Now fully restored, the centre offers a mix of original features like displays of a traditional tailor's shop and wooden cubicle homes, along with new ones like the 1950s marketplace with street food vendors and letter writers. A dedicated gallery showcases eight heritage brands like Eu Yan Sang, a household name in traditional Chinese medicine, and traditional Cantonese pastry shop Tong Heng, complete with original artefacts from the businesses in their early days. The centre had a formal reopening ceremony on May 13, which was attended by Mr Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth. Mr Suen Tat Yam, 39, chief executive of Woopa Travels, said the centre has had about 31,000 visitors since its soft launch in January. The aim is to increase its footfall to 100,000 visitors per year by the end of 2025. Mr Suen Tat Yam, chief executive of Woopa Travels which is CHC's operator, said the centre has had about 31,000 visitors since its soft launch in January. PHOTO: WOOPA TRAVELS Tickets are priced at $15 for Singapore residents and $12 for local children and seniors. In conjunction with the nation's 60th birthday, Singaporeans can look forward to promotions until Aug 31. These include a one-for-one free admission for Singapore resident seniors from Tuesdays to Thursdays and a 20 per cent discount on a tour, Under One Roof, that takes place every Friday and Saturday at 5.30pm. The centre will also have interactive features including QR codes which visitors can scan to access more information and quizzes. A museum guide acting as a trishaw rider during the formal reopening ceremony of CHC on May 13. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Visitors can sign up for guided tours such as an immersive theatrical experience – called Under One Roof – aimed at bringing displays to life through character-led tours. Speaking to the media, CHC's executive director, Mr Cai Yinzhou, 35, said: 'Many international brands might have bigger marketing budgets that smaller brands lack (due to resource constraints). 'We really hope the visibility heritage brands can get from being showcased in our centre and retail space can direct visitors to their shops which are located in the vicinity.' CHC's executive director Cai Yinzhou, speaking on May 13 at its formal reopening ceremony, which was attended by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan (seated, front left), said the centre aims to be a community space. PHOTO: WOOPA TRAVELS Mr Cai, who is also a newly elected MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, pointed to the centre's promotional campaigns which include exclusive perks and discounts from businesses around Chinatown for CHC ticket holders. These include Killiney Singapore, Gelato Garden and Elegance of Nanyang, all located along Smith Street. Mr Cai also said the centre aims to be a community space and work with other groups in the precinct, and support local festivals such as Chinese New Year and Moon Cake Festival celebrations. 'These are ways we hope to bring the community to our centre, and use our centre as a platform for (local businesses) to enjoy the spillover effects of the crowds,' he added. One heritage brand being showcased at the centre is Tin Sing Goldsmiths, which was founded in 1937. Mr Wan Shung Ming, its executive director, said 'We have been here (in Chinatown) for 90 years. When CHC wants to promote Chinatown's heritage, fundamentally, we must support them.' Tong Heng, the bakery behind the iconic diamond-shaped egg tarts, being featured in the new heritage brand showcase in CHC. PHOTO: CHINATOWN HERITAGE CENTRE Ms Ana Fong, 60, a fourth-generation staff member of Tong Heng, the bakery behind the iconic diamond-shaped egg tarts, said: 'My great-grandfather started the business in Smith Street. We have been here for close to 90 years, so to me, Chinatown is our home. 'To choose us to represent on behalf of (other businesses in Chinatown), I think it's a privilege to be featured inside.' Ms Fong said Tong Heng's goal is to be an 'old brand, but not so old school', to appeal to customers across generations. The business has made efforts in innovation by working with traditional and newer brands, and has come up with trendy creations like a truffle egg tart. Having volunteered in the Chinatown precinct in his youth, Minister of State Alvin Tan said that stories he had heard from the local immigrant community in the area are now encapsulated in CHC. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Mr Tan, who is also the Minister of State for Trade and Industry, said in his opening address: 'In order to make sure that our tourism sector continues to be very vibrant, we need to make sure that all of our different parts of the tourism sector start to grow, and we must inject new and fresh ideas, like Chinatown Heritage Centre. 'This is one of our new jewels in our whole tourism suite that we can offer to our tourists as well as Singaporeans alike.' Having volunteered in the Chinatown precinct in his youth, Mr Tan said that stories he had heard from the local immigrant community in the area are now encapsulated in the CHC. The se stories are a reminder of the past, going beyond the 60 years of nationhood to the years when pioneers had 'toiled during the British colonial era, up until 1965 and up until today', he said. The CHC is a bridge between the past and present, said Mr Tan. 'It is a reminder to all of us who are much younger, what the past was and what we must treasure, because if we forget the past, then we aren't able to remember what we need to have to steward the future for Singapore.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Oswestry shop owner still in shock 10 days after storefront crash
Shop owner still in shock 10 days after crash 6 minutes ago Share Save Alex James BBC Radio Shropshire Share Save BBC TJ Shotton has run Under One Roof since 2023. An Oswestry shop owner says the shock of a car crashing into his storefront 10 days ago still hasn't set in. TJ Shotton, who owns the collaborative art shop Under One Roof on Leg Street, says that sweeping the remains of his shop and stock out of the road was "heartbreaking". Mr Shotton told the BBC that he doesn't feel like he has fully processed the crash and that it's aftermath has felt "full on". The shop window has remained boarded up since a grey VW Tiguan collided with it just after 23:00 BST on the 28th of April. West Mercia Police say the investigation into the crash is ongoing. "It will be a struggle to find somewhere for local artists to go while we're closed" TJ says he doesn't know how long it will take to repair the damage to the shop. "We're still paying for a shop that you can't access through the front door, because there is no front door", he said. Under One Roof initially opened on the 4th of November 2020, one day before England's second Covid lockdown, and helps sell work from over 60 local artists and creatives. TJ Shotton, who now owns the store, says all of the artists who had stock at the shop are aware of the crash and the damage. He says that some of the artists lost all of their stock in the crash, while others that had been set to join are no longer able to. "If we're closed for ages, they're not going to have anywhere to input their art. It will be a struggle to find somewhere for local artists to go while we're closed," Mr Shotton added. "The idea of the shop is to put them out on the high-street and give them an opportunity... it's part of our duty to sell these items for the artists and they've got nothing left to sell." TJ says he doesn't know how long the repairs will take but Under One Roof will be back.
CNA
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Radio DJs Vernetta Lopez and John Klass leaving GOLD 905 in May
Veteran radio DJs Vernetta Lopez and John Klass will officially be signing off from Mediacorp's GOLD 905 this month, announced the radio station on Tuesday morning (May 6). According to a social media post by the station, Lopez, 51, will be leaving on May 11, while Klass, 55, will end his run by the end of May. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mediacorp GOLD 905 (@gold905) A familiar voice on Singapore's airwaves for decades, Lopez has held stints in multiple stations before joining GOLD 905, including the then-Perfect 10 98.7FM. During her tenure at GOLD 905, Lopez, along with Mike Kasem, co-hosted the morning show on weekdays from 6am to 10am. Fans will also know her for her roles in multiple iconic television shows, including Denise Tan in Under One Roof and Dr Kelly Chan in First Touch. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mediacorp GOLD 905 (@gold905) Meanwhile, John Klass has been keeping listeners company with his evening show Homestretch, which he co-hosts with Sophie Gollifer. The longtime musician held stints at the now-defunct Rediffusion and CLASS 95 before joining GOLD. View this post on Instagram A post shared by John Klass (@johnklass) In a statement, GOLD 905 said: "[Lopez has] been a constant and comforting presence for generations of listeners... With his smooth singing gift and creative spark, [Klass] brought heart and energy to every show."
BBC News
28-04-2025
- BBC News
Oswestry retailer 'devastated' after car crashes into shop
A business owner has been left "devastated" after a car crashed into his shop in are hunting two people who fled the scene, after the grey VW Tiguan sped along Leg Street in Oswestry, before crashing into Under One Roof just after 23:00 BST on owner Thomas James said that "virtually everything" in the gift shop was destroyed, leaving him "tired, angry and upset"."I'm so sorry for the artists who believed in me to bring their business to Oswestry. I'm broken," he said on Facebook. West Mercia Police confirmed that the two people inside the car have not yet been found. The force said that a thorough investigation was ongoing, with CCTV footage being reviewed and they also appealed for anyone with information to come forward."We sympathise with the owners and those that work there and are doing everything possible to identify and prosecute the individuals responsible," the force added. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
