New Brands At Orchard Central

Source : The Business Times, October 31, 2008

ORCHARD Central, Far East Organization's upcoming mall, has signed up more than 100 tenants so far - including several names that are new to Singapore.

The 250,000 sq ft mall is now 60 per cent leased with five months to go before it opens its doors to shoppers.

'We are very encouraged by our tenants' positive response to Orchard Central to date,' said Far East deputy director for retail management Susan Leng.

Fashionistas can look forward to Spanish brand Desigual's flagship store in Singapore which will take up 3,369 square feet of space at the mall.

Other well-known labels like Tyan and Levi's Dockers are also among the confirmed tenants.

There will also be a wide choice of new dining options including the first Ootoya branch in Singapore. Japan's Ootoya has a chain of almost 200 restaurants and is known for its healthy, affordable cuisine.

Also new to the food scene here is Duo Le Restaurant, a luxury restaurant chain from Shaanxi province in China, which will be opening a 2,700 sq ft eatery in the mall.

The mall will also have a new chic-casual dessert restaurant set partly in an outdoor verandah on the eighth floor - developed by The Happy People Co - which runs the Ben & Jerry's stores in Singapore.

And as previously announced, it will also be home to the first Mediterranean-themed market place, The Med, in basement two.

Far East is looking mainly for mid-range tenants because the mall is aimed at young working professionals.

In line with this, Orchard Central will also offer its adventure-seeking patrons a chance to get an adrenaline fix by climbing and rappelling off Singapore's first and only five- storey Ferrata Wall located inside the mall.

Rents at the mall range from $20 per sq ft per month (psf pm) to more than $70 psf pm, Ms Leng has said previously.

Orchard Central will open in the first quarter of 2009.