Sunday 8 July 2012

My Time in Orchard Road (Part Two)

It's been quite sometimes since I blogged two years ago about my time in Orchard road.
I recall there were lots of fast-food restaurants along Orchard Road, my ex-colleagues as well as my classmates and I dined Mcdonald's (open-air at FORUM The Shopping Mall in 1990s and KFC at Far East Plaza. Far East Plaza where I worked Metro Far East in early 1980s. Those were the days.

Me & My Hubby@ThePromenade
The Promenade shopping centre built in 1980s at the former site of Fitzpatrick Supermarket that my hubby and I frequent there. It was later replaced by Paragon in mid 1990s. My hubby and I posed outside The Promenade Shopping Centre in 1993 (pic date printed on it).
Delfi Orchard and Palais Renaissance (Yamasin Enterprise) and the Promenade (Eammons Investments), the Paragon (SOGO Group) and Orchard Square (22% owned by Takashimaya) were owned by the prominent Japanese owners. 
As for the Wisma Atria and Forum Galleria were owned by Kuwait investors while Holiday Inn and Hyatt Regency were owned by Brunei investors. Hyatt Regency (now known as Grand Hyatt) where my god-sister's mum worked at housekeeping department many decades till she retired.
Me@International Building in 1986
Just across the street from Liat Towers, my ex-colleague from OG and I used to dine at restaurant at International Building in 1980s. And by 1990s, my colleagues from SAMS and I dined there too. International Building (12-storey commercial building) is next to Lido Theatre and Shaw House which my hubby and I frequent there because my mum's old friend whose sister works at Isetan for more than 3 decades till present.
Located at the junction of Scotts Road and Orchard Road, these buildings - Shaw House and Shaw Centre as well as Tangs@Tang Plaza with the Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel - are landmarks. Before Singapore Marriott, it was The Dynasty Hotel (pic below) where my mum posed outside The Dynasty Hotel (Singapore) in 1986, photo taken by me. Oh yes, my god-father drove his car around Orchard Road with my mum and I since 1980s but they had been to Orchard Road during their time in their youth.
My mum@The Dynasty Hotel (1986)
Later in 1995, the Dynasty Hotel sold to the Marriott Hotel chain and renamed as Singapore Marriott Tangs Plaza Hotel.


My Mum@Tangs (1986)
Singaporeans like myself, would have fond memories of catching the latest flicks at Shaw House's Lido Theatre (opened in 1959). Many may still remember the original department store House of Tang, now known as Tang Plaza. My mum posed with Lion statue (original location before it shifted) in 1986, photo taken by me. There are a pair of lion statues on each side. We love to shopping around at Tangs since, especially basement and fashion clothes.
My hubby & I @Orchard Emerald (1993)
My hubby and I sat on the bench inside Orchard Emerald in 1993 during Christmas at night. I remember the foodcourt basement at Orchard Emerald where we used to dine.
Latest update: Part of old Orchard Emerald is gone. The part of retail complex made up of two buildings on diagonally opposite sites connected by a glass link bridge.

Will continue next blog...

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