Opened last week, the concept of New Bahru, a project by Singapore hospitality firm The Lo & Behold Group, is set to redefine Singapore’s retail landscape as it begins its phased opening.
New Bahru was conceived as a response to the challenges faced by local brands in Singapore. Despite the emergence of talent and creative entrepreneurship in the region, homegrown brands have struggled to gain wider recognition and exposure.
Commercial malls are dominated by familiar chain stores, leaving limited space for local businesses to thrive. The Lo & Behold Group sought to create a cluster that would stand out from the rest, a place where the best of local creativity and talent could flourish.
In an interview with Rifeng Gao, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at The Lo & Behold Group, he shares the inspiration behind the project, the vision and the significance of investing in a brick-and-mortar venture in the digital age.
Housed in a refurbished school building, the project aims to offer an escape from the cookie-cutter malls and provide a space where people can wander aimlessly, leaving inspired by the community, products and programming of New Bahru.
