Goodbye Funan, for now
Woman shutters electronic repair shop three years after opening
When she finally set up her first business at Funan DigitaLife Mall three years ago, Ms Jess Huang, 32, felt immense pride.
But on Thursday evening, she teared as she closed the shutters to her electronics repair and accessory store, Future Pro, for the last time.
She and the other tenants bid farewell to the six-storey North Bridge Road shopping centre, which specialises in electronics and IT-related goods.
After 31 years, the mall's owner, CapitaLand Mall Trust Management, plans to redevelop it into an experiential creative hub over the next three years.
A mother of two young children, aged four and five, Ms Huang set up her business with her brother's encouragement.
Her brother, Mr Jack Huang, 31, is a partner at two other electronics repair stores, Mac Win and X-Planet, also at Funan.
The China-born siblings came to Singapore 20 years ago with their parents, who were seeking better job opportunities.
They are now Singapore citizens.
Ms Huang, an environmental engineering graduate from the National University of Singapore, will miss the support offered by her brother when they move out.
Her new outlet at Plaza Singapura opened yesterday.
She will divide her time between that outlet and another one at International Plaza, in Tanjong Pagar.
Her brother will manage his outlets at Sim Lim Square, Plaza Singapura and Westgate in Jurong.
She said: "My brother has been a helping hand rather than a competitor. We even exchange stocks. It is an alliance."
Ms Huang said: "I definitely feel sad because it's my first business startup. I feel it more because most other shops are not tended by the bosses themselves, unlike mine."
The Huang siblings are also sad to leave their fellow tenants and Funan management, all of whom have become close friends.
Said Mr Huang: "At Funan, we have one big family... The management here is very good. Now we have to split up."
At the farewell party at the mall on Thursday evening, the siblings played a game of Pictionary while enjoying a buffet dinner for the final time with other tenants.
Ms Huang is keen to return after the mall's revamp.
She said: "We have a high chance of coming back. Shoppers come here for a purpose."
At Funan, we have one big family... The management here is very good. Now we have to split up.
- Mr Jack Huang, who was a partner at two electronics repair stores at Funan DigitaLife Mall
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