Metro is Singapore...

Although Metro is down only to four stores nationwide, in it’s heyday, it was THE place to shop.

I was about 10 or 12 years old when Far East Plaza opened. It was probably the run-up during the Hari Raya since we only get new “going out” clothes then. I remember disembarking from CCS bus no. 3 and marvelling at the tall shopping centre with its glass elevators, shooting up and down. . Metro took up all the basement area and I was gobsmacked by all the fancy toys on display. And the clothes! How fabulous are they? Definitely more atas than Top100!

When I was in RGS, Far East Plaza was a 15 minute walk away. Afternoons are spent, squealing “So cute!!!!” at the myriad soft toys, looking through the Eva Peroni hairclips or browsing all the clothes rails. I wasn’t brave enough to try them on though. It was also such an IN thing to have an engraved pen done at Metro with the cheapest pen at about $8. After enough walking about, we would sit down at Long John Silver. Then they served a wonderful battered fish sandwich, big enough to share and wonderful battered fishballs (sadly, no longer) which taste great with chilli sauce. Either that or it would be First Muslim Noodle House. So I did felt a pang of sadness when they were closing down Metro at Far East Plaza. We tried to go to First Muslim as well about 2 years back but that was no longer there as well.

Why do I have such fond memories of Metro? My first ever proper paid job was as a Sales Assistant at Metro Paragon at the tender age of 17. For a princely sum of $3.25 an hour and dressed in a white and red stripy uniform, I manned the changing room at Ladies Contemporary, hung all the clothes back on the rails, check stock and when it is Christmas Season, I was posted at the Gift Wrapping Counter.

Now that was a revelation. If you ever need proof how kiasu Singaporeans are, try telling them they have free gift wrapping. Wahhh!! The lines snaked around the block. Only small item like a bar of soap, they request 10 pieces of wrapping paper. I faced for the first time a fierce female boss, shoplifters and what to be a first, seeing a woman smoked. How scandalous!

It was peak shopping season and I worked all hours (I was trying to get over a heartache too but that is a different story). Hours after hours of cutting, sticking cellotape and ribbon whilst Milli Vanilli blamed it on the rain and Kylie Minogue put your hand on your heart and tell me it’s all over. I still go “argghhh!” whenever I overhear that Kylie song.

Coincidentally IU also worked for Metro but at Metro Marina. Sorry ah..i prefer Metro Paragon, purely for their luxurious toilets. hahahaahah