Extreme makeover, hawker edition: People's Park Food Centre reopens with new look to delight of diners

[kobayashiGT]

Source: https://www.asiaone.com/lifestyle/extreme-makeover-hawker-edition-peoples-park-food-centre-reopens-new-look-delight-diners?

Those who've previously visited People's Park Food Centre before probably didn't have very good memories of it. 

While it's known to house several popular stalls like Zhen Zhu Fang Roasted Delights and Ri Ri Hong Ma La Xiang Guo, the hawker centre drew plenty of flak for its poor hygiene standards. 

But things have changed. 

The space has finally completed a much-needed revamp after being closed from April 1 to June 30 for renovation works. 

And the place looks almost unrecognisable now. 

In a Facebook post dated July 1, netizen Ng Chun Kiat shares pictures of the hawker centre's new look. 

One of the biggest differences is the improved lighting with the once dimly-lit space now looking brighter and even larger in size. 

Besides lighting, the new wall and floor tiles also help brighten up the place, considering that they are now a lighter shade than before.

In a place with so much cooking going on, proper ventilation is important too. 

With new fans in place, the place is much airier and Chun Kiat even added that it felt "much cooler now". 

He did note that the area around the "Mala Xiang Guo section" of the food centre is still smoky as there is plenty of stir-frying going on. However, the other sections of the hawker centre have "almost no smoke". 

Previously, pests and birds were also a huge problem and this has been solved by the giant bird netting that was erected over the hawker centre's sky wells. 

"Overall, a welcome upgrade and revamp. About 80 per cent of the stalls have resumed operations today. Special thanks to National Environment Agency (NEA) for the timely revamp!" said Chun Kiat. 

Apart from the bird nets, wires were also placed on exhaust pipes and beams to deter mice and pigeons from resting there, reported Lianhe Zaobao. 

In the comments of the Facebook post, netizens celebrated the hawker centre's new look and many were especially pleased with how bright and clean the space looks. 

Some also pointed out that patrons and vendors alike should stay diligent to maintain the cleanliness of the hawker centre. 

Patrons and hawkers who were interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao also sang praises about the renovations. 

"After the renovation of the hawker centre, the biggest change is that it became more hygienic, clean and bright. If you didn't tell me, I wouldn't know that the open-air area has anti-bird nets and today, I didn't see any birds there," a 50-year-old diner surnamed Chen told the Chinese daily. 

A stall owner surnamed Liu, 48, also said she hasn't seen any birds or pests yet. 

"The environment has improved, diners can eat comfortably and at ease, and we [hawkers] can work better," she remarked. 

A reputation for being dirty 

When it was announced that People's Park Food Centre was going to undergo renovations, many people heaved sighs of relief. 

Over the years, several hawkers and customers expressed concern about the level of hygiene at the popular hawker centre. 

Some diners even had the unpleasant experience of dealing with unwelcome guests previously, from rats scurrying on the floor to crows and pigeons pecking away at plates of leftover food.

 

[Kxbc]

The patron mix is 60% old, 30% middle aged, 10% younger.

More likely than not, it will revert to original state within 4 months.

[Arogab]

I always love to go around there but no time. Love the walk around and shopping

[13177]

  On 7/4/2023 at 1:46 AM, Kxbc said:

The patron mix is 60% old, 30% middle aged, 10% younger.

More likely than not, it will revert to original state within 4 months.

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Agreed, the place would become dirty again. Now just reno, sure looks clean and nice. Like i saw one hawker centre before reno, the toilet was smelly and dirty. Then after reno, the toilets are sparkling clean and not smelly. Then after few months later, the toilets become smelly again. 

[13177]

  On 7/4/2023 at 2:19 AM, yishunite said:

Last time when I work around Chinatown area I love to eat there... but if not nearby very mafan to get there just for lunch I feel...

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Chinatown area find parking very difficult and need to park far even can find parking. I don't really like to go there.

[Mrmilktooth]

Boomers paradise… let’s give it some time to revert to old ways 

[Tohto]

No matter what they do,  they are not able to shift the ceiling higher.  The low ceiling will always trap all the heat and smokey smell inside.  

[Inlinefour]

  Reveal hidden contents

my friend said most important is those ATB MILFs still there 

Edited July 4, 2023 by Inlinefour

[Blueray]

  On 7/4/2023 at 2:56 AM, 13177 said:

Chinatown area find parking very difficult and need to park far even can find parking. I don't really like to go there.

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I park at jalan kukoh and walk over. that car park sure got lots one. eat at people's park then go upstairs buy toiletries. 

[Ct3833]

  On 7/4/2023 at 3:36 AM, Tohto said:

No matter what they do,  they are not able to shift the ceiling higher.  The low ceiling will always trap all the heat and smokey smell inside.  

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And then they aggravate the problem by installing ceiling fans to blow the hot air downwards.  These people never knew that hot air raises? They should use section  fan to draw out the hot air instead  

[Watwheels]

Agree, the place will be dirty again. If mostly frequent by lao nang it will be back to its dirty state. Old habits die hard.

Those adhoc cameras setup to catch killer litters are mostly lao nang littering. They are not like some of us who will bother to dispose of our thrash properly. Ironically many lao nang work as cleaners. Karma may be.

[Lala81]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:11 AM, Ct3833 said:

And then they aggravate the problem by installing ceiling fans to blow the hot air downwards.  These people never knew that hot air raises? They should use section  fan to draw out the hot air instead  

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You mean like those hoods ventilation?

 

[13177]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:01 AM, Blueray said:

I park at jalan kukoh and walk over. that car park sure got lots one. eat at people's park then go upstairs buy toiletries. 

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Jalan kukoh quite a bit of distance away le. Usually, i try to park at chin swee MSCP, if really full then no choice park at jalan kukoh. That's why i avoid going there during peak hours, only go there during ulu timing.

[13177]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:11 AM, Ct3833 said:

And then they aggravate the problem by installing ceiling fans to blow the hot air downwards.  These people never knew that hot air raises? They should use section  fan to draw out the hot air instead  

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Same problem like in Hong Lim hawker centre.  Even they installed so many industry fans there, the place there still stuffy and hot.

[inlinesix]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:34 AM, 13177 said:

Same problem like in Hong Lim hawker centre.  Even they installed so many industry fans there, the place there still stuffy and hot.

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Must have exhaust fan to suck hot air out.

Otherwise, where got cool air come in

😂

[Ct3833]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:24 AM, Lala81 said:

You mean like those hoods ventilation?

 

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Hood ventilation plus  huge suction  pipe to vent all the hot air out of the food center

[13177]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:15 AM, Watwheels said:

Agree, the place will be dirty again. If mostly frequent by lao nang it will be back to its dirty state. Old habits die hard.

Those adhoc cameras setup to catch killer litters are mostly lao nang littering. They are not like some of us who will bother to dispose of our thrash properly. Ironically many lao nang work as cleaners. Karma may be.

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Ya, those lao nang really don't have personal hygiene at all. The other time i was at one of the lao nang estate hawker centre, saw one lao nang just threw the rubbish on the floor while he was walking. Another lao nang just spilt on the floor. 🤢

[Blueray]

  On 7/4/2023 at 4:33 AM, 13177 said:

Jalan kukoh quite a bit of distance away le. Usually, i try to park at chin swee MSCP, if really full then no choice park at jalan kukoh. That's why i avoid going there during peak hours, only go there during ulu timing.

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chin swee mscp sometimes kena Red Star crowd lor...

 

Edited July 4, 2023 by Blueray