Coronation Wearmart
“If they asked me to move out, I don’t think I will because of my age, I’m over 70 years old already!”
Looking from the outside, Wearmart is stocked with many eccentric clothing pieces, including a T-Shirt printed with the wise words “I don’t need to Post to Prove”. Amongst all these, one might expect Mr Chng Har Boo, the owner, to be hidden among the loud items he sells, but this is not the case.
The man is warm and friendly, with an equally eccentric aura about him that is inviting to customers. He says his largest customer base is made of domestic helpers in the area looking for a good buy - indeed, a few do come in over the duration of our interview. What do they buy? Other than clothes, many flock to the phone cards he sells. He proudly shows all the cards he offers, which are of all sorts, such as pre-paid, post-paid, top-up cards.
The shop was opened in 1985 by Mr Chng’s younger brother, and was originally on Level 3 before shifting down in 1993 to where it is today. By trade, Mr Chng himself was a factory worker for about 10 years, but decided to join the business when the factory closed and left him without a job.
“There isn't much human traffic here anymore.”
When asked, he agrees that the place has changed significantly. “20 years ago there were a lot of old shops around Coronation, but they are all demolished now, replaced by newer shopping centres,” he says. But on a brighter note, many things have improved too. He remembers frequent flooding in the past, and when there was a flood, the radios would stop working. “The basement carpark would be flooded and on the first floor, the water could reach up to here,” he says, gesturing to his shins with a soft smile.
Mr Chng stands amongst the racks in his stall for a photo.
With the same smile, he claims he has no sentimental value towards the mall and his shop. “It will probably get demolished,” he predicts, “ There isn’t much human traffic here anymore.” If that happens, Mr Chng is firm on selling his shop, because of his age.
He says, “I probably won’t feel much after its demolished, my goal here is to make money,” albeit with glistening eyes and a deep conviction in telling his stories.