Residents of the Whampoa and Balestier area have something to look forward to this month as Shaw Plaza Balestier makes a grand return with its reopening!
The retail mall has been a defining presence in the community for over 20 years, though it had to shut its doors in August 2019 for renovations. Three and a half years later, Shaw Plaza is back and better than ever, with new stores and experiences for people to check out.
Shaw Plaza officially reopens on 1 April 2023; here’s what you can expect when you make your visit.
Brand-new Shaw Theatres
Of course, the main highlight would be the new movie theatre. Located on the mall’s fourth floor, the theatre has been spruced up and refurbished to provide the best experience for movie-goers.
Before visitors go in to enjoy the films, they can take in revamped interiors of the theatre, which pays tribute to the heritage district of Balestier — known for its industrial background, old shophouses, and varied architectural buildings.
The red-bricked walls and overhanging grilles of the cinema corridor bring forth a unique aesthetic, making it feel as though you are strolling through the streets of Balestier.
Then there are the theatres themselves. Shaw Theatres Balestier will have 11 halls accommodating visitors at the venue. There are six regular halls, while the other five are premium ones — the highest number of premium halls for a cinema in Singapore.
Of the premium halls, four of them are designated as Lumiere halls. Visitors can enjoy a more extravagant film viewing experience here with spacious reclinable seats and the latest DTS:X sound system for an all-encompassing audio experience.
Meanwhile, the final premium hall is designed with families in mind. The Dreamers hall will have softer lighting and a reduced volume, with beanies at the front of the hall to bring a cosy atmosphere for those with children. In addition, the Dreamers hall will be screening family-friendly movies all year round, so feel free to pick your favourite.
Family-friendly amenities and activities
Shaw Plaza prides itself as a family mall with many features that will delight families with children when they visit.
If your child has some extra energy, you can take them to level three, where the Sky Terrace is located. Here, you’ll find an outdoor play area that excitable younglings can enjoy.
On the left-hand side of the area, you’ll meet a massive slide that has been whimsically decorated with ballon sculptures ahead of the opening. Children can slalom through the wallholla playground at the side to reach the top, where they can speedily make their way down through the slide.
You can also find various other attractions along the Sky Terrace, like a trampoline and a crawl space with which the little ones can have fun. Finally, the other end of the outdoor play area holds a mini zip line for them to zip through the air!
Besides the Sky Terrace, Shaw Plaza holds several appealing and enriching activities from retail offerings to keep young minds active and learning.
The likes of Taekwondonomics bring engaging Taekwondo lessons helmed by experienced coaches, while centres such as PlayFACTO School offer courses like coding and robotics to stimulate their minds while still at an early age.
For something hands-on that the family can enjoy, Two Bake Boys (known for their Thai Tea Crepe Cakes) at Shaw Plaza Balestier also holds baking workshops. So get your aprons on and have your culinary skills on show in this fun family activity!
Reopening Weekend Special
The weekend of 1 to 2 April is special for families as Shaw Plaza is making a grand show of its reopening during this period.
The Sky Terrace will be specially decorated with fabled beasts as the area becomes a mythical garden for families to explore and play around. And at the Main Atrium at level one, a kiddie variety show will be held, which features caricature sessions, a balloon sculpture show, glitter tattoo glam-ups, and games with prizes.
And if you do visit during this opening weekend, you have the chance to walk away with Gift-away Vouchers. The first 500 shoppers that spend a minimum of S$120 (maximum combination of three receipts) will be entitled to the vouchers.
So are you excited to check out the return Shaw Plaza? You can let us know on our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok.
In the meantime, you can continue to get updates on the mall by following their Facebook and Instagram pages.
Photos by Russell Loh of the DANAMIC Team.
*Article edited with updated information
