From Ghost Town to Bustling Mall: Before and After Pictures of Joo Chiat Complex as Different as Night and Day

A few days shy of Hari Raya 2022 in Singapore, Hafiz Spencer visits the iconic mall during the month of Ramadan to capture the stark difference in activity from 2021.

On 16th May 2021, Singapore entered Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), just as the local Muslim community looked set to celebrate Hari Raya. Only two unique visitors were allowed per household per day, and festive spirits were dampened for the second year in a row following 2020’s Circuit Breaker.

The tightened restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 were reflected in the empty aisles and concourse of Joo Chiat Complex. The iconic mall in Geylang is usually bursting at the seams with shoppers in the days and weeks leading up to Hari Raya.

But with the Ministry of Health (MOH) easing its Safety Management Measures in 2022, Joo Chiat Complex has returned to its lively, bustling glory. This year, crowds in dizzying numbers can be seen making their way down to the mall to do their Hari Raya shopping. 

Adding further joy to the festive season, MOH also removed group size limits and lifted the cap on household visitors on 26th April 2022. This means that full family units can now visit the homes of loved ones this Hari Raya without worrying about restrictions.

Ecstatic, photographer Hafiz Spencer visits Joo Chiat Complex to capture the electric pre-Hari Raya atmosphere. And we’ve placed his images next to photos that were taken last year by photographer Hisham Zainal to illustrate just what a difference a year makes. 

2021
2022

2021
2022

2021
2022

2021
2022


2021
2022

2021
2022

2021
2022

Copy by Arman Shah

Photos by Hafiz Spencer & Hisham Zainal


Like Us On Facebook


Follow Us On Instagram

[instagram-feed]


Watch Us On YouTube

Arman Shah

A former travel writer with fond memories of solo adventures in Southeast Asia, Arman is now founder and editor of The Everyday People. If you ever see him approaching with a camera and voice recorder in hand, please choose kindness and don’t decline his request for an interview.

Recent Posts

Legacy Women’s Boxing Championship 5

26 – 27 July 2025: Two epic days for female boxers in Singapore to step…

1 week ago

Singapore Festival of Football 2025

23 – 27 July 2025: Look forward to world-class football action from three of Europe’s…

1 week ago

Singapore Ballet Festival 2025

18 – 20 July 2025: This year's Singapore Ballet Festival revisits three iconic works by…

1 week ago

Hurt Business: A Night of Corporate Boxing

12 July 2025: Experience raw action as white-collar warriors step into the ring at Foochow…

1 week ago

World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025

11 July - 3 August 2025: Watch the best in swimming, water polo, diving, artistic…

1 week ago

Glow Festival by Prudential 2025

5 – 13 July 2025: This year’s festival reimagines what it means to feel good,…

2 weeks ago