SINGAPORE — Hidden in the vibrant Joo Chiat area, Katong Square is home to a unique destination that brings together history and nostalgia. Beyond the well-known attractions like the colorful shophouses along Koon Seng Road and The Intan museum, the Katong Square Antique Centre (KSAC) offers a deeper connection to Singapore’s heritage.
Located within the atrium of Katong Square on East Coast Road, KSAC is a cozy daily bazaar offering an eclectic mix of vintage and thrifted items. The antique centre, which opened in December 2023, is open to the public every day from noon to 8 p.m. It also hosts a flea market on the first and third weekends of each month, a tradition that has been part of the space since 2016.
Gary Tan, a 55-year-old bank officer and founder of KSAC, was inspired by similar antique centres found in Europe, where collectors set up stalls to showcase their collections. Tan, who specializes in collecting everything from gramophones to airline trolleys, said, “We wanted to bring that concept here, where a community of collectors can share their treasures in one place.”
At KSAC, visitors can find an assortment of items that range from classic vintage pieces to quirky collectibles. The stall offers Seiko watches starting at $90, Chinese ceramics from $20, matchbooks for as low as $2, Archie comics priced between $5 and $10, and vinyl records from iconic artists like Destiny’s Child and Fleetwood Mac starting at $10. A standout item is an antique scuba helmet, priced at $2,200, which adds a touch of the unexpected to the collection.
While many items are for sale, certain treasures, such as a pair of vintage vinyl jukeboxes in the centre of the atrium, are displayed for nostalgic appeal. These pieces serve as a conversation starter and a window into a bygone era.
Tan hopes that the antique centre can bring people together through shared memories. “We’ve seen many older generations rediscover aspects of their childhood and share them with their children and grandchildren,” he said.
Among the treasures on display is a collection of Mr Kiasu cartoon toys, which were given away with McDonald’s Happy Meals in the 1990s. These nostalgic pieces can be found at The Collectables’ Shop, run by 67-year-old Richard Tan, a former curator of the Mint Museum of Toys. His stall specializes in vintage toys and figurines.
KSAC provides a relaxed shopping experience, with no salespeople hovering over visitors. While the flea market weekends attract hundreds of people, weekdays tend to be quieter, with 10 to 20 visitors on average. The centre also attracts tourists, thanks in part to its proximity to Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong.
Despite its modest size, Gary Tan envisions expanding KSAC in the future to create a larger space that could accommodate the wider community of antique and vintage collectors in Singapore. “We are passionate about preserving our national heritage,” he said. “Even in this small space, we hope to keep the past alive in some way.”
