Let’s be honest – Woodleigh is an MRT station where most Singaporeans would think, “Um, why does it exist again?” and “Does anyone even come here?”. According to LTA stats from 2021, the average number of commuters tapping in or out at Woodleigh was 3,313 per day. Pretty meagre compared to its NEL neighbour, Serangoon, with a daily average of 14,969. Big oof.
Savagery aside, Woodleigh has actually been serving more and more residents over the years thanks to the booming BTO developments in Bidadari. And if you needed further proof that the town is moving away from deserted and uncool to hip and happenin’, The Woodleigh Mall would like to have a word.
It’s not unusual to see malls in Singapore that either strive to be very green and nature-themed, or be all glitz and glamour. It seems that The Woodleigh Mall has managed to accomplish both, with lots of open-air hangout spaces surrounded by lush greenery, as well as atas touches that – dare we say it … make it the Orchard of the North-East? Gasp.
The skylight floods the atrium with glorious natural brightness.
Terraced rows of greenery with benches for shoppers to get some fresh air or have a chit-chat sesh.
Late-night grocery runs always make for a bit of an adventure, but The Woodleigh Mall’s 24-hour FairPrice Finest is gonna make supermarket trips a lot more exciting, no matter the time of day.
Right next to it is a bar you can head to for some post-work tipple.
Settle dinner with their ready-to-eat food kiosks, from roast meats to sushi. They also have a “You Pick, We Cook” service where you can choose any portion of seafood you want from their fridge display for them to fire up either teriyaki or shioyaki style – the latter meaning salt-grilled.
The cooking fee is $8 for the first 500g, and an added $1.50 for every subsequent 150g, and includes a complimentary set of rice, miso soup, and side salad so you can have a filling meal.
The words “free samples” are like music to the ears, and at this FairPrice Finest in particular, you can look forward to a dedicated free samples zone with a rotating roster of vendor booths.
When we swang by, the offerings included ice cream and waffle bites from famed dessert cafe, Creamier, cookies from New Zealand’s wildly popular brand, CookieTime, and aromatic shots of java from Spinelli Coffee.
Image adapted from: @beansfactory.singapore via Instagram
The popular Beans.Factory dessert cafe from Malaysia has chosen The Woodleigh Mall as the site of their 2nd SG branch, so you’ll no longer need to travel all the way to Tanjong Pagar for it. Having garnered a strong fanbase in its home country with outlets across Johor, KL, and Malacca, they’re now bringing their refreshing mix-and-match dessert bowls to our heartlands.
Image adapted from: @bulgogisyo via Instagram
For the carnivores out there, Bulgogi Syo uses a special 3-step hot stone grilling technique popularised in Korea. The sear, torch, and flambé process ensures that your cuts of meat will be juicy instead of dry and tough, and have the perfect amount of char.
Of course, you’ll be able to find your usual mall staples at The Woodleigh Mall, like McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Boost Juice, BreadTalk, and Toast Box.
Other fan favourites among Singaporean mall-goers that have opened here include Genki Sushi, Poulet, and VeganBurg.
BBT aficionados will have plenty of choices here with Hollin, I Love Taimei, and KOI Thé.
The mall is still in the process of completing tenant setups. In due time, visitors will get to dine at the likes of Project Acai, Tiong Bahru Bakery, and the super vibey, Australia-inspired Surrey Hills Grocer.
Other upcoming F&B tenants to look forward to:
The Woodleigh Mall isn’t exactly teeming with retail tenants, so don’t expect to shop till you drop here. You can certainly still make it your destination to pick up everyday lifestyle essentials, though. For clothing and accessories, you can swing by iORA, TRT, Owndays, and Skechers.
Pick up books and stationery at Popular, and for a sea of adorable knick-knacks, swing by The Green Party. The homeware, stationery, toys, and accessories gift shop is a mixed bag of aesthetic finds, from petite artificial potted plants to MUJI-esque notebooks and XXL plushies.
Kim Able Household, a homeware store.
Of course, there’ll be the usual suspects like Guardian, Unity, and Venus Beauty where you can stock up on beauty products, health supplies and medication, and toiletries.
Then you’ve got Challenger for your tech needs, and Kim Able Household for all things home and living – think repair tools to essentials like wall clocks and plastic drawer cabinets.
If you’re looking to spruce up your look, there are salons here catering to both men and women. EX Style Prestige is an elevated version of the EX Style chain which you may have spotted in neighbourhoods all over Singapore, with a more chic and trendy interior.
Fellas can get a snazzy trim and clean fades over at Clippers Barber, ‘cause we all know routine haircuts just hit different when it’s from gentlemen’s barbers.
The folks behind The Woodleigh Mall definitely know their crowd well. Surrounded by clusters of new Bidadari BTOs with plenty more still in the midst of construction, the shopping centre has no less than 20 different educational and enrichment centres for young families to consider.
These include renowned tuition centre, The Learning Lab, as well as specialised enrichment centres such as Mavis Tutorial Centre – which incorporates science experiments for a more fun approach, and Chengzhu Mandarin Centre – for little tots as young as 6 months old to pick up a foundation in the Chinese language.
Besides academics, parents can also sign their children up for extracurricular classes at the likes of Kicks Taekwondo, Dancepointe Academy, and Vienna Music School.
Artist’s impression of the upcoming Kiztopia Woodleigh.
Image adapted from: Kiztopia
Those whose kiddos are bursting with more energy than a jumping bean can hop over to what will be the newest Kiztopia outlet in Singapore, slated to open in mid-May 2023. This branch is designed to have an underwater theme, so expect lots of cute pirate ships, submarines, and marine life murals across a sprawling 3,000sqft space.
Bidadarians – that’s what they call residents of that town, right? – may have earned some major bragging rights with the opening of The Woodleigh Mall.
Sure, it may not be a shopping haven with floors upon floors of popular chain stores and boutiques. But if you’re meeting a North-Eastie to catch up over a meal, you’ll have plenty of tantalising options here with accessible price points.
Even their 7-Eleven is cool. Beer on tap and a cafe dining area? Say less.
Residents will also have plenty to fill their time with while their kiddo is off at a class or two in the same building, or be able to smash out all their errands one-shot without having to journey to town.
As a closing statement, we would like to give a shout-out to the fact that it’s named as straightforward as it can be: The Woodleigh Mall. No fancy schmancy names that don’t have the location in it, which forces one to Google what neighbourhood it’s in. Yes, we’re looking at you, Junction 8, 9, 10, and however many more there are hiding in the wild.
Address: 11 Bidadari Park Drive, Singapore 367803
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6320 0129
Check out our other shopping guides:
Photography by Huiwen Chan.
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