GEORGE TOWN – Though an estimated 50,000 people are expected to descend on Penang, some businesses and famed markets that used to draw crowds will remain closed.
The streets may be jam-packed with vehicles but it may be too late for some businesses to reopen to cater to the crowds. Others are taking a more cautious route, delaying their operations until a later date.
Visitors must be mindful that post-pandemic Penang's tourism offerings will be mellower than what it was pre-pandemic.
Hin Pop-up Market
Mural hunters would surely make a pitstop at Hin Bus Depot while cycling around George Town. What used to be a space to house and maintain Hin Company Ltd's blue busses back in 1947 is now a creative art space with an exhibition hall and grassy lawn for picnics and yoga.
On Sundays, this place livens up with 70 to 80 vendors selling local delights, drinks, desserts and locally sourced, and handmade items. But when the pandemic hit, the market had to cease its operation three times.
Now with the opening of the state borders, owner Tan Shih Thoe told The Vibes that the outdoor market is not ready to be opened yet – not until all the 15 tenants in the space are ready.
“We are looking at the beginning of October and before the start of December because that is when the festivities go into full swing. But now, we want to see how things go and tread cautiously.
“When we do, we will surely do all we can to ensure SOPs are adhered to and limit the number of people into the space,” he said.
Occupy Beach Street
Before the pandemic, a portion of Beach Street will be cordoned off for street events every Sunday morning to late afternoon. No cars are allowed in the island’s commercial hub. It has hosted dozens of fun runs, performances and festive highlights.
However, it all came to a grinding halt after the movement control order (MCO) announcement and it has not set up stalls ever since. It has been one-and-a-half years and it does not seem like Beach Street is going to be “occupied” any time soon.
The project director of Occupy Beach Street (OBS), Jack Wong, told The Vibes that there are no plans to restart OBS just yet. It is a large outdoor event where it may be difficult to ensure SOPs are applied properly.
“We don’t have enough manpower to run it yet, as it is, even night markets are not open now.
“The situation is also uncertain as everything is just starting to reopen. We will need time to monitor and see how to run it safely for the public. We are cautious because our target audience is families and right now, children under 12 are not vaccinated yet. So we do not think now is a good time for us to encourage families to go out and mix around,” he said.
Batu Feringghi Night Market
If it is not George Town, it is the beaches that Penang has to offer, especially the well-known ones in Batu Feringghi. When the sun sets on the touristy strip, the nightlife that predominantly consists of shops lined on the sidewalk comes alive. Open from dusk till midnight, these makeshift stalls lodged between restaurants and resort hotels draw crowds.
Yet, despite the tourism reopening, many of these stalls have not returned. A handful of shops situated in shop lots still operate on what used to be a one-kilometre long night market.
Armenian Street
This narrow street in George Town has always been a hive of activities, no matter the day of the week. There are food and beverage outlets, souvenir stalls, boutique hotels and murals along the street, making it one of the most photographed places in the city.
That was before the pandemic hit. Though these shops tried to hold their ground while remaining closed for months, it seems they could not continue with their business after the most recent lockdown.
Though half of the shops have reopened, the other half remains shuttered, with “To Let” signs adorning the doorposts.
Cubopark@Chusan
Dubbed as the state’s first pop-up open mall, Cubopark was Penang’s newest Instagram worthy place when it first opened almost a year before Covid-19 hit. At 80,000 square feet, the urban space housed many pop-up stalls, retail stores, a food court and a landscape that will entice the hip and young.
Unfortunately, the place had yet to reach its full potential when the first lockdown was announced. To keep the space alive, complementary rental space was offered to mom-and-pop businesses. But even that drastic move could not stop the ruthless MCO from halting the operations altogether.
As domestic tourists arrive, many are not flocking shopping malls or the streets of George Town just yet. However, many have opted to head to open-air areas like the beach to spend their first few days of travel freedom.
Cars were seen parked along the road towards Batu Feringghi, causing a minor traffic jam as of Thursday evening. – The Vibes, October 16, 2021
