St. James to open new megaclub in S’pore by June
Party animals in Singapore believe there is room for another megaclub in the city state.
Media planner Jonathan Lee, 24, welcomed the news that the people behind the well-known St James Power Station housing 11 nightclubs near VivoCity, will be opening a new, though smaller, megaclub by the middle of the year.
“The idea of a megaclub actually sounds pretty good,” said Lee.
Marcus Foo, 24, senior advertising executive, agreed. “There will always be a market in Singapore when (a) club opens. Singapore is small and there are only that many clubs available for the partygoers. People will definitely try out the new and upcoming clubs just for the experience.”
Differentiating itself from St James Power Station which has been known to play old Mandopop hits, St James Holdings chief executive officer Dennis Foo told The Straits Times that the new club will feature more of top 40 hits, current Mandopop music, hip hop and R&B, with local and foreign live music acts.
While it is not exactly known where the new megaclub will be located, Yahoo! Singapore understands that it will be situated near the Boat Quay-Clarke Quay stretch known for its vibrant nightlife scene.
The planned club will span 20,000sq ft, about a fourth the size of St James Power Station, and will target at young adults in their early 20s to 30s where people can party to club music, live music and sing in karaoke lounges, according to The Straits Times.
Delphine Ang, 23, feels that the new megaclub will add more colour to Singapore’s nightlife.
However, partygoers Yahoo! Singapore spoke to are mixed on the club’s sustainability in the long run.
Lee said, “Judging from the current crowds that the clubs are still getting, I don't think the market is saturated yet.”
On the other hand, Foo said, “People who are in the nightlife scene are drawn to events. I think for such a business to sustain in the long run, it is important for clubs to place heavy emphasis in marketing their events and bringing in famous guest DJs.”
Ang agreed. She told Yahoo! Singapore that she will not be checking out the new club as “she is already comfortable at the club she frequents”.
Foo revealed that discussions to open the club started last year and the company decided to go ahead because of a potential market.
The new megaclub, which has an existing infrastructure, will cost more than S$2 million. This will be the company’s largest investment after spending S$14 million on St James Power Station in 2006.
