Changi City Point

At least three suburban malls - Changi City Point, 112 Katong and Rochester Mall - are slated to open by next month. They will add 514,000 sq ft of retail space to the industry - about the size of VivoCity.

The new kids on the shopping block are banking on basic needs - such as supermarkets, food and beverage (F&B) outlets and cinemas - to earn loyalty from the burgeoning populations in their areas.

'In general, the suburbs have been relatively under-catered to, compared to Orchard Road. There is room to grow in the suburbs, particularly if a mall is near an MRT station.

Ms Sulian Tan-Wijaya, senior director of retail and lifestyle at real-estate firm Savills SingaporeMs Annie Lee, executive director of Perennial (Singapore) Retail Management, which will manage 112 Katong, said the mall will be tapping the large, affluent population in Marine Parade, Katong and Joo Chiat.