Mama shop

A mama shop or mamak shop (from Tamil மாமா māmā, meaning uncle or elder) is a convenience store or sundry shop in Singapore that is often located under a high-rise apartment block built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Traditionally, they are owned and operated by Singaporean Indians.

A mama shop at Buffalo Road in Little India, Singapore

Unlike other stores such as 7-Eleven, mama shops are not air-conditioned and sell a variety of provisions within their limited area of approximately 9 square metres (97 sq ft).

Local residents often make use of mama shops as location markers.[1]

History

The earliest mama shops were started by the early Indian immigrants to Singapore who were traders and businessmen. Many eventually became small shopkeepers along Serangoon Road in the early 20th century.[2] In its early days, the mama shop served mainly villagers in the vicinity. Since the shopkeeper was most likely to be the shop owner, service was rendered largely on a friendly and personal basis.[3] In earlier times many customers were granted unlimited credit, according to Ubid bin Ibrahim, co-owner of one of the oldest surviving mama shops.[4] Bargaining, discounting of prices[1] and personal delivery of goods[5] were also common. Over time, shopkeepers became familiar with customers from the other racial communities, particularly the Chinese who observed the custom of reciprocity.[1] As English was not a commonly spoken tongue back then, the Malay language served as the main form of communication between them.[1]

Thevani Store along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, a mama shop at the void deck of a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat

When Singapore's population underwent a major resettlement from villages to high-rise flats in the 1960s,[6] many mama shops were relocated to void decks – open areas on the ground floors of HDB flats. While in the villages they had catered mostly to housewives, they now were frequented by children who would stop at the stores to browse through thrift comics,[7] inexpensive sweets and cheap stationery. However, the resettlement caused a weakening in what had been a strong sense of community established back in the village, and many mama shops witnessed a loss in an otherwise frequent and loyal patronage.[1] With the passing of time and increasing modernization, rising competition from air-conditioned mini-marts and upbeat convenience chain stores also dealt a blow to the survival of many traditional mama shops.[4]

References
  1. Brenda S. A. Yeoh; Lily Kong, eds. (1995), Portraits of Places: History, Community and Identity in Singapore, Singapore: Times Editions, ISBN 978-981-204-604-8.
  2. Tommy Koh, ed. (2006), Singapore: The Encyclopedia, Singapore: Editions Didier Millet; National Heritage Board, ISBN 978-981-4155-63-2.
  3. Wong Pok See (27 April 1996), "Safe & sound – from humble army store to award-winner", The Straits Times, p. 2.
  4. Ida Bachtiar (17 September 1992), "The oldest mama-shop", The Straits Times, p. 4.
  5. Koh Buck Song (2000), Toa Payoh: Our Kind of Neighbourhood, Singapore: Times Media for the Housing and Development Board, ISBN 978-981-232-124-4.
  6. A Brief Background – HDB's Beginnings, Housing and Development Board, 27 September 2007, archived from the original on 5 May 2009.
  7. Tan Sai Siong (22 May 1993), "Old-fashioned discipline best way to curb teen misbehaviour", The Straits Times, p. 33.
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