Opened in: 1974

Then: It was touted by the media as 'Singapore's tourist, hotel and shopping focal point' and worth about $50 million. Shop owners there who remember the glory days say the corridors were so packed, customers would spill into their shops.

Owner of Leighton's shop, Mr Nelson Siew (above), has been running his business in Far East Shopping Centre (below) since the mall opened in 1974.

Now:

Russian restaurant Shashlik is a draw, together with a cluster of golf shops selling new and second-hand items. But the general condition of the building is poor - a few tenants LifeStyle interviewed complained about the air-conditioning.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.