It’s refreshing to visit the new Don Don Donki outlet @ City Square Mall, especially if you just squeezed through a sea of Friday crowd from the nearby Mustafa Shopping Centre.
The biggest of the Donki chain in Singapore – and Southeast Asia – the new outlet at B2 City Square Mall covers 26,000 sq ft of retail space.
The highlights include a food court serving a wider selection of Japanese cuisines, including snacks such as grilled scallops and Hokkaido soft serve.
There is also a dedicated bargain section which sells trinkets and toys (that you may never use!) for as low as $1.
Like the flagship in Orchard Central and the recent second in Tanjong Pagar’s 100AM Mall, the new outlet sells the famous Don Don Donki sweet potato.
And because the sweet potatoes taste so yummy, Don Don Donki happily places placards (and their high-pitched staff) screaming “Sweeeet Potatoes!” throughout the store, starting from the entrance.
The retail experience is much more enjoyable as the store is spacious with ample walking room. This means there is less clutter between rows and shelves, and you avoid knocking into fellow shoppers.
But the place was packed, even at 11pm – an hour before closing. Barricades and directional signs had to be placed, and ushers stationed to manage the traffic on the day of its opening.
“I like the energy here though. The place is bright and the theme song infectious,” says 38-year old shopper, George Foo, who had walked into the store out of curiosity.
“You see mostly Chinese shoppers here. Most are young, come with their families and went home carrying those eye-catchy yellow carriers.”
“An interesting contrast across the street. You see mostly Indian and Malay families, and tourists, carrying the green-white carriers with the Mustafa logo,” he said laughing, lifting the very carrier he described.
Other visitors agreed the new Don Don Donki outlet will enliven the area, on weeknights and weekends.
“Mustafa is our usual Friday night hangout. Now that Don Don Donki has opened, we’ll see more Friday night and weekend crowd in the area,” said Maximilian Francis.
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“I’m sure F&B business around the area will improve, there are more options, people hang out longer, it’s good for everybody.”
(From Jan 12, Don Don Donki @ City Square Mall will operate from 9am to midnight daily.)
Address: 180 Kitchener Road City Square Mall B2 (S) 208539
