Some of the existing shops are still there. Many have left as the ongoing renovation has deterred people from visiting the mall which affected their businesses badly. And the big space vacated by a departmental store remained empty.
With the renovation works coming to an end, there are some new tenants.
However, the mall is still only about 50 to 60% occupied.
A walk through the mall on a weekday afternoon revealed very low traffic. All that the sales staff do is to look at people passing by, if any. Restaurants and cafes are mostly empty.
There are three staff sitting at the customer service counter and one more standing. And all four of them have their eyes glued to their mobile phones.
It doesn't matter that there's no customers in the mall. Let's pray that no one will come disturb them as they watch their favorite drama. As long as the paycheck comes to them at the end of the month.
Of course, they are not paid to worry if there's any customers in the mall. They are paid to do what they are told to do. It's safe until it's not.
Could they have think of ways to make the shopping experiences at the mall a better one? Could they take turns to walk around and observe what people are doing in the mall, what are lacking? Could they go out and greet shoppers and give them information about the new shops? Could they find out about the promotions the tenants are having and pass on these information to shoppers?
Perhaps it's the culture.