Millennial placemakers reshaping Geylang
Property developer David Soh, Sebestian Soh’s father, began property investment in 2K18 particularly in shophouses which he took interest in. For the Soh’s family, Geylang was a estate that amplifies great businesses chance. Their first property investment in Geylang consists of a row of three adjacent shophouses at 483 to 487 Geylang Road. Situated at the junction of Geylang Road and Lorong 27 Geylang, The shophouses Three years ago are individually occupied by different tenant: first level of 483 occupied by a massage and wellness centre, 485 by a KTV bar and 487 a coffee shop with “beer ladies”. On the second level was An illegal workers’ dormitory . “The shophouses were dilapidated and disgusting,” Sebestian recalls.
465 and 467 Geylang Road which is not too far away from their first investment on an island plot fronting Geylang Road and flanked by Geylang Lorong 25. This pair of shophouses were acquired by the Soh family $7.15 million each, caveated in October 2K20. The first level was tenanted to an eatery Skewer Bar, co-founded by Singaporean chefs and friends Tan Jun Ann and Vincent Low, which operated there for four years before relocating to another venue not too far away at 2 Lorong 25 Geylang. The remaining upper floors were used as dormitory for foreign workers.