Alkaff Arcade

The Straits Times wrote: "Passing into the new thoroughfare, one is immediately by the solidity and excellence of workmanship of the ground floor shops on each side.

The plate glass show windows run almost to the ground giving every facility a comprehensive display of wares and though perhaps a little bit more light would have been acceptable, the utmost use has quite evidently been made of the available space, and a little electricity will do the rest.

[2] Completed in 1909, the building was designed by prominent local architect David McLeod Craik of the architectural firm Swan and Maclaren for the Alkaff family, who were major property owners at the time.

"[1] The building was officially opened on 27 November 1909, with the Alkaff's hosting a tiffin, which was attended by a "large and representative company of local and professional businessmen", in celebration.

[5] Tsang Sau Yin of The Business Times wrote in 1979 that the building "stood on a prime site" and that its name was "synonymous with shopping.

"[6] However, in an article for BiblioAsia, published by the National Library Board, Yu-Mei Balasingamchow wrote that the building "seems to have made less of an impression as a shopping location" than Change Alley.

[1] Betty L. Khoo of the New Nation wrote in June 1972 that the "shafts of sunlight filtering through the skylight seemed to show up the sad and faded splendour and made clear the dirt stains on its walls."

However, Khoo went on to write: "It is an edifice which does the waterfront proud and if it disappears — the Arabic heritage may finally be submerged and totally absorbed into Singapore's corporate milieu.