At the quieter side of the bustling Tiong Bahru Market, facing towards the neighbouring flats, there is a small crafts stall called atthesideway.
Here arises the question: why would there be a pottery store located right at a neighbourhood wet market?
For a facility often associated with being a hotspot for local cuisine, hawkers, and daily necessities from mongers and stall owners, wouldn’t a crafts shop usually be considered out of place?
That couldn’t be further from the truth for atthesideway, as their establishment is welcomed not only by customers and regulars but also by the neighbouring tenants. Acts of goodwill and care are shown between all parties at Tiong Bahru Market, so much so that this small stall has become a genuine part of the community around it.
Crafts on the Side
“I was inspired by a friend who opened a specialty coffee shop in a wet market in Toa Payoh. I thought it would be very cool to do something like this for crafts because you don’t see young people’s shops in wet markets very often,” Yasha remarks when asked about the origins of atthesideway.
On weekends, co-owners Keneth Tan and Yasha Lai run atthesideway in Tiong Bahru Market from 11am to 4pm. The stall displays various works by both domestic and international crafters, ranging mainly from pottery to other crafts such as keychains and graphics.
Its uniqueness often catches the eye of nearby residents, drawing them in to browse the handmade goods.
“We wanted a space a little bit more informal compared to a gallery or shop setting. A wet market is quite a casual place, and this venue allows us to be able to interact with the public in a more casual and less serious setting,” Keneth remarks.
With chairs situated outside the stall, customers can chat with each other or the co-owners, leading to interactions that wouldn’t normally happen in a conventional shopping space.
“With different people who come by, it’s nice to exchange ideas. I’m like an introvert, but because I’m very comfortable at sideway and I guess I know the things I’m talking about, it is very nice to come and just chat with customers.”
The hot, humid weather also has every stall owner along the street lingering at their entrances, leading to them meeting each other more often. But for atthesideway, these simple greetings often turn into something more meaningful.
Neighbours on the Side
One day, as the co-owners were trying to replace a light bulb in their stall, the power tripped and the whole shop went dark. Still new to running atthesideway, Yasha and Keneth weren’t sure how to fix it, so they asked their neighbours.
Without hesitation, their neighbours pointed them to the right hotlines and resources. The power trip was rectified, and atthesideway was back in business. That small act laid the groundwork for a lot more.
The co-owners now regularly chat with the owners of Roomy Hearts, the Japanese tableware shop next door, and small acts of appreciation between the two stalls keep coming.
“We like and comment on each other’s posts on Instagram. A few weeks ago they also gave us Bazhang (rice dumplings) to celebrate Duanwu Jie (Dragon Boat Festival),” Yasha recalled. The owners of Roomy Hearts also sometimes watch the store when Yasha and Keneth need to grab lunch.
The friendliness extends beyond Roomy Hearts too. “So, one of our neighbours runs a hardware shop beside us, we head to her shop to buy random stuff that we need, such as batteries. We also visit the flower shop whenever we have events to get decorative flowers, for example. It’s a very good ecosystem where we can support each other’s businesses too,” Keneth explains.
With a mindset like that, it’s no wonder the businesses at Tiong Bahru Market are able to coexist and support each other so easily, a sentiment that extends to their customers too.
When asked what contributes to such a welcoming environment, Keneth replied: “There’s a bit less pressure to focus on retail sales and things like that in the wet market setting. I don’t think you would see other shops as competition or a threat compared to if your business was in a shopping centre, for example.”
Memories on the Side
“I think it’s been very cool and refreshing meeting various people who come by the shop, whether it’s like makers we’ve started to work with or their friends. It’s nice to exchange different ideas,” Yasha states.
The same casual vibe turns suppliers and customers into friends. The benches outside have become a place for stories to be shared between guests and the shop owners.
Some visitors become regulars just through those conversations, and every so often, they show their appreciation in unexpected ways.
“One memorable interaction recently was this couple of urban sketchers that sat outside the stall, and they painted the shop; one of the girls gave us a copy of her painting,” Yasha recounts, showing off the painting, now displayed on the stall’s switchbox.
“I think it’s nice when different customers come by and just start talking about someone’s pieces, and they are like strangers. It’s similar to how a crafter communicates with his audience, but for us, it’s with our guests,” Yasha added.
It reminds her of why such a space matters in our heartlands. “It’s nice to see people appreciate the various things that we bring in, it encourages us, knowing that people see the value that we bring in and they’re willing to just spend time here as a comfort space instead.”
What started as a small craft stall has become something more, a place where strangers become regulars, and regulars become something closer to neighbours. Tucked into a heartland wet market, atthesideway isn’t just somewhere to browse pottery. It’s a third space: somewhere to sit, talk, and be part of a community, built around the crafts, but never limited to them.
All it takes is a welcoming environment within our community, and people find their way to it, drawn in by more than just what’s for sale.
What’s an experience that made you feel more welcomed in your neighbourhood?
Feature image: Co-owners (Yasha Lei and Keneth Tan) seated outside their stall. Image source: Jarrel Tan
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