What was once one of the most crowded nightspots in Singapore has sat empty for more than two months, with no end to the shutdown in sight. The closure has prompted Zouk’s management team to get creative to prevent layoffs.
For a start, it is inking a deal with Lazada to rent out its 31,000 sq ft Clarke Quay club as a live streaming venue during the day and to host monthly bazaars for e-commerce vendors once restrictions allow. Capital, a lounge within the Zouk complex, will be transformed into a dine-in eatery when Singapore enters phase two of its reopening if its application for a food shop licence is approved.
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“We’re thinking of it as a pop-up kitchen serving staples like pastas and steaks. Clubs will probably be the last to open, so it’s a good test bed to see how we can safely enter that space again in a more controlled environment,” Zouk Group chief executive Andrew Li told The Straits Times.
Bars and entertainment outlets have been shut since late March – before the start of the two-month circuit breaker – and it is unclear when they will be able to reopen. While most businesses and services will be allowed to resume in Phase 2 with safety measures in place, the authorities are taking a more cautious approach to higher-risk activities that involve large groups gathering in enclosed spaces.