
"Pubs like the Le Classic Japanese pub in Le Moridien Shopping Centre are concemed because their clients are mostly smokers."
Electric New Paper: Will little Japan be smoked out?
THE latest regulations on the smoking ban could snuff out more than small pubs in shopping centres. It could mean the end of Little Japan. That's the informal name for the cluster of more than 15 Japanese pubs in Cuppage Plaza, Le Meridien Shopping Centre and Orchard Plaza... Said Ms Ai, 45, co-partner of Le Classic Japanese Pub on the second floor of Le Meridien Shopping Centre: 'Japanese make a bee-line for this area once they are in Singapore. And they are usually the heavy smokers.' Agreeing, Ms Tracy Tan, 33, who set up Calla Japanese Pub about 10 months ago, said: 'Most of my patrons are Japanese and about nine out of 10 smoke.'