Reports of a planned expansion of Chinatown’s Night Market to two nights a week have left local businesses anxious and worried.
Retail and restaurant owners on Dixon Street say they have been losing business to night market stalls since it began operating in 1999.
According to George Chang, his retail shop Sun Song has been losing a large portion of sales to market stalls erected directly in front of his shop. “The stalls are actually big enough to block the view of our shop,” Mr Chang said.
“So for people who are walking past, it’s hard for them to see our shop. So in terms of sales, every Friday our sales are probably less than half compared to the rest of the other days.”
In December last year, Council approved an extension to the markets’ trading hours, allowing them to operate from 2pm to 11pm.
Mr Chang said local businesses were disappointed with the increase in operating hours. “I think with the previous arrangement it was much better, because they could only do the setting up and the preparation after 4pm or 5pm. But now they come in whenever they want somewhere around 1pm, which is during the peak time for us – between 1pm and 5pm.”
A number of Dixon Street businesses say they are concerned to hear reports the Night Market may be extended to Saturdays.
Jian Xiu Feng, Dixon Restaurant owner, has authored a petition calling on the council to oppose the plan.
So far around 50 business owners have signed his petition which is to be submitted to the council later this week, Mr Feng said. “These markets are primarily aimed at raising awareness of Chinatown and revitalising its local businesses, whilst instead [they are] taking away from the opportunities to attract consumers for local businesses,” he said.
“Although Fridays are a busy time for Chinatown, hardly any local businesses benefit or profit from this attraction, with the crowded night markets depleting business because of this issue.”
Mr Chang said he was also concerned to hear of reports that the market may be expanding to two nights a week. “I think one day a week, we can still tolerate that. But if it’s going to be anything more than that, I don’t think it’s going to be any good for the shop owners here.”
Down the road on Dixon Street, Patricia Wong from Wen Hwa said she too was against any plans for a Saturday night market. “Saturday and Sunday are the most important days for our business,” Ms Wong said. “If there is market in Chinatown on Saturday, we will die because no business for two days especially on Saturday. How can we survive with the high rent we are paying now?
“We want to oppose the idea of having [a] market in Chinatown especially on Saturday because I know they plan to start trading at noon, but we do not know the channel to express our opinion.”
Tim Wu, General Manager of the Chinatown Night Market, denied his association, Chinatown Food and Entertainment Incorporated, was seeking to expand operations to two nights a week. “Our organisation has no plans for a Saturday market in Chinatown,” Mr Wu said.
“Whether there is one or there isn’t one in preparation, there’s no one in our organisation [that] has disclosed this information to anyone. Now if you’re saying that someone has done that from Chinatown Night Markets then I would really like to know who that is to confirm whether that source is genuine.”
Mr Wu said the markets have brought more people to Chinatown and have increased business on Dixon Street. “From my perspective, the Night Markets only brings more customers to Chinatown. So statistically speaking, how can businesses be bad on Friday nights, unless there are other factors involved that explains why your businesses are doing bad.”
“I’m pretty familiar with all the shop owners on Dixon Street and none of them have approached me and said that they don’t want the market. So if they’re telling you and really not telling me, I cannot verify these stories,” Mr Wu said.
Chee Meng, President of Chinatown Food and Entertainment Incorporated, said the council had advised his group that adding another day would not be practical. “[The council conveyed to us that] it would not be good for the street to have too many market days where the road would be blocked off,” Mr Meng said.
Mr Meng said his association would be organising a community meeting to clear reports that his group was planning an expansion. “To ensure that the correct information is passing around, we’re going to have a meeting with all the shop owners. We’ll have letters sent out to all of them explaining that whoever is going to be organising the Saturday market has nothing to do with us.”
“Obviously these people are working off our reputation as being a successful market to ensure they get the Saturday market.”
According to George Wing Kee from Haymarket Chamber of Commerce, most business owners on Dixon Street are unhappy with the Night Market and wanted it moved to an alternate site. “Restaurants that have outdoor dining need to be protected from the Night Markets – they feel that they are losing business,” Mr Wing Kee said.
“The markets also trade food and they do intrude on the progress of foot traffic outside the premises.”
“Perhaps the council could use some of the side streets away from the outlets that serve food – there are a few streets around Chinatown where the markets could be comfortably accommodated.”
A City of Sydney spokesperson said the Night Markets attracted more than 5,000 people to Dixon Street, activating the public space and providing additional opportunities for businesses in the area.
Local businesses were notified of plans to increase trading hours before it was implemented, added the spokesperson. “The operators of the market obtained development consent to operate the weekly Friday market from 2pm until 11pm. The development consent commenced on 22 December 2009 and ceases on 22 December 2011, subject to an annual leasing agreement and based on satisfactory performance.”
“The development consent specifies approved operational hours, and other conditions, which include a requirement that the markets to be set up and packed away within the approved operating hours.”
“The development application was notified and advertised to all businesses in Dixon Street Mall for a period of 21 days. Council received three submissions and one letter of support.”
The spokesperson also said Council had not been approached by the Night Market operator with a proposal to add another night.
The Dixon Street businesses interviewed by City News said they had not seen the council notices regarding the development application to increase trading hours.
Brad Chan, President of the Haymarket Chamber of Commerce, said language and cultural barriers were largely to blame for this. “The main language spoken in Chinatown is Chinese, whereas the main form of consultations in terms of the meetings and the reports released is in English,” Mr Chan said.
“I think one of the inherent problems with community consultations with the Asian community is that the Asian community don’t typically attend these kinds of forums and meetings. They don’t get involved in formulating public policy and things that affect them. So they’re often more quiet on these issues than other communities out there.”
The Chinatown Night Market was established in 1999. According to their President, Chinatown Food and Entertainment Incorporated took over the running of the Night Markets after the original operators “found it to be not financially viable anymore”.
“When the private enterprise that ran the market left, there was a vacuum there and seeing the fact that this market was so good for the street we wanted to continue with it,” said Mr Meng.
“So we made an application with the council that we carry on with the market and that’s how we started the market.”
According to a council spokesperson, Council did not tender or advertise Expressions of Interest for the markets.
Early last year, Council announced it was looking at expanding the Night Market past Goulburn Street and through intersecting streets along Dixon Street.
“As the City plans for expansion of the night markets, other streets such as Hay Street and Harbour Street are potentially appropriate sites for market stalls,” reads the council’s 2009 Chinatown Public Domain Study report.
“They are currently less active compared to Dixon Street and the introduction of street markets will bring in more street activity that would be of great benefit to the precinct.”
by Ehssan Veiszadeh
