JCube

Singapore is filled so many high-​end malls. This would not be on that list. It’s a lower end mall with more locals. It’s a refreshing feel when compared to everything in downtown or Marina Bay Sands. This is where you get see the real, local people.

Jcube is one of the 3 popular malls located at Jurong East Central. It’s not as popular as Jem and Westgate partly because of the location especially during rainy period.
What strikes this mall is, it has a skating ring which in fact is only one of the two malls that has this facility. Besides this, it has a cinema (Shaw) and a limited number of restaurants and shops. I don’t exactly find this place very exciting and besides don’t like the layout of the building. Furthermore, the escalator is built in a certain way that you need to walk half a round to get to another level.
Overall, I find this an average mall.

This place houses one of the few Ice Skating ring around Singapore, not really cheap but still it’s good to have it there. Food choices and shopping is alright, nothing really great but still good and there’s also a cinema which covers your entertainment needs. Best thing about the cinema here is the option to watch in IMAX and with Singapore only have 2 cinemas that have this, it’s definitely a plus.

When I went into the modern-​designed J-​Cube, I felt that if ION and Suntec mall had a baby, this would be it. Relatively small, it manages to house an ice skating rink and a the cinemas-​a brand new hang out at the West.
I am into ice skating so when I found out that the rink near where I live has closed, it was kindda sad. And it also means I have to go to Kallang Stadium. It’s a good thing that time definitely passed by because the rink is back. Nevermind the retail stores and keep one eye on the food places. Ice Skating is definitely a deal maker between me and JCube.
I can finally add ice skating to my list of things to do whenever I’m bored.

Back in its 90s heyday, Jurong Entertainment Centre was the main shopping centre in Jurong East. It had a bowling alley, a cinema and an ice-​skating rink. It was a cool hangout for youngsters and families on weekends. Unfortunately, by the 00s, recession coupled with poor retail mix signalled its demise and was demolished in 2008.
Fast forward to 2012 and it has been renamed as JCube and completely revamped by Capitaland. Designed by the same people that brought us ION Orchard, it suffers the same confusing layout. Unfortunately unlike ION, JCube is relatively smaller, so the crowds and narrow passageways are just awful to negotiate.
To be honest, if you can get over the crowds and claustrophobia, it is actually a cool mall. It has Singapore’s first Olympic-​size ice rink with 460-​seating gallery, right at its heart. Even if you dont skate, people watching at the many eateries around the rink is pretty fun. It also houses Shaw’s first IMAX cineplex in the west. But for me, the cream of the crop is Jurong’s first proper Cold Storage!
With JEM and Westgate both opening in the next 2 years and both nearer to the MRT and Interchange, JCube’s time in the limelight may be shortlived though. Then again, with lesser crowds, it might feel more niche and comfortable.

A new exciting place to hang out at! With a complete revamp and the presence of new and established shops, there is quite a bit to shop and eat at this new mall.
The ice rink’s open again (hurray!) and there are stores nearby that sell skates and winter wear. One of them, Swirls & Twirls, even offers figure and hockey skates sharpening and blades mounting services. And after ice-​skating, you can have a meal at the food court, fast food outlets or restaurants here.
Stick House is a shop in the basement that sells popsicles in fruity flavours. You can easily make these yourself at home, but have a look at the flavours available. Besides the usual mango and strawberry, customers can also pick from hazelnut, pistachio and more. Toppings will ring up additional charges. These are good as a sweet treat on sunny days.
There are a number of novelty stores in JCube, including a guitar store. The building doesn’t look very attractive, but walk in and discover interesting shops for yourself.

When I first stepped into JCube it felt like I was thrown into a dice with other people and the noise just reverberated around the walls. It was an enclosed area of too-​bright lights, too-​tight space and too-​many people.
Things got better when I saw the ice rink. I told my date, «Hey, this reminds me of the Japanese dramas where the guy teaches the girl how to ice-​skate and they lomantic all.» It was a bustling area, full of young people.
Then I looked up and saw the cinema area and was appalled at how narrow the suspended walkway in front of the cinema was and how people were squeezing through each other, forming tight interloping chains at the area. True enough, next day the local papers echoed my fears.
I know JCube has its draws like the IMAX theatres (which was AMAZING by the way — because it’s closer and more engulfing than the other IMAX theatres), and the various Taiwanese and Hong Kong eateries, but nah, I won’t be going back there anytime soon.