Not far away from Tekka Centre, you will walk into Mustafa Centre in Little India and you may enter looking for a packet of snacks… only to come out with spices, shampoo, a rice cooker, clothes, chocolates and perhaps even a piece of jewellery!
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Located at 145 Syed Alwi Road, Mustafa Centre has grown into one of Singapore’s most recognisable shopping landmarks.
Its story goes back several decades. The business was founded by Haji Mohamed Mustafa, who came to Singapore from Uttar Pradesh, India. In the 1960s, he and his family started out with a small retail business. His son, Mustaq Ahmad, later played a major role in expanding the family business.
In 1971, the family opened a shop at Campbell Lane selling ready-made garments. As business grew, they moved to a larger shop along Serangoon Road and gradually added more products such as electronics and household goods.
The business eventually expanded into Syed Alwi Road, and Mustafa Centre officially took shape in the 1990s, growing into the massive shopping complex Singaporeans know today.
Why is Mustafa Centre still so popular?
One big reason is simple — you can find almost everything here.
Walk through the aisles and you’ll discover Indian spices, rice, biscuits, snacks, frozen foods, fresh produce, toiletries, cosmetics, medicines, household products, clothing, shoes, luggage, electronics, watches, jewellery and much more.
The supermarket is especially well known for its huge selection of products imported from India and other parts of the world. Some items can be difficult to find in ordinary Singapore supermarkets, making Mustafa a favourite among locals, foreign workers, tourists and families looking for something different.
Shopping here can sometimes feel like a treasure hunt. One section leads to another, and before you know it, you’ve discovered products you never planned to buy!
Mustafa also became famous for operating 24 hours a day, allowing customers to shop for groceries and household items even late at night. This helped make it one of Singapore’s most unusual and convenient shopping destinations.
Why do they tie the shopping bags so tightly?
If you have shopped at Mustafa before, you may have noticed that after payment, the cashier often secures the plastic shopping bag tightly with a cable tie or string.
This is mainly a security measure.
Because Mustafa Centre is extremely large and shoppers may continue walking through other sections after paying, sealing the bag makes it easier for staff to identify items that have already been purchased. It also helps prevent unpaid merchandise from being added into a paid shopping bag.
It has become such a familiar part of the Mustafa shopping experience that regular visitors immediately recognise it.
From a small family business to one of Singapore’s most famous shopping centres, Mustafa Centre remains a colourful part of Little India.
You may enter Mustafa with a shopping list of three items — but leaving with only three items might be the real challenge!
Address: 145 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207704
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park MRT (NE8), approximately 7–10 minutes’ walk.
