By Shila Naidu

RETAIL shops in the Singapore Flyer compound have taken a bad hit following the shutdown of the observation wheel - but businesses said they are not demanding compensation from the management.

Mr Richard Lim, 55, who owns Brillante Collection - an ornament shop - said "business has been down by 100 per cent". Yet, he has no plans to seek a rental rebate.

"When the wheel does well, we do well. When it is shut down, we all suffer but the Flyer's loss is even bigger," he said.

Vendors had hoped to see a spike in festive-period shoppers. Instead, they said few have shown up since Christmas Eve.

There are eight retail outlets on the site, one of which hosts several smaller stands, and 10 eateries.

The Flyer was grounded after power to one of its drive units was cut, following an electrical fire on Tuesday. A total of 173 people were trapped for hours. A probe is underway and police will allow operations to resume only after the Flyer is certified safe. Some reports suggest the wheel will reopen only next year.

"It's just bad timing," said a Sunglass Hut employee, who gave her name as May.

Both she and Mr Hamid, 48, a moneychanger, agreed that business has slipped almost 100 per cent, but do not know if there will be compensation.

On public holidays, Mr Hamid expects at least 50 customers, but yesterday there was none and he was preparing to close at 2pm instead of 10pm.

The manager of an accessory shop, who declined to be named, didn't even open his store. He was waiting to see if customers would turn up.

However, restaurants on the site are doing fine. An eatery manager, who declined to be named, said cheap parking at the site entices diners.

"All the restaurants have regular clients," said Mr Vinod Jakhmola, 40, senior unit manager of SSP Singapore, which owns three food-and-beverage outlets there.

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