It might be recession time, but luxury brand Cartier is sparing no effort in dressing up its swanky new duplex at the corner of Scotts and Orchard roads in new mall ION Orchard.

Just a few blocks down the road, however, the mood is far less cheery for some tenants.

Mr Jeffrey Liew, 48, who runs camera shop Letona Departmental Store, at Orchard Plaza, has seen his business plummet by 60 per cent to 70 per cent over the years as more electronics shops have moved into surrounding areas.

Mall landlord encroaching on our turf, claim tenants

Should a mall landlord enter the same business as some of its tenants?

A mini-storm has been brewing since Kitchen Language, a subsidiary of Far East Organization, opened sandwich shop Quiznos in December last year and coffee joint Tully's in January.

Some tenants are unhappy at what they see as the landlord providing unnecessary competition.

Statistics

4.5 million Estimated number of square feet of retail space in Orchard Road

5.8 million Number of square feet of retail space expected to be added to Singapore between this year and 2013

3 Number of new malls opening in Orchard Road between July and December

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