Section 15: Traditional Grocery Stores
raditional Grocery Stores: Uncovering the Window Views of Human Feelings, Territories and Times
Traditional Grocery Stores: Uncovering the Window Views of Human Feelings, Territories and Times
According to Lee Guan Sheng, during the flourishing period, there were ten grocery shops along Bahau Main Street. Six of them on the right-hand side were Chengfa, Taixing, Taiyu, Fengmao, Dongchang and Rongzhan. The four others on the left-hand side of the road were Heyi, Xinyuan Yu, Jianyuan, and Quanxing. Most of the grocery shop owners were Fujianese. Taixing grocery shop was founded by late Bahau Mayor, Lin Guo Zhong and his siblings. Although Taixing was closed for good, the residents of Bahau who are 40 years old and above are still familiar with it.
There were two agency shops on the left-hand side of the main road. Wanhe was the agent selling Chinese stuff such as rice and other grains and Tongcheng Bao Hao was the agent for western goods including milk powder, alcohol beverages and cigarettes. This shop was founded by a Teochew family, and late Dato Tang Xian Qin, five-term state assemblyman was a family member of the shop.
Walking through a century history in Bahau Liu Han Gui recalled that Taixing grocery shop was located diagonally opposite the bus station, near the current fire station, Bahau. It had an advantage of its geographical location. At that time, many customers of grocery shops came from suburbs or rubber estates nearby such as Ladang Geddes Estate, Air Hitam, Rompin, Maryton Estate, Jeram Padang Estate, Sungei Sepalin Estate, Bahau Estate, Jelai, and Durian Batang. They came by bus. After buying the goods, they took bus home. The grocery shop attendants helped to bring their purchase to the bus station using tricycles. Therefore, grocery shops near the bus station were strategic and had an advantage.
Moreover, the shops in this location were relatively close to Bahau train station. It was also convenient for the shop keepers to collect goods they ordered from wholesaler far away who delivered their goods by trains.
Liu added that rice was the main staple food for household in Bahau. There was no 5 or 10 kg plastic packaged rice. People always purchased rice in big quantity packed in a gunny sack of 168 katis, which is equivalent to100 kg. The shop attendants carried the heavy stuff either using tricycle or just over their shoulders.
Liu explained further that the tricycles used by the grocery shop attendants were unique. A cubic-shaped iron bucket with wooden base was installed in front of the tricycle. There was a horizontal iron rod on the bucket to control the directions. The attendants used physical strength to pedal the tricycle. It was indeed a nostalgic sight.
Shopfront Plaque Standing in front of a traditional grocery shop, one could see the traditional shopfront plaque hanging on the top of door frame. It represented the spirit, the belief of the enterprise and the hope of the owners for a prosperous business.
The grocery shops were indispensable for the people in Bahau in daily life at that time. It was small but complete with all the daily necessities as the Chinese saying “small as a sparrow but complete with all elements”. People purchase firewood, rice, oil, sauce, vinegar, tea and all other daily stuff according to the quantity they needed. The stuff purchased was then weighed using a weighing scale or a balance scale to determine its price. This was the main characteristic of grocery shops.
Bahau Main Road was a two-way road with trees planted along the divider, providing a refreshing shade on hot days. During pay days of estates, the grocery shops were packed with customers from the nearby estates. This was the busiest time for the shop attendants, moving back and forth from their shops to the bus station with their loaded tricycles. This was the characteristic of rubber estate at that time.
Apart from nostalgia, the most beautiful thing was the bonding. During the peak of the traditional grocery industry in Bahau from 1930 to the 1960s, the economy was poor. As such, the grocery shop owners provided credit services to the customers, relying on the trust between people. A small book with trade mark ‘555’ was used to keep track of the account of the customers. The estate workers received their wages at the beginning and mid of a month. On these two days, the workers would come to the grocery shops to settle their bills and at the same time, to purchase their needed stuff, creating crowds in the shops. Besides business, the grocery shops also provided other services such as mailing letters, deposit money and remittance to their customers. In the era, most people sent money to support the families or relatives in China. Obviously, the grocery shops played a crucial role in people’s lives at that time.
An old grocery store is a piece of terroir and an era
To the Chinese community in this small town, a grocery shop was not only a place to buy daily necessities, but it was also center for information exchange, building relationships and affective interaction. It was like a theater where the shop owners and customers were the actors. A grocery shop was a microcosm of economy and culture, showcasing the local way of life. Indeed, it was the best place to understand the town and its people.
A single old grocery shop represents a piece of local culture and a bygone era. Many tasks in the grocery shops, such as handling, arranging, and cleaning goods, had to be done by the owners themselves. The shops operated seven days a week, with more than ten hours each day, making it a long and arduous job. This was the reason many young people were reluctant to enter the industry. As time went on, many traditional old industries had gradually declined. The grocery shops, which were once indispensable, were also gradually replaced by convenient stores, supermarkets and malls. Along with this, people had also changed their shopping habits.
The grocery shops had always used traditional handwritten accounting methods in their operation. After the implementation of the consumption tax on April 1, 2015, they had to change the accounting system using computers and software system which involved a lot of money and man power. At the same time, they were facing keen competition from convenient stores and supermarket. These forced many grocery shops to end their business.
Looking through the window of a grocery shop, one could see the trajectory of political, economic and social changes. Each community, villager and aborigines had different role in the society. It was not a bustling city, not an ancient civilization, yet in just over a century, Bahau experienced different level of political regime, economic and subsequently refined its own beautiful and delicate history.
Back in its inception, under the guidance of the grandfather, the grocery store found its home within a humble thatched cottage. It navigated through the trials of World War II and stood witness to the dawn of Malaysia's independence. Yet, an ongoing struggle against hypermarkets and expansive supermarkets remained a constant. These age-old emporiums of tradition carry a treasure trove of memories, serving as enduring observers of bygone eras.
Ancient traditional provision shops exhibit a range of distinctive characteristics, with one of the most emblematic being the manager's coin jar, operated using a pulley system for cash transactions. Historically, the proprietor would gather payments from patrons by tugging on a cord, linked to an iron container where coins were deposited. This traditional monetary practice has evolved into a symbol of conventional grocery stores. Originally, these cash jars were commonly crafted from materials like white iron or Milo tins, eventually progressing to containers made of plastic over time.
The evolution and operational techniques of Xin Wan Xing Grocery Store encapsulate the march of time and the essence of legacy. Although they could be progressively scarce given contemporary societal shifts, their impact on communal culture and human bonds demands recognition. These age-old corner stores transcend mere business establishments; they stand as repositories of recollections and sentiments for countless individuals.
Epilogue: In the present day, only one Xin Wan Xing Grocery Store remains on Market Street, courageously upholding the banner of tradition amidst the currents of development. Beyond documentation and sentimentality, composing an article about this grocery store unveils an even more profound importance for its readers.
Memory of a Traditional Grocery Store: 130 Years of Family Heritage and Perseverance at Xin Wan Xing
Xin Wan Xing Grocery Store is a time-honored traditional establishment that has been in existence for over 130 years. While its interior lacks ostentatious embellishments, it retains an authentic traditional style. Even amidst today's intense competition, they remain devoted to preserving their family's traditions and resolutely carry forward their ancestral business. Currently, this grocery store is led by its third-generation owner, Li Neng (72 years old). The annals of this grocery store's history can be traced to an period prior to the marital union of Li Neng's grandfather, an era that predates even the foundation of his familial household