Shatin Centre has always been like the little brother to New Town Plaza- its much smaller, its on…read morethe side and the shops are just a little down market compared to the big boss. This contrast has been made even further lately with the major renovations at NTP where Armani, Buberry and Bally are all present in a place where people used to come to get pots and pans. This is the reality of the new Hong Kong I guess.
Shatin Centre, despite its makeover, is still the neighbourhood shopping centre with the large number of small, non-chain stores. Here you will find old shoe shops (the ones where we used buy school shoes from- if you grew up here you know what I mean), small jewelers who don't cater for oligarchs like the major chain these days. There is also a disproportionate amount of personal care product retailers here which I can only presume is a strategy of the management company.
You will also find fast food joints, and just cheaper restaurants as opposed to NTP nearby. When I was younger I didn't care for such things as NTP just seemed the cooler and nicer place to be. Nowadays though, all shopping centres are identical and as such, malls with little shops like this place makes for a more special experience. You don't have to fight with tourists (as much) here because the shops here are just too low brow for them.
Which is just like for a skint like me.