After transforming its Prosperous Garden branch in Yau Ma Tei into a 1950s–1970s themed supermarket earlier this year, Wellcome is continuing its nostalgia-led store concept with two more themed branches in Mong Kok and Kennedy Town.
While the Yau Ma Tei branch revived Hong Kong supermarket culture from the 1950s to 1970s through vintage décor, Wellcome is now extending the concept to Mong Kok’s 1980s–1990s street life and Kennedy Town’s tram-inspired memories, echoing a wider nostalgia trend across the city’s retail and transport spaces.
Mong Kok: 80s And 90s Street Energy At Sim City
The Wellcome branch at Sim City in Mong Kok has been given a street-style makeover inspired by Nathan Road nightlife in the 1980s and 1990s, with a focus on the district’s busy evening atmosphere and Hong Kong’s local food culture.
The branch includes several photo spots designed around familiar old-school details. Outside and around the staircase, shoppers will find visuals inspired by Nathan Road’s neon-lit streets and vintage food stalls.
Inside, the basement wall features a Goldfish Street-themed backdrop, while other areas include funhouse mirrors, nostalgic postboxes and a “堅旺場” mosaic staircase design — a Cantonese phrase suggesting a place that is always buzzing.
One of the main highlights is the Wellcome dai pai dong installation, which brings a playful touch of Hong Kong’s outdoor dining culture into the supermarket setting. There is also a retro ping-pong spring-pull machine, adding a small interactive element to the visit.
📍 Location: Wellcome Sim City, G/F, Chung Kiu Commercial Building, 47–51 Shantung Street, Mong Kok
⏰ Opening Hours: 8:30am–11:00pm
Kennedy Town: Tram Memories At Victoria Road
Over in Kennedy Town, Wellcome’s Victoria Road branch has taken a different nostalgic route with a tram-themed concept. The design celebrates the “ding ding” as a familiar part of Hong Kong daily life, connecting the supermarket’s community presence with one of the city’s most recognisable transport icons, that just turned 138.
The experience starts at the storefront, where a giant tram design and a vintage-style tuck shop set the tone.
Inside, visitors can follow tram-track details into the store and find a classic tram stop set-up, a stationery wall, a nostalgic vending machine and an ice-cream motorcycle display.
There is also a millennium-era Yes! Card photo booth, adding another layer of local nostalgia for those who grew up with the collectible photo card trend. The result feels less like a single-era recreation and more like a small journey through different everyday memories associated with Kennedy Town and old Hong Kong.
📍 Location: Victoria Road Branch, Shops 3–7, Block 2, Centenary Mansion, 1 Victoria Road, Kennedy Town
⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00am–10:00pm
Retro Hong Kong Is Back In The Spotlight
Wellcome’s latest themed branches are part of a wider wave of nostalgia-driven design in Hong Kong, where supermarkets, transport spaces and retail corners are increasingly being used as mini time capsules.
The trend can also be seen in projects like 7-Eleven’s Mong Kok Argyle Street branch, which was given a neon sign-inspired makeover celebrating the city’s old street scenery.
MTR Shops has also been leaning into this trend through its “Hong Kong Story” series, which brings retro-inspired concept spaces into different stations. These include nostalgic recreations such as a traditional store at Nam Cheong Station, an old-style Shanghai barber shop at Sai Ying Pun Station, a bing sutt and cinema-inspired set-up at Hong Kong Station, and other community-inspired themes.
This retro wave is not limited to store interiors. More brands in Hong Kong are also tapping into local nostalgia through limited drops, collectible items and playful collaborations. Marathon Sports and Hiang Kie, for example, brought cha chaan teng culture into sportswear and accessories, while 7-Eleven and New Balance turned retro objects such as cassette players and mini cameras into lifestyle collectibles.
Header Image Credit: Wellcome