• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Featured
    • SPONSORS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Sitemap
    • EAT.DRINK
      • Food Review
      • Food Promotion
      • Food News
      • Event
    • STAY
      • Hotel Review
      • Hotel News
    • EXPLORE
      • Singapore
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
  • More
    • Malaysia Food Blogger List

Malaysian Foodie

Food • Hotel • Travel • Event

  • EAT.DRINK
    • Food Review
    • Restaurant Promotion
    • Editor Picks
    • Dining In The Mall (Klang Valley)
    • What’s New!
    • Restaurant List
    • LiquorTalk
  • Hotel
    • Room Reviews
    • Hotel News
  • TRAVEL
    • Hong Kong
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
      • Kyoto
      • Osaka
    • Macau
    • Malaysia
      • Kuala Lumpur
      • Malacca
      • Penang
      • Perak
      • Selangor
      • Sabah
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Singapore
  • TECH
  • Lifestyle
    • Apparel
    • Books
    • Beauty
    • Craft
    • Gadget
    • Electrical & Household Appliances
    • Food Product
    • Online Shopping
    • Parenting/Kids
    • Property
    • Renovation/ Furniture
  • RECIPES
    • Cakes
    • Cookies
    • Desserts
    • Drinks / Smoothies
    • Mains
    • Pasta
    • Steamed Food
    • Cooking With Gadgets
  • Mall Dining
  • Motherhood
  • Event
Home / Food News / Multi-Concept Culinary & Lifestyle Event Swallow Now Open At The Saw Emporium, Penang’s Former Sawmill On Macallum Road

Multi-Concept Culinary & Lifestyle Event Swallow Now Open At The Saw Emporium, Penang’s Former Sawmill On Macallum Road

November 27, 2017 by StrawberrY Gal

The story begins over a century ago when a young man from a family of wine brewers in Xiamen, China departed on his first voyage by steamship for a new life in Burma, and came to be known as Tan Teong Sin (a fresh beginning).

Tan travelled around Southeast Asia trading Burmese rice for his uncle-in-law and opened his first wine distillery Leong Bee (beautiful wine) in provincial Alor Setar, before relocating to Penang in 1916, with a booming economy driven by its free port.

Initially based in a rented three-storey shophouse along the prestigious Beach Street in the heart of the financial district near to Tan Kongsi (Tan Clan Association), the liquour merchant later purchased four new shophouses along Bridge Street, now known as Jalan CY Choy, which led to a new business Soo Bee (beautiful wood) selling wood and attap.

In 1931, the companies merged to become Leong Bee & Soo Bee (LBSB) and Tan established Penang’s first saw mill on the crossroads of Jalan CY Choy and Macallum Street with seven shophouses and the LBSB Godowns in the Seven Streets Precinct, where The Saw Emporium is currently situated. Then directly situated behind the sea, Tan reclaimed land to dock several tongkangs (junks) built to directly receive logs from Burma and Teluk Anson, and ship the sawn planks back to the timber companies.

From brewing wine, to timber trading then sawmilling, the enterprising LBSB has now evolved to supplying cutting tools for the woodworking, metalworking and plastics industries, a business which continues today at The Saw Emporium and throughout Malaysia.

Lifestyle collective, The Steamship Merchants (TSM), was named to honour our forefathers who endured harsh journeys on steamships to Southeast Asia to seek a better life for their families. TSM will be taking over The Saw Emporium through Swallow, a multi-concept food event that will transform the former sawmill premises into a dining and lifestyle destination with top restauranteurs and bars from around the region until Q1 2018.

 

Filed Under: Food News

Primary Sidebar

Malaysian Foodie
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Visit IOI Resort City Debuts Moonique By IOI Festive: Celebrating Mid-Autumn with a Malaysian Soul August 30, 2025
  •  Savour the spirit of National Day with a taste of home @ Crowne Plaza KLCC August 30, 2025
  • Stay Secure This Merdeka with Galaxy A16 5G August 30, 2025
  • Bonia’s New Elegance BNB10872 Blooms with Style August 30, 2025
  • Guinness Kicks Off Football Celebration with the Premier League Trophy in KL August 30, 2025
  • Keibubapaan dan Wang: Membentuk Kanak-kanak Bijak Kewangan di Malaysia August 30, 2025
  • Nestlé La Cremeria Welcomes Bella Astillah To The Ice Cream Family — Taste Her Favourite New Flavours August 29, 2025
  • Making Teh Tarik Great Again: Teh Tarik Nation Honours Heritage, Crafted for Today August 29, 2025
  • Village Grocer Announced Expansion in Johor with New Outlet in IOI Mall, Bandar Putra Kulai. August 29, 2025
  • FREE LOBSTER ROLLS? WORLD LOBSTER DAY IS BACK – AND BIGGER THAN EVER! August 29, 2025
  • Saudi Reinforces Commitment to Malaysia, Driving Visitor Growth Through B2B Trade Show August 29, 2025
  • Syafiq Kyle Kicks Off 12-Month Journey with Kopiko at First Consumer Activation August 29, 2025
  • No Borders, Just Nourishment: “by age 18” Brings Inclusive, Plant-Based Udon to the Heart of Kuala Lumpur August 28, 2025
  • Samsung Galaxy Event: Introducing the Galaxy AI Experience to Our Latest Innovations August 28, 2025
  • Kajin Sri Petaling: The Art of Smoke and Simplicity in Japanese Char Dining August 27, 2025
  • Celebrate Merdeka with MFM August 27, 2025
  •  Domino’s Pizza – We have a Crazy Merdeka Deal August 26, 2025
  • Galaxy Tab S10 Lite: A Value-Packed Tablet for Everyday Needs August 26, 2025
  • Sodexo and PichaEats Promote Meaningful Cultural Exchange Through Cooking August 26, 2025
  • Nestlé Malaysia Initiates Production of NESCAFÉ Espresso Concentrate in Shah Alam for All Asian Markets August 26, 2025

Secondary Sidebar

Explore

travel in japan

travel in hong kong

travel in macau

travel in taiwan

travel in thailand

Footer

Copyright © 2008–2025 Malaysian Foodie