Malaysia is said to be one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia in the last few years and this was further accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
If anything, the pandemic served as a key driver of transformation in retail. But developers believe brick and mortar can still pull the crowd which is why we see Klang Valley dotted with shopping malls.
In the past two years alone, Tropicana Gardens Mall and Pavilion Bukit Jalil was introduced. This year, we will witness more shopping malls open its doors in Kuala Lumpur. First up, the Japanese lifestyle shopping mall, Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport KL.
Situated on the Bukit Bintang City Centre on the demolished Pudu Prison, it neighbours yet another (surprise!) shopping mall, the Berjaya Times Square, a well-known landmark in KL.
"As a life-style focused shopping mall originating from Japan, Lalaport aims to boost consumer confidence with its design that creates a new customer experience which also incorporates the culture of Malaysia while maintaining a distinctive Japanese DNA,” said the website.
Lalaport will be home to an impressive number of retail outlets totaling to about 400 stores from global and Japanese brands.
118 Mall
The 118 Mall would be another retail component linked to the Merdeka 118 skyscraper. This mall sets itself apart from other established complexes with its greenery and natural lighting through its expansive dome. The grand shopping complex is spread across seven floors so you can imagine the number of stores that will greet shoppers.
It’s easy to reach the mall too if you plan on taking the train. The shopping centre has easy access to the MRT, LRT and Monorail network which can ease the journey of the visitors to the malls without having to bear with the bad traffic in Kuala Lumpur.
There isn’t a specific date for an opening but it’s anticipated to welcome visitors sometime this year.
The ExchangeTRX Mall
TRX Mall Dubbed as a supermall, The Exchange TRX Mall is still in the works and is set to finish construction this year. More than just a shopping mall, it’s also a lifestyle hub.
It will be home to more than 500 retail stores but more than that, the top of the mall will feature a 10-acre rooftop city park.
Seibu department store, which is part of the Japanese SOGO Seibu, will span 250000 square feet across four levels.