Penang will gain its first premium outlet mall, Design Village, next month.
In Batu Kawan in mainland Penang, it will be the biggest outlet mall in Malaysia. It was developed by PE Land, which owns and runs The Spring shopping mall in Kuching.
The outlet mall is on a mixed-use site that will include a hotel and high-end condominiums. The single-storey mall has a net leasable space of 400,000 sqft (37,161 sqm) for 150 stores.
There are more than 80 brands already committed to the mall, which is aiming for up to 100, says Savills Malaysia MD Allan Soo. The company is the international leasing and retail development adviser for Design Village.
The mall’s retail mix will be 20 per cent large-format stores, 15 per cent F&B, 7 per cent sports outlets and 5 per cent children’s stores, with 25 per cent new tenants and 28 per cent others.
It will include the biggest Adidas outlet in Malaysia, plus the first outlet stores for Aldo and Bata. Other retailers include Banana Republic, Guess, Padini Concept Store, Sacoor Brothers, Samsonite and Starbucks.
The mall will provide daily shuttle services to and from hotels and the airport.
Design Village GM Aileen Tay says the mall is also working with tour companies to bring in tourists who will be offered rebates through tax-free shopping network Global Blue.
PE Land is the retail and property development arm of Borneo-based conglomerate Pan Sarawak Holdings.