Kuala Lumpur’s shopping ghosts: How the city’s once-iconic shopping malls became relics of the past

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 — In their heyday, shopping malls such as Pertama Complex and Campbell Shopping Complex were vibrant and thriving centers of retail, commerce and society, so much so that they became landmarks of the city.

Today, these complexes, once symbolic of Kuala Lumpur’s early vitality, serve more as gauges to remind people of how much and how quickly the city has grown, leaving these former icons in relative decline.

Built in the 1970s, Pertama and Campbell were among the first major shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, representing modernity and sophistication at a time when Malaysia was beginning to emerge as an economic powerhouse in the region.

The Pertama complex, opened in 1976, is often considered the first modern shopping mall in Malaysia, catering to the then growing middle class and was popular with lovers of electronics, sportswear and leather goods. The shopping mall’s central location, strategically located along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, attracted residents and tourists alike.

The Campbell shopping complex, which had opened three years earlier, was also considered avant-garde at the time. Named after its location on Campbell Road, which has since been renamed Jalan Dang Wangi, it once marked the arrival of KL’s urbanization, gaining a reputation as a destination for high-end fashion, jewelry and movies.

At its peak, every weekend saw a sea of ​​faces arriving from within the city, but often from outside. Over the years, the creek became a creek and then a brook. Today, those who still frequent both malls are largely the same handful of regulars, keeping many businesses in business that still choose to stay.

“We rely on them a lot. From time to time, they would send their leather jackets for repairs or ask us to fit their jeans,” said a tailor and 20-year Pertama veteran who wanted to be known only as Abasilah.

“We have about two to three customers every month. The rent here is around RM2,100 per month and if we can pay it, it will be enough for us,” added the 58-year-old.

Like patrons of old, many of Pertama and Campbell’s contemporaries are no longer around. The area once had a thriving film scene, with the Lido, Capitol and Odeon cinemas all within walking distance.

None of the cinemas remain today, as all have closed after periods of decline and their buildings have been temporarily converted before giving way to a flood of new developments.

Kuala Lumpur city center has undergone significant transformation over the years, with skyrocketing land values ​​forcing developers to focus on mixed-use developments that combine retail, residential and commercial into one, pushing older, stand-alone shopping centers to the margins.

From his shop located in Block C of the building, Abasilah said there was widespread stagnation throughout the mall.

In Block B, GK Yong, 75, of Alpha Optics & Contact Lens Center was reading the newspaper to pass the time until the first customer of the day arrived.

“It’s more or less the same here,” he said Malay Postwhen he was told about Abazyla’s situation.

“We hope to see new and returning customers now. Most of them are employees of nearby towns. Our old customers are no longer there,” said Yong, who opened his shop here in the 1970s.

Yong said the situation has only worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic. Online shopping and e-commerce were already a threat to physical retail, but repeated lockdowns during the global pandemic have further accelerated shoppers’ use of virtual shopping.

In the Campbell complex, just 130 meters away, most shops were closed even at 1 p.m.

Stanley Ng, a 69-year-old tailor, said it was normal.

“No people come here. What is the point of opening it so early and closing it so late?” he said.

Ng said the earliest they opened was 11 a.m., although most only raised the shutters after lunch and lowered them again at 7 p.m.

Ng said he owned the shop on the first floor, so rent wasn’t an issue. Even then, he said declining patronage meant he sometimes had difficulty covering annual fees owed to City Hall.

“It’s very difficult to do business here. I think we can survive with established stores. We only acquire returning customers. They know about our existence.

“But this is not possible with new stores. There is no one who would like to shop here. Yes, the rent here, compared to newer malls, is very cheap, around RM2,000, but if there are no customers, how can you survive?” he asked.

Another tailor in the same complex, 68-year-old Richard Yap, said the shift in shoppers’ preferences since the pandemic has hit hard not only their shift to online shopping but also their growing preference for fast fashion.

When they first opened, stores like Yap’s only competed with others in the area. Today, they face fierce competition from millions of anonymous rivals selling at impossibly low prices on Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Temu, Shein, Taobao, TikTok Shop, Xiaohongshu, Tmall and more.

“Ready-made ones available on the Internet are much cheaper. Not only people but also companies have reduced the number of orders from us. From a bunch to one or two,” Yap said.

Despite the decline, both Pertama and Campbell still hold a place in the hearts of older Malaysians, many of whom have fond memories of shopping, dining or just spending time with family and friends.

Despite this, the future looks bleak for them. Some people support their conservation and revitalization, others consider them a relic of a bygone era.

However, all is not lost. The relative success of the modern Sungei Wang Plaza in Bukit Bintang, which opened for business in 1977, provides a glimmer of hope.

In 1992 and 2012, Sungei Wang Plaza underwent two major upgrades and renovations, enhancing the aesthetics of the mall, and despite being of the same vintage as Pertama and Campbell, it has managed to gain popularity among Malaysian customers, including the younger generation.

The mall often hosted events such as Swifties season, a Taylor Swift fan singing concert; frugal festivals; dance competitions; and even has a miniature museum.

The stores offer a wide range of products at affordable and mid-range prices, including clothes, accessories, footwear, electronics, home furnishings and more.

It has also gained a reputation among frugal young shoppers as a shopping mall offering high-quality eyewear at low prices and affordable makeup accessories.