KUALA LUMPUR: Straits Quay retail mall, developed by Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) in its Seri Tanjung Pinang development in Penang, is scheduled for opening by end-November, E&O executive director Eric Chan said.

Chan said the retail mall is expected to house about 100 tenants, including the pewter brand Royal Selangor, Enhance Education Learning Centre, F&B outlets as well as lifestyle and entertainment outlets.

“Our aim in establishing Straits Quay was to create a unique festival marina lifestyle like no other in Penang, and to do so by putting together a mix of inimitable retail outlets and experiences,” he added.

Dubbed “the first retail marina enclave in Penang”, Straits Quay has a net lettable area of 270,000 sq ft, on a 12-acre retail and commercial development within the 1,000-acre Seri Tanjung Pinang waterfront community. Above the 2-storey mall are 217 serviced apartment suites known as "Suites at Straits Quay", which were launched in July 2007 and are in the process of being handed over to purchasers.

Royal Selangor will set up a visitor centre there – making it its second in Malaysia and the third in the world – with 4,000 sq ft of space.

The pewter manufacturer currently has visitor centres in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with the Kuala Lumpur centre attracting more than 150,000 local and international visitors each year.

Royal Selangor Marketing Sdn Bhd general manager Chen Tien Yue said Penang has always been an important market and currently has five retail outlets in the state.

“Like the visitor centre in Kuala Lumpur, the Penang Royal Selangor Visitor Centre will have all the key elements of a guided tour, a pewter-smithing demo area, retail and our popular visitor activity – School of Hard Knocks – in a more compact environment. But the main difference is that it will showcase our retail identity and will serve as our flagship store in the north,” he added.

SOURCE: The Edge Property