Ikea Malaysia is preparing to open the first phase of a shopping centre linked directly to its blue-box home furnishing store in Batu Kawan, Northern Malaysia.

With around 20 tenancies, the new retail destination is aiming to bring a vibrant new mix of brands to the growing Aspen Vision City. The retail extension will open at the end of the year, with 85 per cent of the space now already leased to tenants including Sports Direct, Project Rock, 7-Eleven and Harvey Norman. 

Taking up 50,000sqft, Harvey Norman is taking its concept of a flagship superstore outside the Klang Valley for the first time.

“We are grateful for the relationships we have built with long-term partners like Harvey Norman. Together, we can live up to our mission of creating vibrant meeting places for the many people – going beyond just shopping,” said Ikea Southeast Asia MD Christian Rojkjaer.

Five Ikea stores in the region are anchors for shopping centres.

“We look for tenants that meet the needs of the people in our community,” explained Ikea Southeast Asia mixed-use director Christian Olofsson. “In the four months since we opened Ikea Batu Kawan, we have seen that Penangites often visit on lunch breaks and during dinner time. So, we will focus on bringing in F&B outlets and convenient grab-and-go services. We also see the opportunity for other leisure, entertainment and sporting retailers to serve the growing township of Batu Kawan.”

The integrated retail component to Ikea Batu Kawan is part of the master plan for Aspen Vision City, a joint-venture of Ikea Southeast Asia and Aspen Group.

“Ikea is a major catalyst, attracting other businesses that want to be part of a modern and intelligent township of the future,” said Aspen Group president & group CEO Dato’ Murly Manokharan. “We want to create a convenient destination that is at the heart of a walkable community where people can work, shop, dine, study, and create positive memories together with their loved ones.”