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Imago KK Times Square Shopping Mall ("Imago") (Chinese: 我格广场; pinyin: wǒgéguǎngchǎng;) is a shopping mall located at the city center of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. It was developed and managed by Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asian Pac Holdings Berhad, a company listed on the Main Board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE:ASIAPAC [4057]).
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| Location | Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia |
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| Coordinates | 5°58′14″N 116°3′59″E / 5.97056°N 116.06639°E |
| Address | Imago KK Times Square Phase 2, Off Jalan Coastal, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. |
| Opening date | 28 March 2015 |
| Developer | Asian Pac Holdings Berhad |
| Management | Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd. |
| Owner | Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd. |
| No. of stores and services | 300[1] |
| Total retail floor area | 800,000 sq. ft. (74322 sq. m) |
| No. of floors | 4 |
| Website | imago |
Imago is a super-regional mall[2] with a total floor space of approximately 1,400,000 sq. ft. (130,000 sq. m.) and a net retail area of about 800,000 sq. ft. (74,320 sq. m.) of non-stratified lease-only retail space. It spans four levels (basement, ground, first and second floor) and encompasses a complete lifestyle-based trade mix with rich tenant composition of around 300 tenants that covers the entire broad retail spectrum such as departmental store, supermarket, fashion and accessories, electronic gadgets, cinema, indoor kids' playground, bookstore, toys, karaoke, gaming arcade, along with a vast range of dining outlets, cafes and bars.[3]
As Kota Kinabalu attracts on average 4.6 million visitors every year (2018-2022)[4] that covers the local community as well as national and international tourists from all around the world, it stands to reason that Imago is one of the most visited shopping malls in Kota Kinabalu and Borneo.
Imago The Mall at KK Times Square is one of Kota Kinabalu’s largest shopping centres. It opened on 28 March 2015.
History edit
Vision edit
The mall was first named "KK Times Square Mall". It was then named "Imago" to symbolize the arrival of a proper non-stratified lease-only shopping mall that will have proper trade and tenant mix. This phase was later dubbed the "Vision" phase as in 2012 the mall finally underwent full-scale layout planning, market positioning, branding, trade mix planning, tenant planning, etc.[5]
Metamorphosis edit
The second major pre-opening event for Imago was in 2014 named "Metamorphosis", where a signing ceremony with anchor tenants was conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with brands such as Michael Kors, Coach, Parkson, etc. becoming part of Imago's tenant.
Emergence edit
One week before Imago was opened, the developer of Imago – Asian Pac Holdings Berhad, together with Malaysia's Unit Kerjasama Awam Swasta (UKAS) of the Prime Minister's Office launched the newly completed 6-lane "New Link Bridge", a public-private partnership (PPP) project that connects Jalan New Link with Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens (to the north-east) and Jalan Coastal (to the south-west) to improve the connectivity of the entire KK Times Square development with Kota Kinabalu's city centre and the rest of the city.[6]
Imago was originally slated to open in late 2014 in time for Christmas.[1] Opening was delayed and it eventually opened on Saturday, 28 March 2015, graced by the then Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Yang Berhormat Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.[7] The launching ceremony was conducted at The Oval (central atrium), ground floor of Imago, and the theme of the event was "Emergence" in line with its name to symbolize the "final phase of transformation into a fully-developed and completed" shopping mall.
Management edit
The management of Imago is directly under the wholly owned subsidiaries of Asian Pac Holdings Berhad:
- Mall ownership and management: Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd.;
- Facility management: Asian Pac Property Management Sdn. Bhd.
Location edit
Imago is part of the larger Kota Kinabalu Times Square ("KK Times Square") development, comprising
- Signature Office;
- The Loft Residence;
- Imago.
The entire development by Asian Pac Holdings Berhad is located in the south-west section of Kota Kinabalu city.
Special Zones edit
There are several zones in Imago that is a smaller part of the entire floor but carries a different emphasis in trade mix or tenant positioning.
Pret-a-Gouter edit
“Pret-a-Gouter" is located in the basement floor (BF) of Imago and it is composed of mainly food-related kiosks and outlets. There is a variety of offerings including freshly cut fruit stalls, ice cream, bubble tea, freshly squeezed fruit juices and the paper-wrapped nasi lemak (coconut milk rice).
Welcome Point edit
"Welcome Point" is located at the ground floor (GF) of Imago in front of the Concierge near South Entrance, which is also the main drop-off point. Traditional cultural performances are conducted every day at regular interval from noon to 8:00 pm. A common performance that can be seen here is the "Magunatip" bamboo dance, which is a traditional dance of the Murut tribe in Sabah, also commonly found within this region such as in the Philippines.
Aramaiti edit
"Aramaiti" is located to the north of the mall at ground floor (GF) of Imago in a semi-outdoor alfresco area also called "Street Walk". The term "aramaiti" is a local Kadazan-dusun language term that means "to celebrate" and is often used locally to toast a drink. It is a part of the mall that is opened till late and includes restaurants and bars. The area also has a landscaped boulevard with water features.
Heritage Food Street edit
"Heritage Food Street" can be considered as the only food court in Imago and is located on the second floor (2F). It is designed to a very British colonial-style space similar to the British heritage towns found all across Malaysia. It uses the marble-top tables and stools commonly found in old Chinese cafes in Malaysia.
Imago also provides several facilities for the use of the public or its tenants' staff.
Events and activities edit
Imago can be considered as very active in events and activities, especially during the usual Malaysian festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Kaamatan (Harvest Festival), Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Mid-Autumn Festival, Deepavali and Christmas. Imago also turned Halloween into a major event where they have traditionally built haunted houses at the central atrium and shoppers will go into them and find a way to escape.[8]
Awards and accolades edit
Imago has received several awards and won mall-related competitions at local and international levels.
2016 edit
- Asia Pacific International Property Awards (IPA) in association with The Telegraph: 2016–2017 Best Retail Development (Malaysia);
- Asia Pacific International Property Award (IPA) in association with The Telegraph: 2016–2017 Best Retail Architecture (Malaysia).
2017 edit
- Sabah Tourism Awards: 2017 Best Shopping Complex;[9]
- Shopping Mall Association of Malaysia (PPKM): Best Experiential Marketing 2017 Category B Gold Award (Christmas 2016 – Once Upon A Dream).
2018 edit
- Shopping Mall Association of Malaysia: Best Experiential Marketing 2018 Category B Gold Award (Christmas 2017 – The Odyssey).
- Malaysia Book of Records: Tallest Rotating Christmas Tree (Christmas 2018 - Bedazzled).[10]
2019 edit
- Sabah Tourism Awards: 2019 Best Shopping Experience.[11]
Corporate social responsibility edit
Hope Express edit
Imago started a charity initiative in line with its “Once Upon A Dream” Christmas event in December 2016. The charity campaign called “Hope Express” involves an indoor train ride around the mall at second floor (2F). Instead of charging a fare to take a ride, people are encouraged to make a donation of any amount. The collection is then donated in full to a charity organisation, while Imago takes care of the maintenance, upkeep and overhead costs of operating the train.[12][13] The following organisations have benefited from Hope Express:
- Taman Didikan Kanak-Kanak Kurang Upaya (Education Home for Disabled Kids);
- Seri Mengasih Center;
- Sabah Cheshire Home;
- World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF);
- Rumah Kanak-Kanak Bondulu Gereja Katolik Toboh Tambunan (Toboh Tambunan Catholic Church Home for Disabled Kids).
Earth Hour edit
Imago celebrated Earth Hour every year since its opening in 2015. Together with participating tenants of the mall, essential lighting are switched off during the period in order to create awareness about environmental issues.
Sponsorship edit
Imago also carried out many sponsorship programs with charitable organisations and government agencies especially on blood donation campaigns, awareness campaigns, cultural promotions, etc. These organisations and agencies include:
- United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO);
- Sabah Tourism Board;
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia;
- Royal Malaysia Police;
- Kota Kinabalu City Hall;
- Consulate General of The People's Republic of China (Kota Kinabalu).
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Exclusive Imago Mall set to open late 2014". Daily Express. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ "Shopping Malls and it's Types (With Statistics)". Your Article Library. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
- ^ "Lists of Stores in Imago". Imago – The Mall at KK Times Square. SabahBah. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Statistics". Sabah, North Borneo. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "About Us | Imago Shopping Mall". www.imago.my. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ "Making KK's new CBD connected, accessible | Daily Express Newspaper Online". Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ "Imago – The Mall at KK Times Square". sabahbah.com. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
- ^ Lee, Joanne (16 October 2015). "Be scared this Halloween at The Infirmary, Imago Mall". Sabaheats. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Lee, Joanne (4 December 2017). "Sabah Tourism Awards 2017 - A Tribute to excellence". Sabaheats. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ www.malaysiarecords.com.my https://www.malaysiarecords.com.my/record-detail?id=16855. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ William (15 December 2019). "SABAH TOURISM AWARDS 2019". Borneo 360. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "RM55,643 raised from Imago 'Hope Express' donated to Sabah Cheshire Home". Borneo Post Online. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "Imago's Hope Express fourth donation since 2016". Borneo Post Online. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2020.