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Phnom Penh Post:

“I think that the main reason behind the high interest in the Phnom Penh Mega Mall is that it is well situated along Russian Boulevard, near the intersection of Tuol Kork, Prampi Makara and Daun Penh districts. Phnom Penh Mega Mall will be the leading mall in that area,” said Sothida.

She said economic growth and better living standards have led to the opening of many international malls and supermarkets in Cambodia such as Aeon Mall Phnom Penh, Aeon Mall Sen Sok City, Makro Cambodia and The Olympia Mall.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ ... businesses

What I think is, after this mall opened, traffic on Russian Blvd is going from Nightmare to hell.

Can PP sustain 18 malls? Seems like a lot for such a small city, especially given the state of shopping malls in first world.

cptrelentless wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:05 pm Can PP sustain 18 malls? Seems like a lot for such a small city, especially given the state of shopping malls in first world.

Exactly

Depends on the mall. If it goes after the Khmer locals only - poorly planned, poorly maintained, shops thrown hodge lodge like a typical open air market - except with high prices, then it will die a slow death. Locals can get the same experience in the markets for cheaper.

If it follows AEON and Makro - everything in English, high quality, high service, unique goods and services that can’t be found anywhere else, constantly changing venues, etc. - a destination place, then it will succeed. Their customers don’t just draw from just the upper middle class Khmer. Also from expats, tourists, middle and lower middle class as well.

Malls are dying in Western countries partly because westerners aren’t particularly social. Convenience and speed is prized over seeing and being seen. Khmer love crowds and gathering in places. Going to the market is still a daily routine for many.

At least in the opinion of the endless tourist to the Kingdom of Wonder.

cptrelentless wrote: ↑Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:05 pm Can PP sustain 18 malls? Seems like a lot for such a small city, especially given the state of shopping malls in first world.

Don't make a mistake comparing malls in developing and developed country. They are often even built for different use. For example many of the new malls in PP are built for experience, a place for entertainment and eating, when in western countries especially all the old malls are built mainly for shopping. Also climate is different here and malls are still new thing and people are interested to go and just hang out in those, much like in 70s and 80s younger population did in western countries. And the middle class is growing here fast.
Also out of those 18 only few are big malls. Most are just small community malls anyways and they are spread pretty nicely around the town. Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok for example still have far more big malls per capita.

Malls are dying in Western countries partly because westerners aren’t particularly social.

BS: malls are dying in the western world cause of the internet

Malls in 3rd world countries are places to wash the investors money and give the middle /upper class somewhere to shop rather than the shitty, smelly local markets

But really...18 malls in PP?

Cant compare the malls, buying power or the number of residents that can afford to shop at the malls in Bangkok and KL with PP

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:50 pm malls are dying in the western world cause of the internet

Exactamundo.
Online shopping is in its infancy in Cambodia so malls will be OK for a while. Maybe 2 years?

armchairlawyer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:58 pm

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:50 pm malls are dying in the western world cause of the internet

Exactamundo.
Online shopping is in its infancy in Cambodia so malls will be OK for a while. Maybe 2 years?

I hope that 2 years takes into account the new 5G network and delivery of goods by drones.

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 6:50 pm

Malls are dying in Western countries partly because westerners aren’t particularly social.

BS: malls are dying in the western world cause of the internet

Malls in 3rd world countries are places to wash the investors money and give the middle /upper class somewhere to shop rather than the shitty, smelly local markets

But really...18 malls in PP?

Cant compare the malls, buying power or the number of residents that can afford to shop at the malls in Bangkok and KL with PP

the big selling point for malls in se asia is they let you escape the elements... so they will always be popular with the middle n upper class as a place to hangout and socialise whilst doing some light shopping.... especially if there designed similar to mbk and keep that market feel... the thing that will kill them is if owners start over charging renters like they do in the west

crob wrote: ↑Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:03 pm
the big selling point for malls in se asia is they let you escape the elements... so they will always be popular with the middle n upper class as a place to hangout and socialise whilst doing some light shopping.... especially if there designed similar to mbk and keep that market feel... the thing that will kill them is if owners start over charging renters like they do in the west

Agree re escaping the elements and about the street market format but not 100% sure about the MBK example. I understand the electronic retailers are suffering greatly from Lazada competition, they can't compete on price however low their rents are.
The best prospects amongst Mall retailers are hairdressers, food outlets, bowling and other things you can't get online. Come to think of it meal delivery could have a big future in SE Asia.