Sungei Wang Plaza : From Golden Era to Ghost Mall? @ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Sungei Wang Plaza, located in the bustling Bukit Bintang area of Kuala Lumpur, opened its doors in 1977. The name “Sungei Wang” translates to “River of Gold,” reflecting its initial promise as a prime shopping destination. The mall was developed by Sungei Wang Plaza Sdn Bhd and quickly became a popular spot for both locals and tourists, thanks to its diverse range of retail outlets, entertainment options, and strategic location.
In its heyday, Sungei Wang Plaza was known for its vibrant atmosphere and variety of stores, from fashion boutiques to electronics shops. It was also home to Malaysia’s first Olympic-sized ice skating rink and a roller skating rink, which added to its allure. The mall underwent several renovations over the years, including major refurbishments in 1992, 2013, and a facade transformation completed in 2019.
However, the rise of newer, more modern shopping complexes in Kuala Lumpur, such as Pavilion KL and Suria KLCC, began to overshadow Sungei Wang Plaza. These newer malls offered more luxurious shopping experiences and attracted high-end retailers, drawing away a significant portion of Sungei Wang’s customer base.
The decline was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit retail businesses hard. During the pandemic, Sungei Wang Plaza’s occupancy rate dropped to around 65%, one of the lowest in its history. Despite efforts to revitalize the mall, including the introduction of JUMPA @ Sungei Wang, a new retail concept aimed at attracting younger shoppers, the mall has struggled to regain its former glory.
Today, Sungei Wang Plaza remains a nostalgic landmark for many Malaysians, but it faces ongoing challenges in adapting to the changing retail landscape and consumer preferences. The mall’s future will depend on its ability to innovate and attract a new generation of shoppers while retaining its unique charm
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#deadmall
#sungeiwang
#shoppingmall
#kualalumpur
#shoppingcentre
Wow... Sg Wang Plaza really brings back memories. I still remember the days, in the 90s. A couple of us would take a midnight express bus from Penang, arriving in Pudu around 6am and hung around some mamak till the mall opened. Lepak till dinner, then took the night bus home to Penang again. lol. Crazy times. Such a sad sight to see the state of it now.
@@unitedislife the memory I got on my side is not pleasant. I was about 18 years old back in 1998
I was at Pudu waiting for my bus back to Penang. A guy came to me and threaten me, wanted me for money, I gave him RM5. That's a lot of money back then
@@calvinfoo Oh ya... that happened to me once too. Strangely though it was right in front of Sg Wang. This guy came up to us saying he was just released from jail and he needed money to go back to hometown. Not really threatening but, as teens from Penang, in KL, everything was scary. lol
@@unitedislifesounds like same way same person too
Lmaooo 😂.. that's insane. But i understand the attraction..Sg Wang is truly special. Best family outings i can remember
I used to work here at Waltons Furniture shop in the early 80s.
There was an Ice rink here too in the 70s n I remember I came to skate on the last day before it closed.
There was also a Cineplex n a Live performance hall . Remembered watching Chow Yuen Fatt perform there 😂.
Top floor u can get the Best economy mixed rice in KL too.
Also used to record my song selection from Victoria Music store in cassettes .
Wonderful memories indeed.
It will be very sad 😢if it will end one day .
Like Ampang Park 😢
Mini bus fare only RM0.50 you can go from kl to PJ good old day.Thank you for bringing up my old memory.
Classic days
Yeah well, salaries and wages were much lower too, so....
Yeah I used to work at Jalan Pudu I love shopping at Sungai Wang 80s
my mini bus number 32, if big bus even cheaper at 35 cents, why ah?
During my time mini bus was only 60cts
movies, skating, disco,snooker, kentucky friend chicken, lenglui, fancy tailor, sudirman meet the fan etc ...wow too much memories
Correction - Kentucky's friend is chicken.
Ya lo.. miss those days where we all mix together without any racism thought.❤
Meet Fan Band KRU. During new album ReKrued Launch Tour. Hang Out at Mcdonalds Basement
Daytona 🏎️
I remember the Sungai Wang Management team used to organise Hong Kong actors, actresses and singers at the Ground Floor to promote their movies and concerts during the weekends and the whole Sungei Wang will be congested with people
HK celebrities are all retired now. :(
I’m
Yes u are right, but ended the whole mall is selling pirated DVD. I m the guilty guy from Sg, always drive up and buy all the latest movies, sometimes in JB. Really love driving up to Malaysia so much fun.
Sg Wang was the mall to go during the 80s and 90s. I remember it was pack during weekends. I recall my aunt, myself and my siblings will take the #13 mini bus(pink color) and will stop at Magnum plaza, before walking to Sg Wang. Upon entering Sg Wang, I remember there was Salem Power Station music store selling the latest music in casettes. There were numerous shops selling walkman from Sony, Aiwa, etc. Lots of shops selling video games console such as MegaDrive and Micro Genius. The KFC there was the most famous, I remember we always ate at KFC whenever we visited Sg Wang. It was such a fun moment. There were also lots of store selling VCD, watches and fashion clothings. There was also a cinema there, I recall my aunt, me and my siblings watching the latest Hong Kong movie ie Steven Chow show, Wong Fei Hung show, etc. There was also an arcade there on level 4 or 5, can't recall. It was the time where Street Fighter 2 was everywhere. I recall spending countless hours playing there. I think there was also a skating ring on one of the floors. Nowadays I still walk around Sg Wang once a while, to try bringing back those good old memories.
Thanks for sharing your experience of Sungei Wang Plaza. Good memories
Btw, Street Fighter 2 was my favorite during my childhood. I was unofficially the SF2 "king" in SS2 arcade.. LOL
Sg Wang was one of my favorite mall during the 90s. VCDs, buying and trading mega drive cassettes, playing arcade especially SF2 and eat at the food court. Well, it has been at least 30 years i have never been there. I believed those who has the same memory as mine already in their late 40s to early 50s.
@@chestercheng.realestate haha..ss2 arcade...Rasa Sayang arcade
Yes, I am a millenial kid trying to cling on to the nostalgia by wandering sg wang once in a while too, especially if im picking up some IT accessories in low yat, will always stop by teppanyaki for a quick bite before I go home. Those prime Sg Wang days in my opinion could be the golden age of Kuala Lumpur, hard for us to go back to that kind of human interaction in a mall anymore in this digital era.
Ice Skating Ring, playing music and songs from Saturday Night Fever😁
it is the mall which I loved the most in 90s together with Imbi Plaza, I went to Sungai Wang + Imbi Plaza at least once a week to look for VCD or PC games. And Sungai Wang was the default place for me to buy Levis Jeans before Chinese New Year every year. All my jeans that time were bought from Sungai Wang. Also watched many movies in 90s in Sungai Wang.
sound familiar
it was still bustling in the 2000's when i studied in KL...however i came back after 2010s and i already saw a decline where shops are starting to close one by one especially the upper floors. I firmly think that the reason that it is dwindling isnt just because of new malls are opening, new malls are also 'sendu'...like the one open on the ex Penjara Pudu site (forgot the name alrdy)...too much malls and the emergence of cheaper online shopping. People just cant afford retail price anymore, also online price is much cheaper. In this economy, people are more than happy to wait for a few days to wait for their stuffs to arrive at home. One mall opening next to another for people to find what? another Samsung store? another Watson? it's redundant. More parks is what these city planners should be doing.
Same here. I rmbr I would take the lrt to sg wang after school, or skipped classes , and spent the afternoon thr. Kim gary then was packed with ppl. Thrs the famous amos fragrant cookies that greet ppl who took the escalator. Or kfc and mcd at lower ground. Or the teppanyaki at top floor with lots of space to seats. Or the hidden popular book store at top floor. Then I would walk to hang tuah lrt station to go home, passing pudu jail
Parks do not make money
Sg Wang started to declined after Capital Land tookover..bad management
@@l_ifeefi_l1998 yup, the good ol days
@@khairaneekammal2098 true. BUT, it will generate cash flow when there's attractions one way or another.
Studied in Ampang back in 1997/98, but stayed at a hostel in Taman Muda, Cheras. Took the Bas Mini (the king of the road, the thrill of riding the bus) to KL, and jalan-jalan at Sungei Wang Plaza. Passed through Parkson Grand to get to Imbi Plaza for computer parts. Window shopped at Lot 10, and Starhill had just opened. Such memories... I miss KL... I miss Malaysia...
Please continue doing more Dead Mall videos! I would like to see you explore older malls in KL like Campbell and Pertama Complex !
Thanks for the support. Will put those in my to do list
Pl do similiar commentary 4 Penang Perai
how about dead Apartment series 😂
My 80s and 90s hang out spot. It is one of the best landmarks in KL during its heydays.
Heydey tu hari apa
Heyday tu mcm zaman kegemilagan mall ne
We all sudah tua... LOL
@@sam-gt7eq oh itu mcm.. Tq2
Those were the days after college we hanged up here with some classmates 😂
Penghujung tahun 80an sehingga early 90an tempat saya crushing di sungaiwang dan bukit bintang plaza.
Before Pavilion was built, this mall was bustling, together with Lot10. While I don't think Pavilion is the main reason, it's probably the rise of BB walk itself adjacent to it, with Starhill Gallery and F88 taking the stage.
Actually I hope SgWang would embrace a more hobbyist approach with otaku and gaming culture, make it the Akihabara(or Nakano Broadway) of KL. Get more ACG events running. It would complement greatly with LowYat.
dead mall symptom all same, acg can't save them, you guy just rent everywhere to doing event non relate to their business
Yeah agreed they should focus it as hobbyist, gamers & gadget haven like Akihabara and some hip eateries to attract youngsters and gen Z tourists.
It is now run by sg foreign co. YTL, sunway shoud buy it over and refurbish
It is now run by sg foreign co. YTL, sunway shoud buy it over and refurbish
I remember not too long ago even with the newer malls pulling traffic away, they still attract the local "lepak" teenagers. How did Sungei Wang even lost that "lepak" teenagers crowds?
The low ceiling is due to converting car park spaces on the basement floors into shops. I think the regulatory authority should not allow this to happen.
Sungei Wang and Low Yat, those were the malls back then. More memories of Low Yat for me because I loved going there to check out the PC/PS games and PC components. Haven't been there for a long time, but the last time I went it was "dead" compared to how it was during it's peak.
I am from Singapore. Sungei Wang has always been in my agenda if I visited KL. Love the vibes and the shops. Now it looks much better brighter and clean. The last visit was in June 2024.
It's still a tourist attraction due to it's heritage and location. Locals however are no longer patron SWP that much
During the 80s and 90s, only Sg Wang and Ampang Park plaza was most popular. Sg Wang attracted the crowds with ice skating rink and cinemas.
Those were THE days
kenangan sg wang ni.... port tempat aku habiskan masa kalau serong.. naik bas mini pagi petang baru balik rumah
ni zaman sebelum lrt
Non-resident now but I make every effort to 'pay my respect' to the grand dame every time I visit KL. I was fortunate enough to visit Ampang Park right before its demise was announced - forever grateful for one last look at the old girl, complete with its quaint single file escalators, and unique open ceilings layout. Back to Sungei wang (have often wondered why it's spelled that way, 🤔 was it a 'Meals on Wheels' situation?), the rooftop hawker centre is the 1st place I come to almost as soon as I get off the plane, ahh...nostalgia. Then, onto (the much diminished) famous KFC, followed by an assorted bag of Famous Amos. My baby memories include the skating rink, Jackie Chan movies, and an Orange Julius...
Old nostalgic malls are my jam: Kimisawa OUG (R.I.P), Yow Chuan PLaza (R.I.P), BB PLaza (R.I.P), Kota Raya etc. so am very glad to have stumbled upon this series, thanks Mr. Cheng!
Those days during gaji time, I lepak with my GF at Delifrance maaaa...hehe 😂
Good coverage ! Indeed good old memories of mine in the pass 50 years +
Wow...
Dear CC There's a few main factors why older malls that have less visitors: 1_malaysia economy is less robust; This means families have less $ to spend 2_there a glut of malls; even newer malls have few visitors 3_older malls are more claustrophobic (specific to malls like sg wang n ibmi plaza)
Sg Wang was the go-to place in the 80s, for professional hair salons with London-trained hairdressers. There are still some highly esteemed hair salons in the mall.
Still a good place to get excellent deals for hair products & sewing notions.
With its many exits/entrances, It is easy to walk through to neighbouring Low Yat & Berjaya Times Square malls. Covid definitely did a lot of damage to small businesses in Sg Wang.
It definitely has better "Feng Sui" than Lalaport, and I believe it will rise again in future with strategic planning and marketing.
Great rundown. I first visited Malaysia in 2014 and the Sungei Wang PLaza was one of my daily stops to grab something quick to eat or get some snacks at the supermarket before going back to my hotel for the night. I revisited in 2019 and I was shocked at how slow it seemed and how many shops now seemed closed down. It was quite sad to see. I can also say the exact same for Berjaya Times Square mall. In 2014 it was a bustling active place that seemed alive, but in 2019 many shops closed down, dark passageways and more discount shops had replaced the name brand retailers. I hope Malaysia can recover some of these gems. Coming nack next year to see how things are, I pray for better times.
Used to come to buy video games and consoles, even a lot of pirate shops. Also the cinemas and f&b like esquire kitchen, teppanyaki, wanton noodles at the entrance, KFC and McDonalds side by side, zang toi cafe and fish n chips. Lots of memories with family and friends
i remember buying 10-20 ps1 games in one go because they were so dirt cheap.
Thank you for visiting this iconic shopping mall. I have not been to Sungai Wang Plaza for more than 25 years. Since the opening of many prestigious malls around KL, I find that there is nothing attractive for me and my family. I have always found the layout of the mall confusing and not consumers friendly. However, it is nostalgic in many ways. In the past, whenever we visit the mall, we will patronize Esquire Kitchen. Those were the good old days.
Good old days indeed
I miss all those camera shops at BB plaza and Sg Wang as well as game arcade centre. I used to hop around pertama complex-kotaraya-sg wang just to play arcade games. Now all gone. Sad.
kotaraya arcade game
I worked at Seri Malindo Restaurant in Sungei Wang Plaza in the 80s, and I have many memories from that time. SWP was the best shopping mall in KL. I remember that one of the anchor tenants was Klasse Department Store. SWP also had an ice skating rink when it first opened in 1977; unfortunately, the ice skating rink only operated for two years due to a shortage of electricity.
I ❤Wang Plaza,honest , simple down-to-earth shopping mall. Unpretentious, decent and affordable .
Many memories
those were the days. only memories. 90's dating favourite spot
Just bring back the video game arcades and Cinemas. People will start to return to Sg Wang again. Especially the arcades. I lived with my father at the government quarters along Jalan Davis in the 80s n 90s n went to SRK Jalan Pasar 2 there. The arcades were one of the main reasons for its popularity back in those days. My friends and I used to just jalan kaki from our houses to Sg Wang. It's in the middle of the City there is no way it can die that easily. Lessgooo
No. Arcades will not help since single players prefer to play at home and competition players already moved online (Tekken / Street Fighter / KOF). Also the space needed to fulfill everyone needs because everybody have their own favorite games.
Same with cinemas. I still remember when my favorite DVD rental store first move out of a mall, and then close - PC doesn't even come with DVD drive anymore.
There are solutions needed, but cinemas and arcades will not help at all.
GSC Times Square closed permanently. Times Square of all locations!
@@RealFableFoxNot necessarily. Actually most online players would love to play at the arcades again as I travelled a lot to offline competitions and all of them prefer rhe arcades instead of playing online
Nowadays gen cannot lah
dont think so bro, now everyone game on phone mostly. It is not like those days you wait for your turn and try to beat the crap out of your opponents.
@@RealFableFox 1st, there are too many malls in that area alone. 2nd, this is consider an old mall, like those Pertama, Summit Subang, youngster will choose to go to those newer malls.
This was one of the go-to malls for my family and I back in the 90’s. My Dad bought me and my brother’s first game console here. We would frequent the Teppanyaki restaurant here for lunch or dinner, we spent a lot of family time here. Ooooh memories!
Sungei Wang Plaza very lucky that situated in Golden Triangle Bukit Bintang since it the tourist attraction.. The only problem is this the strata shopping mall, not single owner mall. The strata type make its difficult to change. Since every lot got so many different attitude. I hope the project behind Sungei Wang and beside (abandoned) BB Plaza project can be survive to make this place back to its glorious.
Ah good old days memories.. love going there during my teen days, the last best era for Sg Wang Plaza stop slowly at 2009-2010.. at that time more colorful Malaysian and local vibes before warga asing take over .. 2007-2009 is my active years lepak there before go study at University
Ya... Most older malls we grow up with currently have many foreigners
@@chestercheng.realestate yes agree with you and I'm cool with good foreigners but the vibes just not same anymore to compare from our good old days in the past
So happen I went to Sungei Wang last week since I frequently go to TRX, Pavilion Bukit Bintang and Lalaport. Usually I take MRT to either Pavillion or TRX and before that I did take LRT to Lalaport when it was opened. Since I walk around the area occasionally I decided to take a look at Sungei Wang as a curiosity and was not surprised to see the limited foot traffic as it's got the old style retail concept. I doubt if it can survive many more years in its current concept. Lalaport visitors have improved much more than even 3 or 4 months ago when it was quite empty.
As a Kuala Lumpur native, I have only walked through Sungai Wang Plaza in 2022 (ground floor only) for 20 years+, when I went to Law Yat Plaza to buy computer parts and settled my parents at the restaurant in front of Sungai Wang Plaza.
Thanks for sharing!
Some shops lot have different owners, those days anybody got the money can buy also their neighbour "BB Plaza" the whole lot demolished becos of the underground rail line. Use to be linked up to Sungei Wang when both management decided to break the wall so people can walk freely on both sides. It's was the no1 shopping mall in the 80s 😁
Metrojaya was at BB plaza there.....
Sungei Wang, where your money flows out! I have been to the place several times over the past 20 years. Bustling mall with numerous salons, pedicure spas and boutiques. Fond memories. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for sharing
im a teenager back then watching king of fighter 99 new arcade machine arrive and saw people queued up just to play it. i also watched the 80s sungei wang in a tape recorded in betacam in my office. so full of nostalgia now watching this video. sg wang is like an old uncle that teach me how to react on life. thanks for the video.
was in Sg. Wang Plaza and Kota Raya for the KOF97 game, and tested out the infinite combo.....those were the days
dulu saya pernah kerja disungai wang plaza dari 1996 sampai 2011 ,zaman tu meriah sungai wang paling ramai orang datang shopping,selalu ada show artis dari dalam dan luar negara,tap semenjak ada nya times square,pavillion,klcc,sungai wang semakin sepi,mungkin sungai wang plaza kena diubah suai secara besar besaran,kena buat sesuatu yang lain boleh menarik orang ramai datang kembali,,contoh nya pasar malam dalam banggunan bazar2 yang menarik tempat makan2 yang menarik ,sayang sungai wang banggunan dia besar kena buat sesuatu yang menarik
I ingat backstreet boys perform
Masa start boy band
Despite all new modern grand shopping mall , SWang plaza is honest decent affordable place to be ! ......not pretentious at all ! ❤
Visited it almost weekly in 1977 when new shops were started to open.Had free beers esp those hair-dressing shops' opening ceremony.Before that it's was the Shaw Brother's BB Park in the 60s and that too I had visited it for the live stage performance
cultural show before tearing them down and become SgWangPlaza.
Still visited it during the construction of Starhill (formerly KL Plaza 1985 ?) and then visited it less than 10 times since.
The last time I visited , it was at its peak and I didn't realise the car park was converted.
I do remember the top level had a very busy food court.
Esquire kitchen is THE restaurant to go if I had budget then.
Hi Chester i'm from Indonesia, i think last time i went to sungei wang is last may 2024. Everytime i go to malaysia i always go to sungei wang even just to buy a drink but i don't know, this mall keeps me coming back, i think it's because the nostalgia, just many other commenters, this place contains memory especially for us who born at 80's or 90's. Ah the memories...
Thanks for updates on sg wang our favourite at one time.
My pleasure
In the 90s, I always come to this mall for food, arcade game and movies. Such a memory.
😮🙏 Before Sungei Wang Plaza & Bukit Bintang Plaza were build , that place was the Old World People's Park where there were fun rides , food stalls , old cinemas , snooker & arcade game shops located there in the 1960s to the middle of 1970s! We remembered it took quite several years to build up Sungei Wang Plaza & Bukit Bintang Plaza! Nearby were the the famous Cathay & Pavilon cinemas , food shops selling old snacks & like red , green , yellow bean sweet desserts with fried noodles , bean curd , roosted chestnuts & further down was the Ship discotheque , & behind lot 10 was the famous Jalan Alor night stalls & the Jalan Imbi! Lalaport was still the Pudu Jail back then ... Sungei Wang Plaza does not have too many shopping mall competitions back then! Hope Sungei Wang Plaza can revitalized itself & be hip shopping mall again! Thank You So Much for bringng back some of the old fond memories of Bukit Bintang Plaza & Sungei Wang Plaza! So Sad that , Ampang Park Shoppng Centre at Jalan Ampang being demolished to make way for the new MRT Station in 2018 , if not , Chester can make a video about that famous & nostalgic Ampang Park too! 😊🙏🌷🌿🌏✌💜🕊🇲🇾
Thanks for sharing your childhood memories. If you don't mention about Ampang Park Shopping Centre, I can say it's almost slip my mind totally... Time flies and memories faded
Brings back fond memories for us in the 80s and even 90s! It was one of the to go to malls for cds and food at the rooftop. The chapfan stalls were great for meals! Are they still operating?
I'm missed the roof top food court during the video recording
I go there almost every day (Giant + good/cheap eats) & i'm 6ft4 - have to watch those sprinkler heads! I think they do ok: 1) You forgot to mention its a strata-title mall. I suspect many shopkeepers own their premises. When the owners get to old to run the business & have nobody to continue it , they close and try to rent it out. Still lots of good eyeglass shops and tailors on the upper floors + the post office... 2) Jumpa or whatever was the old Parkson Dept store - that section is really struggling. Sometimes they have markets and anime shows there. Home's restaurant though is great and there is sort of a mini food court below that... But above the mostly empty floors there's a theatre for performances, the Miniatures exhibit, climbing walls, go-carts etc. 3) The old 4th floor food court was for sale and must have gotten sold as its being remodelled which is badly needed as cockroaches infest the old tables on ones side! However, there are a couple of good hawkers with Korean food, noodles, pan fried egg dumplings etc I eat at and the place will be packed with workers during lunch hour who can't afford to spend RM20-30+ for a meal every day... 4) I think the entire 6th floor that used to have small apparel sellers is now a vocational school - so that creates foot traffic... 4) They regularly have interesting events and festivals in the center court...
Wow, you're very tall. Yes they are stratified, so this concept no longer works in modern malls.
Thanks for sharing your point of view to the audience
🎉Top mall in 90's... The thrill has gone...
Yes, for the older generation. This mall does brings many memories
When i was young, my parents always bring us every year here during ramadhan to buy baju raya.
Then we go find some restaurant to buka puasa. Aah memories
Great fond memories for me too, when I did the recording of this video
my place to shop and lepak back in the 80s & 90s
The main mall when I was in my teen back in the 80s. It was probably the ONLY mall in KL other than Ampang Park in the 80s. My last visit is probably 20 years ago.
This vid, sends me back to 1978, when the Ice Skating Rink and KFC was the main attraction there. Only in 1982, McD made its debut in Msia, located right at the junction of Jln Sultan Ismail and Jln B. Bintang.
It was the birth of an new shopping era, a real eye opener for me back then. That KFC shop on the ground floor was crazy😅
Yes it was!
Used to hang out there after school when I was a teenager. A lot of childhood memories there
Great times back then
Went there last week with some of my Japanese friends. We were looking for a cheaper massage service deal and my japanese friends tried to bargain in English. We tried to bargain with a store manager of one of the massage parlors and when we decided to move on to other store, the manager was like "ok no problem, have a nice day". Then in the next instance, said loudly to the other staff members "they are poor / no money" in Chinese, which I could understand. The audacity of the uncle! 😂 that comment really hurt
Thanks for bringing back memories of SWP & BBP from the 80’s to 90’s
Sg wang is the mall where I spent my teenage years... so many memories there...
Sweet memories
@chestercheng.realestate by the way, I'm a ren too... under gather
My first visits to Sg Wang Plaza must have been in the very early 1980s, before any of the other malls were built (I clearly remember Lot 10 under construction). I've only been back a few times in the last 12 years and the most recent visit in 2023, I found it ok, not deserted and with some interesting stores, but a far cry from its peak. I'm surprised that the music shop (selling instruments) is still there. One of my family members, still goes to Sg Wang occasionally to get some clothes altered by one of the tailors there.
I have so much memories here, a lot of “my first buyings” here, as for me i bought my first proper watch here,my very first reeboks shoe,my forst SLR film camera here and even my dad bought his rolex here at Watatime!
and ,even barely 10 years ago, this mall were quite packed with visitors especially locals..if u were a kid growing up during 90s, sure can remember Spinning Wheels and Victoria Records!
Thanks for sharing you experience of Sungei Wang Plaza
Its the mall i first got my first Nokia handphonr and also my first digtial point snd shoot camera. In the early 90s, i come here to buy Tamiya toys. I think i was a mall that had everything under one roof. Before any other megamall appeared.
Sg wang plaza interconnected with bb plaza. What a legend. Been here since i was 3 years old in 1978. And frequent visitor right up to 2010. In 2010 it was still the most visited shopping mall in the country. Not even KLCC and Pavillion can match it's popularity. The decline began i believe when they demolished bb plaza sometime in mid 2010's after the announcement of the mrt project. It's not dead. I don't think it will die, the location is just too perfect. But nowhere near it's glory days. Still my favourite mall in the country
I also don't think this mall will die in the next decade, but they have lost the former glory
Thanks for sharing. I think I am as old as you. My last visit to Sungei Wang Plaza was back in the 80s and 90s too. Can't really remember the time of my last visit but I guess it was back in the mid 90s while I was still in my teens. I can relate the Mini Bus story of yours as it was fun back then. The driver of the Mini Bus are very fast and sometimes reckless as they are driving very fast to make as much money as possible per trip. And during peak hours all the passengers will be packed like sardines in the bus (back then they still have a ticket person who collect cash from us and then give us a paper ticket). I am honestly surprise too that Sungei Wang Plaza would become a ghost mall at such a prime location in KL. Anyway I am no longer living in Malaysia now. It is great to know about this. I thought I was watching one of those China You tuber video that show dead China Mall until you keep reminding me that this is Sungei Wang Plaza. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to see more such videos from you.
During this video shoot, it's also my 1st time after such a long long time.. LOL. Mini bus drivers are like F1 drivers on steroids, they are crazy... hahahah. But back then it's like a norm for us.. I can remember the bus conductor will always tells the passenger to "masuk, masuk, masuk lagi" squeeze us like in life human sardine can... hhahahaaha
Mall has changed so much from last I remember
I think sungei wang needs to be a cool place where gen z would come n hang out.. lots of thrift shops, activities n cafes.. they have a lot of empty spaces for all that.. basically just go out there n collect surveys from these kids to see what they can do better.. n they need to do better at marketing the mall bcs the name sungei wang is legendary already
I remember Sate Ria (maybe at the adjoining BB) & Wendy's back in the 80s.
The most happening time personally for me was during the late 90s with the proliferation of pirated CDs (Movies, Music, Games & Apps), pre-Android/Iphone mobile devices & computers shops. All there within SW, BB, Imbi & Low Yatt belt.
Oh ya, what happened to Sate Ria now? I still can remember their catchy song in my head... hahahaaha
@@chestercheng.realestate Yup. Old ads jingles are all earworms, man.
I think they probably made some bad business moves or as usual, 'politics'. They were under MARA programme, I think.
Took Sri Jaya bus #260. Ate at Satay Ria. Play Daytona at the arcade. Bought PS1 there with pirate games RM3 each disc. Bought my 1st hp, Nokia 5130 at G flr hp kiosks. Metro Jaya for clothing shopping... Btw, Lot 10 was an open carpark with gravel surface... Great memories
Wah, you still remember the bus number
@@chestercheng.realestate that bus was my commute to school, St. John 😅
Just went there this week for the tcg, the anime stuff and Bundles also. I always appreciate some cheap clothings. When i walk deep enough the mall shows its dead side.
Haven't been there for at least 24 years ago.....I missed those days especially during CNY. It was crazily busiest mall...
Years 2000 still ok. Sungei Wang a mall must visit during 90s old memories so sad 🙁
Sg wang always been the home for hobbyist / cultural niche shops. From collectible toys, slr cameras, tattoo parlours, sewing materials, pirates dvds/ pc game, dj vinyl shops to arcades to pioneers of hk cha chan teng.
As all malls starts to look like cookie cutter from same group of tenants, i thunk they would be demand for a mall as unique aa the old sg wang
Thanks for sharing!
I think the last time I was there was probably 3-4 years ago. Top floors have already become computer shops. If I remember correctly, me and my friend had lunch at Ah Cheng Laksa at LG floor. I'm not from KL/Selangor but we would visit relatives here during CNY. Once, they took me to Sungei Wang when I was a primary school kid in the 90s. There was an indoor theme park then, really fun. I had never seen an indoor one before that. When I went to college in KL, me and my friends often went there during the weekend to lepak. Celebrities often hold meet the fans sessions there. Then working life started and my office was nearby so always went up to the upper floor food court only known to staff for cheap chapfan in the area. And of course, on the other side, there was the very hip and happening tiny 6th floor stores where I loved to shop. Really full of memories.
It is experiencing revitalizing now. Can see more shops when i went there a few months back.
That's good to hear! I'll have to make a trip back soon.
i remember during school days, when we have KL rombongan, we always beg teacher to come here, this is during late 90s to early 2000s. when I was in university i often come here jalan2 & makan2 after visiting lowyat for PC parts, finding new handphone, watching anime kids cosplaying. Been there recently, quite sad, so much good memories
Early days it's "THE" mall, every floors are packed with people
In the 1970s, there were only 2 shopping malls in the entire Kuala Lumpur: Ampang Park, Sungai Wang. Three smaller shopping complexes were Campbell, Kota Raya and Pertama.
That's true
Main attraction for me back in the day: Arcades!
You didn't go to the rooftop of SG..where the food stalls are. Too bad..I wanted to see how the business are.👈🙂🙂
Its being remodelled - It was for sale some time ago...
I remember going to SWP just few mths before the pandemic hit and certain sections look like Bangla Plaza. It was last trip there and I don't think I will ever step foot on that place again for a very very long time. A stark contrast to early 2000 when it's crowded and lively. My favorite spot is always the arcade centers
Thanks for sharing your experience before the pandamic
Used to spend & buy, buy & buy at Sg Wang Plaza 40 years ago. From 1990s hardly go even one time. In 2000s Went one time, got shock of my life! Didn't feel comfortable, couldn't enjoy. Never been since. Goodbye forever my once favourite old haunt. Anyway I am now 70 so online shopping is preferable. Difficult to redevelop this place coz certain units were individual owned I believe.
Power uncle. I come here in 2000s to sing at Red Box after school lunch time bcos got promo for student.
Bought my PS Gran Turismo game here. Back then, there was a link connecting Sungai Wang to BB Plaza, and my favorite hang out place was Al Ikhsan at BB Plaza, it has many football kits from various football leagues.
I remembered l work in the Federal Hotel in 1968-69 in Bukit Bintang where a lot of American GI came to K.L and took the local call girls to play bowling, it was a hit, and we loved them as we got many tips but l left Malaysia 1969 and went to EU. There were 2 cinemas, one was Cathay the other I donot remember the name, the PP park was local in Sungai Wang, time flies I think most of my friends were in another world and l am an old man still alive and well.
That's Rex theatre, just opposite Cathay theatre 😊
Thanks for sharing you experience of Sungei Wang Plaza
@@KeeLiangChaw The Rex theatre was in city central, not far from Jalan Petaling.
I was there for the first time on the way back to Singapore. Most of the shops shutters are down. But just across the road, at Berjaya Times square, the footfall were totally different.
Thanks for sharing
I still can remember the KFC aroma even when my parents drive in to the car park and the famous Amos once we step in to the Ground Floor. Those wonderful memories during the 80s❤.
Thanks for sharing your experience
Definitely changed jor. I haven’t been here in the past 5 years…it was a pretty hyped mall for my mum in her teens; it was still pretty popular even during my young teen days (I’m a 90s kid) I even remembered the old food court at the top floor! I’ve heard the top floors where the clothes boutiques are - are mostly gone 😢
Good old days
Was just at Sungai Wang Plaza. Still lots of people there but yes as you go to the higher floors, it does become a ghost town. Theres so many nooks and crannies in that mall. Theres even a hidden food court at the top floor. Go out of the mall and into the carpark, theres a food court there. My favourite shopping place and you can get cheap things. The wife and kids love this mall as its an affordable place to shop and get your hair and nails done.
I missed the hidden top floor food court
Heh, just had dinner there. Not bad at all.
Miss memories during 80 n 90s cinemas snookers food court etc.Starting opening my videogames business during 80s then follow-up handphone business
Sungai Wang Mall is an old shoping plaza....... consider an old man....sudah tua I was there also during my younger days..... now KL ve many modern shoping Mall....attract more people to shop...the Sungai Wang Mall seems look more Chinese dan Malaysian.
Malls tenants quite mixed
In my 20’s it was sat and Sunday destination. And on the rooftop was a food court which I ate in daily because I used to rent in jalan imbi😂
Haven't been to here for so many years. I rmbr back then at a certain floor thrs half dedicated for arcade and it was so packed and vibrant. Many youngsters.. then at its top floor alot of small hobbyists shops . The very last time I visited and thats ten yrs ago , sg wang just had a facelift and most of wat I knew were gone. Now, sg wangs heyday and its great moments remain in our aging memories...
Thanks for sharing you experience of Sungei Wang Plaza
We used to walked from Kota Raya to Sungai Wang Place especially after finish swimming at Well road have our lunch at mall.Enjoy strong air conditioning
Haven't walked around Sg Wang like 20 years although i'm staying within walking distance. Looks good in the video but shocked that foot traffic is a lot less compared to 20 years ago.
LG and ground foot traffic still good. Its the upper floors hidden alley retail section seems void
i go there every week , had to go thru there to get to times square , and to go back to mrt station .
I haven't been to Sg Wang Plaza probably nearly 10 years now! But it's me and my family one and only "go-to-mall" back in the mid 80s - my favourite visits are: Victoria Music Centre, Parkson Grand, the mamak newstand (where I get my dose of Smash Hits magazines), the magic shop (upper floor) and of course dining at KFC; which in fact in 1985 - was reported to have the highest sales of any KFC outlets in the world! (imagine the weekend crowds there and with no self-service yet at that time!?!) I also remember one area where the ‘famous amos’ free smell as you pass there.
For me, i still visit Sg Wang Plaza in the late 90s but specifically for DVD movie hunting - in which during that time (’97/’98-ish) this format has just been introduced in M’sia and the local uncles’ shop imported the latest latest titles (price ranging from RM105-125 per movie, since there’s no ‘pirated’ copies existed yet)
I think the last time i visited Sg Wang Plaza was in 2015 when they demolished the next door mall - Bkt Bintang Plaza (BB Plaza). To our family Sg Wang Plaza is also known as 'Buang Wang Plaza' 😅since this is a place where you'll spend all your earnings to get the latest, greatest, trendiest stuffs at that time!
Owh... another one of my family's favourite dining place in Sg. Wang Plaza -TEPPANYAKI... if not mistaken is the first outlet in M'sia and was situated on the upper floors! I'm not sure if it's still in operations now though...
It seems everyone had good memories there. Especially the KFC
Used to be my number one mall to shopped whenever i visit KL back in the old days.....I used to enjoyed explore the mall ( include BB plaza )) as this was the best place to get imported CD's, DVD's, street fashion's, foreign magazine's as opposed to luxurious mall like Lot 10...
Thanks for sharing
Brings back old memories. This place used to be the best. Prices were great and you get the latest products. As time goes on, the prices are becoming less affordable. Probably due to rental. On top of that, destruction of BB Plaza next to it that removes direct access from Jalan Bukit Bintang. Also, the competition around it. The mall owners did not adapt and keep up. The whole reason for me visiting this place is price and up to date products. The game for retail is different now. Many district got their own shopping complex. You have online shopping as well.
I used to come here for video arcades as well. Located at 2nd floor. There was a restaurant called Paramount nearby too. 4th floor is the food court.
I took mini bus and metrobus here back in the old days. 41 from Greenwood, 49 from Wangsa Maju. I've seen a lot of 16 and 60.
Thanks for sharing you experience of Sungei Wang Plaza
My place to go every month to buy gundam model kits. The problem with old shopping malls are their store layouts with too many direction. East, west, central, north, south. People prefer straight layouts like what we see in new shopping malls like IOI City Mall and Aeon Mall Nilai. Just go back and forth and you have explored most of the stores there.
I recall eating at their food court around the mid 2000s. Holy, the heat the smell the workers shouting "nasi free!, nasi percuma!" While juggling many plates of rice.
While i am teenager and working liife i did go to visit and go to their skating ring if i am not mistaken at that time they have skating ring.Also,did watch some show cinemplex with my girlfriends at that time it was very long ago.A very good memory.
My memory of Sungai wang wow during 80 used to work here so busy at that time
Back then it was crazy
Brighter interior than the 90s dulu. Tempat dating and main game kat atas.
Memang ramai dulu dtg sini utk dating. LOL
Awesome, good memories
The best!
Must check Feng sui, the water fountain ⛲️ was gone😢
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Come festive seasons this is the in place to buy all sorts of goodies. Traffic in and out stretches way past closing.