Long abandoned eyesore in the heart of Kuala Lumpur downtown has finally opened for business. Formerly part of Vision City, it has been left abandoned for about a decade.

Wow

This week, Tanjong Golden Village reopens its 1 Utama cinema, which was a pioneering cineplex in Malaysia, after a major relocation works for over a year.

Brought to you by Valiram Group, the second Malaysian store focused on beauty and assessories is Opening Soon in 1 Utama. The first store is located at KL International Airport (satellite terminal).

Sweden's Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) has confirmed opening a new, first-ever Malaysian flagship store in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

It will be Southeast Asia's second store after the opening of the 30,000 sq ft Orchard Road store in Singapore last year.

Latest news also confirmed the opening of Malaysia's first MUJI store (a famous Japanese retailer) in Pavilion KL mall. Meanwhile, Debenhams store in Lot 10 will relocate to a larger store in Starhill Gallery.

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Foreign retailers are "cashing in" on Southeast Asia's economic growth and it is indeed exciting to see new designer brands entering the Kuala Lumpur market as early as this year, such as:

- Abercrombie & Fitch
- Agnes b. Voyage
- Costa Coffee
- De Beers
- Debenhams (expansion store)
- Hollister
- Jean Paul Gaultier
- Kurt Geiger
- Nicole Farhi
- Pal Zileri
- Pepe Jeans (opened)
- Skagen of Denmark (opened)
- Shiatzy Chen (opened)
- STORM Watches, London (opened)

Date: 22 Nov 2011

First photoblog via iPhone.

Date: 4 Nov 2011

A Special Presentation

Developer: Naza TTDI (Naza Group is Malaysia's largest luxury car importer)

Phased: 3

Size: 75.5 acre or 30.2 ha

GDV: 15 billion ringgit (approx. US$5b)

Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (New York)

Location: As depicted above covering a large area off Jalan Duta, next to the current Matrade building

Proposition: Malaysia's business, trading and convention hub

Tagline: "A city inspired by vision"

Brief:
- A total of 23 towers including a supertall tower,
- 2 retail centres including one 2 million sq ft shopping mall,
- and a 100,00 sq m (1 million sq ft) exhibition and convention space

Phase 1: 2011-2015
The first phase of the KL Metropolis development involves an estimated GDV of RM6 billion and will see the construction of the new Matrade HQ, an exhibition centre, a retail space offering more than two million sq ft, a residential tower, two hotels and two office buildings.

Matrade Centre will open in 2015.

Landmark: Matrade Centre and a landmark tower expected to be between 90 to 120 storeys depending on economic situation from 2015

Components:
- Residential and mixed residential,
- Commercial and corporate offices,
- Retail,
- M.I.C.E. facility,
- Business and boutique hotels,
- a Business School,
- Healthcare-wellness precinct, and
- Arts/cultural precinct

Connectivity: The proposed MRT Circle Line (MY Rapid Transit 2nd Line)

Certifications: Malaysia Green Building Index (GBI) and US-based LEED for Neighbourhood Development

Status: Construction has begun. Piling for Matrade Centre is 60% completed since it began in May 2011.

Completion: The whole project is expected to finish in 2025.

Official Website: http://www.klmetropolis.com