[ UPDATE 2/06/2023 12:52 ] According to a Bloomberg report, Malaysia’s first Apple Store at The Exchange TRX is now expected to open in February 2024.
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Malaysia appears to be getting its very first Apple Store very soon as the Cupertino company is currently hiring for various retail positions based in Malaysia. It has been speculated since 2021 that Apple is opening its very own store at The Exchange TRX, the new financial and business hub of Kuala Lumpur located along Jalan Tun Razak. Ahead of its purported opening this year, there’s now speculation of what the new Apple Store might look like based on aerial videos of the current TRX development.
According to SkyscrapersMY, the above building with a rectangular dome is the upcoming Apple Store in Malaysia. The standalone building looks quite huge and it is bigger than most Apple Stores we’ve seen in other regions. The design looks like a Tudung Saji, a cover that’s used to keep flies off your food. These images were obtained from SCM Southern Corridor Malaysia’s YouTube channel which frequently uploads impressive drone footage of property and infrastructure developments in Malaysia.
Apple is keeping its new retail store plans under wraps and we can’t confirm if this is indeed the upcoming store. However, after watching the rest of the video, we think there are other structures at TRX that could be potential buildings for the new Apple Store.
Not too far from the rectangular dome building are two circular structures that are in line with Apple’s obsession with large curved windows. The building on the left seems to be a single-storey structure which can potentially lead to lower floors. Meanwhile, the building on the right is a double-storey structure which could be somewhat similar to the Apple Central World store in Thailand.
If the new retail store opens in TRX later this year, it will make Malaysia the 3rd market in Southeast Asia to get an official Apple Store. Singapore has three Apple Stores located in Orchard Road, Jewel Changi and Marina Bay Sands, while Thailand has two, located at Iconsiam and Central World. The Exchange TRX is currently set to open in Q4 2023 and is positioned as “a lifestyle precinct in the park” with over 400 experience stores spanning four retail levels. Among the major tenant tenants include GSC, Seibu department store and an upscale supermarket by Hong Kong’s Dairy Farm Group.
In Malaysia, the closest thing we have to an actual Apple Store is an Apple Premium Partner Store located at Pavilion KL. While it is managed by Machines, the Premium Partner Store offers personalised advice and assistance, and is staffed with trained Apple-certified advisors.
What do you think of the potential Apple Store design for Malaysia? Let us know in the comments section.
