Imago KK Times Square
{{Short description|Shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2023}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox shopping mall
| name = Imago KK Times Square
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo = Imago KK Times Square logo.png
| logo_width =
| image = KotaKinabalu Sabah IMAGO-KK-Times-Square-01.jpg
| image_width =
| caption =
| location = Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 15
| coordinates = {{coord|5|58|14|N|116|3|59|E|type:landmark_region:MY|display=inline,title}}
| address = Imago KK Times Square Phase 2, Off Jalan Coastal, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
| opening_date = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2015|3|28}}
| closing_date =
| developer = Asian Pac Holdings Berhad
| manager = Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd.
| owner = Syarikat Kapasi Sdn. Bhd.
| architect =
| number_of_stores = 300{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=87509|title=Exclusive Imago Mall set to open late 2014|publisher=Daily Express|date=20 December 2013|access-date=19 September 2016}}
| floor_area = 800,000 sq. ft. (74322 sq. m)
| floors = 4
| parking =
| publictransit =
| website = {{URL|imago.my}}
| footnotes =
}}
Imago KK Times Square Shopping Mall ("Imago"; {{zh|c=我格广场|p=wǒgéguǎngchǎng|s=|t=}}) 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. Imago was opened on 28 March 2015.{{Cn|date=July 2024}}
Imago is a super regional mall{{Cite web|date=2015-03-31|title=Shopping Malls and {{as written|i|t's [sic]}} Types (With Statistics)|url=https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/retailing/shopping-malls-and-its-types-with-statistics/48436|access-date=2020-12-25|website=Your Article Library|language=en-US}} 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 floors) and encompasses a tenant composition of around 300 tenants that covers the department store, supermarket, fashion and accessories, along with dining outlets, cafes and bars.{{cite web |title=Lists of Stores in Imago |url=http://sabahbah.com/shopping/imago-kk-times-square/ |access-date=10 November 2017 |website=Imago – The Mall at KK Times Square |publisher=SabahBah}}
History
The mall was first named "KK Times Square Mall". It was then named "Imago" to symbolize the arrival of a lease-only shopping mall that will supposedly have proper trade and a tenant mix. This phase was later dubbed the "Vision" phase, as in 2012 the mall finally underwent full-scale layout planning and tenant planning.{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Imago Shopping Mall |url=https://www.imago.my/about-us/ |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=www.imago.my}}
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 and Parkson becoming part of Imago's tenant.
= Emergence =
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 project that connects Jalan New Link with Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens (to the north-east) and Jalan Coastal (to the south-west). It was intended to further connect the KK Times Square development with the rest of the city.{{Cite news|title=Making KK's new CBD connected, accessible {{!}} Daily Express Newspaper Online|url=http://dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=98266|access-date=2018-12-04}}
Imago was originally slated to open in late 2014, in time for Christmas. The opening was delayed, and it eventually opened on 28 March 2015 by the then Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Raymond Tan Shu Kiah.{{cite web|url=http://sabahbah.com/shopping/imago-kk-times-square/|title=Imago – The Mall at KK Times Square|publisher=sabahbah.com|access-date=19 September 2016}} The launching ceremony was conducted at The Oval (central atrium), ground floor of Imago, and the theme of the event was "Emergence" to symbolize the "final phase of transformation into a fully-developed and completed" shopping mall.
Management
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
Imago is part of the larger Kota Kinabalu Times Square ("KK Times Square") development, comprising the Signature Office, The Loft Residence, and the Imago. The entire development is located in the south-west section of Kota Kinabalu city.
Zones
There are several zones in Imago that are a smaller part of the entire floor.
Pret-a-Gouter is located in the basement floor of Imago, and it is composed of mainly food-related kiosks and outlets.
Welcome Point is located on the ground floor of Imago in front of the Concierge near the South Entrance, which is also the main drop-off point. Traditional cultural performances are conducted every day at regular intervals from noon to 8:00 pm. A common performance that can be seen here is the Magunatip bamboo dance.
Aramaiti is located to the north of the mall on the ground floor 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". It includes restaurants and bars. The area also has a landscaped boulevard with water features.
Heritage Food Street is a food court in Imago and is located on the second floor. It is designed to be a very British colonial-style space. It uses the marble-top tables and stools commonly found in old Chinese cafes in Malaysia.
Events and activities
Imago holds events and activities during the usual Malaysian festive periods such as Chinese New Year, Kaamatan (Harvest Festival), Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Mid-Autumn Festival, Deepavali and Christmas. In Halloween, they have traditionally built haunted houses at the central atrium; shoppers can go into them and find a way to escape.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Joanne|date=2015-10-16|title=Be scared this Halloween at The Infirmary, Imago Mall|url=https://www.sabaheats.com/be-scared-this-halloween-at-the-infirmary-imago-mall/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Sabaheats|language=en-US}}
Awards
Imago has received several awards and won mall-related competitions.
- Sabah Tourism Awards: 2017 Best Shopping Complex.{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Joanne|date=2017-12-04|title=Sabah Tourism Awards 2017 - A Tribute to excellence|url=https://www.sabaheats.com/sabah-tourism-awards-2017-a-tribute-to-excellence/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Sabaheats|language=en-US}}
- Shopping Mall Association of Malaysia (PPKM): Best Experiential Marketing 2017 Category B Gold Award (Christmas 2016 – Once Upon A Dream).{{cn|date=February 2025}}
- Shopping Mall Association of Malaysia: Best Experiential Marketing 2018 Category B Gold Award (Christmas 2017 – The Odyssey).{{cn|date=February 2025}}
- Malaysia Book of Records: Tallest Rotating Christmas Tree (Christmas 2018 – Bedazzled).{{Cite web|url=https://www.malaysiarecords.com.my/record-detail?id=16855|access-date=2020-12-24|website=www.malaysiarecords.com.my|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- Sabah Tourism Awards: 2019 Best Shopping Experience.{{Cite web|last=William|date=2019-12-15|title=SABAH TOURISM AWARDS 2019|url=http://www.borneo360.com/sabah-tourism-awards-2019/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Borneo 360|language=en-AU}}
Charity and sponsorship
= Hope Express =
Imago started a charity initiative on its "Once Upon A Dream" Christmas event in December 2016. The charity campaign Hope Express involved an indoor train ride around the mall on the second floor. The collections were donated in full to the Sabah Cheshire Home charity organisation.{{Cite web|date=2018-09-03|title=RM55,643 raised from Imago 'Hope Express' donated to Sabah Cheshire Home|url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/09/03/rm55643-raised-from-imago-hope-express-donated-to-sabah-cheshire-home/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Borneo Post Online|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-04-01|title=Imago's Hope Express fourth donation since 2016|url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2019/04/01/imagos-hope-express-fourth-donation-since-2016/|access-date=2020-12-24|website=Borneo Post Online|language=en-US}}
= Sponsorship =
Imago also carried out many sponsorship programs with organisations and government agencies. 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; and
- Consulate General of The People's Republic of China (Kota Kinabalu).
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Shopping malls in Malaysia}}
{{Buildings in Kota Kinabalu metropolitan}}
{{Buildings and structures in Sabah}}