Beachfront mall opens in Batu Ferringhi

There are about 40 units at the Ferringhi Walk where traders sell garments, souvenir items and refreshments, among other items.

FOR more than 30 years, Lim Soon Meng, 68, has been a night market operator, trading his souvenir items by the roadside along the tourist belt in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.

His daughter Lim Siang Siang, 41, a former journalist, said her father used to feel bad that he could not own a proper shop along the belt.

“He has never shown his disappointment although we, the children, knew that deep down he wanted to own a shop to sell his souvenirs.

“Finally, after all these years, he has now moved into his own shop about a week ago at this newly opened Ferringhi Walk,” said Siang Siang, who has been helping her father with his business for the past 12 years after she left her job.

Siang Siang said the spot where her father used to trade at night used to be in front of the three-storey Ferringhi Walk which was officially opened by Penang infrastructure and transport committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari recently.

She said the Ferringhi Walk is probably the first of its kind in Batu Ferringhi, a new concept of a lifestyle beachfront mall.

She also hoped that the mall, established to support local traders, would be a new start for traders who had been badly affected during the movement control order.

“Now that things are more or less back to normal, we look forward to good business here and for the crowd to visit this place,” she said.

Developed by Redvest Property Sdn Bhd, the beachfront mall has 40 retail units featuring traders selling mainly souvenir items on the upper floor while beverage and food operators are on the lower floor.

Redvest Property’s general manager Rocky Cheang said Ferringhi Walk will provide a unique and memorable shopping experience for locals and tourists alike.

“Redvest is proud to have achieved its vision of having a lifestyle beachfront mall and we are confident that Ferringhi Walk will meet the expectations of tourists,” he said.

Zairil, who is Tanjung Bungah assemblyman, said Ferringhi Walk marks a significant milestone for the tourism industry in Penang, especially for Batu Ferringhi, which is one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

“As we all know, Covid-19 took its toll on the tourism industry and Batu Ferringhi was not spared.

“The livelihood of about 80% of tourism players, including hotels, night market operators, tourism destinations, taxi drivers, and others, were significantly affected.

“As the saying goes, there is light at the end of the tunnel and with the opening of Ferringhi Walk, I strongly believe that we are one step closer to reviving the tourism industry in this beautiful town,” he said.

Zairil noted that being the first beachfront lifestyle mall in Batu Ferringhi, it houses individual entrepreneurs trying to rebuild their tourism business.

British tourists Zelda Smith, 30, and her friend Samantha Jackson, 32, said they were impressed with the idea of having the traders under one roof.

“It makes it easier for tourists like us to visit this mall and get everything that we need here, especially the souvenir items. The layout is good and if we are tired, we can also get some refreshments and bites here instead of going all over to find for a place to eat,” said Smith.

After the ribbon-cutting and lion dance performance, Zairil, Cheang and several other Redvest Property management staff members visited the traders at their units.