OWNERS of shops at the demolished Ampang Park may now be operating at new locations in the Klang Valley, but they share the same fond memories of the decades spent at the once iconic mall.

Ampang Park was torn down early this year to make way for the mass rapid transit project. The shopping centre had operated for 44 years along the busy Jalan Ampang-Jalan Tun Razak intersection.

After appeals to save the mall proved unsuccessful, most retailers were forced to look for new lots. Some have yet to secure new locations a year on.

Azlina Ahmad, who moved to a shop in Shah Alam, said business has largely remained the same, but she misses the atmosphere at Ampang Park.

“At Ampang Park, even during quiet periods, there was purchasing power. In Shah Alam, there are many attractions at the malls, so people don’t really come to make purchases,” said the 47-year-old owner of Rumah Kebaya, which sells traditional Malay clothes.

She said she has lost many loyal customers, having operated at Ampang Park for more than a decade.

Khairie Yahya, who ran a kitchen cabinet business at the mall for close to 20 years, said business at Keramat Mall is not half as good.

“After Ampang Park shut down, my new life began at Keramat Mall. It is a big difference compared with doing business at a complex like Ampang Park, which was well-known.

“Even though the rent was higher, there was business. Compared with Keramat Mall, it’s more challenging here, and we have to diversify our products and be more creative to get customers,” the owner of Waizuri Home Decor told The Malaysian Insight.

He said some retailers are unable to restart or sustain their businesses after the shutdown of Ampang Park due to the high rent at most Kuala Lumpur shopping centres.

“Rent is very high. Some retailers I know are closing down their businesses next year.”

Intan Abdul, who ran a successful Muslim clothing shop at Ampang Park, said she moved her business online after finding it difficult to find a location in Kuala Lumpur that fits her budget.

“After Ampang Park was shut, I stopped doing business.

“Now, I focus on running a small online business. The economy is weak, purchasing power is low. It’s not like before.” – December 30, 2018.