BBCC puts its best front forward

Azril (left) and Sri Ram standing in front of the revamped frontage along Jalan Hang Tuah, which serves as an inviting entrance to BBCC.

BUKIT Bintang City Centre (BBCC) has unveiled a vibrant update to its front-facing area.

Located just steps away from Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport BBCC, the space previously occupied by the BBCC sales gallery has been converted into Tuah 1895 – a dynamic food and lifestyle community hub featuring a variety of dining outlets and a boutique fitness studio.

Situated at the intersection of Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Pudu, the iconic arched gate, preserved from the former Pudu prison site, is now home to a spacious, lively cafe by popular bakery Chef Kecik.

With a net lettable area of around 45,000 sq ft, the lifestyle destination spans two levels, including a mezzanine floor, a revamped fountain plaza, a new drop-off point and a basement carpark.

These additions to the integrated development were developed to enhance the frontage’s prime location and excellent visibility.

“After opening BBCC, we realised that the area along Jalan Hang Tuah actually offers a fantastic frontage,” BBCC Development Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Sri Ram Sivasambu, tells StarBiz 7. “Because we didn’t have an inviting entrance to the development, we decided to create one.”

He adds that by transforming the space encompassing the fountain plaza, heritage arched gate and the former sales gallery, visitors now have a seamless connection with LaLaport mall as well as the development’s other offerings.

“We’ve redone the landscape and linked the former sales gallery building to the mall via a bridge, giving greater accessibility from the drop-off point,” says BBCC Development chief operating officer Azril Rashid.

“All these upgrades around the facade were very important because it serves as the face of the development.”

BBCC is a joint venture between UDA Holdings Bhd, Eco World Development Group Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund.

The 19.4-acre mixed-use development brings together commercial outlets, residences and a three-rail linked transit hub, right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

One-stop destination

Housed within Tuah 1895, the selection of food and beverages options on offer boasts an eclectic range of local and Asian cuisine, including renowned restaurants like Ministry of Crab from Sri Lanka and As I Am by Chef Ton from Thailand – both led by culinary stars featured in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Other standout options include Ting Shan, Pak Tok, Hock Kee Kopitiam as well as Crafty’s Bar and Lounge.

Completing the diverse lineup is is MORPH by Kamileon Fitness, a unique gym centre offering Pilates and Hyrox workouts.

Sri Ram shares that a great deal of thought went into the selection of tenants for the lifestyle hub.

“It was quite an interesting process because it’s much different from leasing out a mall where you’ve got up to 300,000 sq ft of space,” he says.

“With Tuah 1895, we had only 45,000 sq ft, so we had to curate it very well to ensure we got the right mix.”

In addition to Tuah 1895, next month will see the opening of The Labs, a revamp of BBCC’s entertainment hub. Taking centre stage at the 250,000 sq ft destination will be Immersify KL, a new digital art museum that showcases immersive virtual media experiences.

According to Azril, the interactive gallery will highlight local elements, allowing visitors to discover the marvels of Malaysian jungle and marine life.

“We want it to be a place for the whole family,” he says.

“We feel that it’s going to first appeal to many locals and once word gets out, we hope to see it become an attraction for tourists.”

Inspired by entertainment concepts from Korea and Japan, Immersify KL will exist alongside attractions like Zepp KL, a performance venue, and the GSC cineplex. Sri Ram states that the goal is to draw a broader audience with its varied slate of offerings.

“Today, an important element within developments is creating commercial spaces that also serve as community hubs,” he says.

Building momentum

LaLaport mall’s occupancy rate currently stands at around 78%, Sri Ram says.

“We are about to complete our first three-year cycle, and tenants are reaching the end of their contract,” he explains.

“However, new tenants are coming in, so we see occupancy picking up to about 85%, probably by the end of this year.”

Footfall has steadily increased from a million to three million visitors a month since the mall started operations.

With the launch of Tuah 1895 and The Labs, the company aims to further draw visitors to the overall development.

“The idea is for it to be a family destination, where you can come at 10am on a Sunday and only leave at 6pm because there are cafes, cinemas, an immersive museum, and much more to experience,” the CEO adds.

Amid BBCC’s ongoing development, the interests of the surrounding community remain a key priority.

Sri Ram is quick to note that no residents or businesses were displaced during the site’s regeneration, and that the development has in fact resulted in more jobs for the local community.

“In the vicinity you have rows of old pre-war shoplots, small cafes and bars around us, which I think complements us and vice versa,” he says.

“Moving forward, the draw of this place will be that you have these new, exciting, modern offerings, while also experiencing the charm of old KL, all within the same central city area.”