Popular Bookstore in Komtar closing for good

The Popular Bookstore outlet in Komtar will open until its last day on Nov 28 before closing permanently.

THE Popular Bookstore in Komtar, Penang, will pull down its shutters on Nov 29 after operating for 30 years.

The bookstore, which first opened in 1991 on the second floor of Komtar near the complex’s entrance in Lebuh Tek Soon, is Popular Malaysia’s first outlet outside Kuala Lumpur.

The outlet will open until its last day on Nov 28.

Popular Book Sdn Bhd area manager Teh Ai Ling confirmed the bookstore’s closure and said a clearance sale would be organised from Nov 12 onwards.

As for the remaining staff members at the outlet, it is understood that some of them would be transferred to other outlets.

It is believed that the outlet has been struggling to stay afloat due to the pandemic which saw a drop in customers.

In 2004, the Popular Bookstore outlet in Komtar moved out after more than 13 years but returned to occupy its previous premises at the mall in 2010.

It was reported that at least RM4mil was set aside to renovate the premises to modernise it with designs incorporating heritage elements of Penang.

There are now six Popular bookstores in Penang including the one in Komtar.