Taubman Asia and Melco Crown entertainment have revealed details of the new shopping centre planned to open in Studio City, Macau in the third quarter of this year.
Taubman Asia will tenant and manage the 70-store single story shopping complex on Melco’s behalf. While the two companies won’t reveal what percentage of the 300,000 sqft retail space has been leased so far, a Taubman Asia spokesperson told INside Retail Asia leasing was “progressing well”.
The two companies plan a “unique, entertainment-centered shopping experience” at the new Studio City, which has a distinct Gotham architectural look, a Batman experiential ride attraction and Hollywood movie themes throughout.
The Boulevard at Studio City, as the retail component will be called, is described as an ‘immersive’ retail entertainment environment.
“It will bring the world’s best shopping to life in Macau by transporting guests to high-energy street-scapes, entertaining them at every turn with featured streets and squares inspired by iconic shopping and entertainment locations, including New York’s Times Square and Hollywood’s Beverly Hills,” the two companies said in a media statement Thursday.
“Taubman Asia is in the business of creating world-class experiences for our customers,” said René Tremblay, president of Taubman Asia.
“Along with Melco Crown Entertainment, we are developing a one-of-a-kind retail entertainment experience that will cater to the discerning tastes of Greater China’s consumers.”
Robert S Taubman, chairman, president and CEO of US-based Taubman Centers said The Boulevard is poised to be “one of the most exciting shopping destinations in Macau”.
“We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Melco Crown Entertainment.”
Taubman Asia is providing merchandising, marketing and management services for its retail project.
A spokesman told Inside Retail Asia the company wants to create a unique retail offer at the resort, not replicate existing retail offers in the territory.
“We are targeting fashion forward brands which are more progressive, more edgy, contemporary.” Tenants will be encouraged to offer ranges or lines exclusive to the Studio City stores to make them a destination for locals as well as visitors.
A foodcourt area will be focused on casual dining style. “Food will be a major drawcard,” the spokesperson said.
Lawrence Ho, co-chairman and CEO of Melco Crown Entertainment said Studio City is an entertainment-inspired leisure destination that will fulfil Melco Crown Entertainment’s aims to be a strategic catalyst in furthering Macau’s economic diversification from a pure gambling destination.
“With the combination of Melco Crown Entertainment’s expertise in developing world-class integrated entertainment resorts and Taubman Asia’s deep experience in the global retail industry, I am confident that The Boulevard at Studio City will deliver an exciting and dynamic shopping environment that will delight customers and bring a further, new and unique non-gaming attraction to Macau.”
Studio City’s distinctive art-deco facade includes a “Golden Eye” gondola ride which straddles the resort’s two-tower hotel at a height of some 130 metres.
Its entertainment offer will include the “Studio City Event Center”, a 5000-seat multi-purpose entertainment center designed to host live concerts, theatrical and sporting events. The entertainment experiences also include a magic theatre “The House of Magic” and a Warner Bros. Batman-themed motion ride “Batman Dark Flight”, a 36,000 sqft family entertainment center “Warner Bros. Fun Zone” for kids filled with Warner Bros.’ and DC Comics’ franchise characters and play-rides, together with “Pacha Macau” which will bring Ibiza-style nightlife to Macau.
