Relax - From food to fabric, Johor shoppers are spoilt for choice

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If you like this, also check out A S'porean's guide to shopping in KL

THE variety of shopping malls in Johor caters to all tastes and fancies - whether it is high-end boutiques, fusion food or handicraft outlets, a discerning shopper will always be enticed. Though many of the popular malls are in the state capital, there are formidable malls elsewhere, such as Batu Pahat Mall and Wetex Parade in Muar, which are firm favourites with shoppers.

Of course, a shopping experience need not be confined to malls. Good bargains are available in the many bazaars and night markets throughout the state. The Pasar Lambak in Simpang Renggam, the pottery shops of Air Hitam and Larkin Sentral are top spots for shopping in a non-mall environment.

But for spacious shopping malls, here is Johor Streets' "best of" list:

#1. Aeon Tebrau City

Opened about four years ago, Aeon Tebrau City in Desa Tebrau, Jalan Tebrau, quickly became the most popular mall among city folks. It boasts a Tanjong Golden Village cineplex and 190 retail shops that sell clothes, shoes, books, home appliances and food.

It is the only place in Johor with outlets for Top Shop, Guess and Calvin Klein Jeans. One of the biggest book stores in Johor Baru, Harris, is here and food lovers are spoilt for choice as the mall has many franchise fast-food outlets and restaurants serving Western and Asian cuisine.

As with any Jusco-associated mall, tasty finger food is sold at reduced prices at the supermarket after 10pm daily.

#2. Plaza Angsana

This is a uniquely Johorean shopping mall, which is a hit with city folks and Singaporeans during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Inside its spacious retail space area, shoppers can find a myriad of baju kurung, tudung, baju Melayu, songkok, accessories, and materials used for curtains and home decoration.

There are also shops selling traditional biscuits and kek lapis (traditional layered cake) all year round, while the basement and “compound” are chock-a-block with stalls selling ketupat, kerepek and local delicacies during Ramadan.

Shoppers throng the mall by the hundreds during weekends and public holidays. They love it not only for the locally-made items, but also for the fast food chains, unique boutiques and Uda Ocean departmental store.

#3. City Square

This mall is in downtown Johor Baru and is one of the closest to the Causeway. It was built over the old wet market along Jalan Wong Ah Fook.

It attracts hoards of shoppers, thanks to its strategic location near the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine building and JB Sentral. Opened more than a decade ago, it has 273 retail lots and 37 push-cart operators.

Besides boutiques and a cineplex, the Innercity section sells youth apparel, accessories, gadgets and games, with a handful of sushi and snack shops. There are two well-stocked book shops — Popular and MPH. The Japanese Papa Beard cream puff company and Indonesia’s J Co Donuts have also set up shop here.

#4. Aeon Bukit Indah

The best part of this mall, located on the city’s outskirts, is a food street with wide choice of restaurants serving fast food, fusion, Western and Asian cuisine. Johnny’s Steamboat and Thai and sushi restaurants are located on the upper floors.

As one of the newest shopping malls in Johor Baru, Aeon Bukit Indah emits a brand new aura. There are 188 lots on three floors. The mall, whose anchor tenants are Jusco, Padini and Sen Q, is about 90 per cent occupied.

#5. Danga Street Mall

This mall at Danga Bay, Jalan Skudai, comes alive at night and over weekends — and it is not all about what is indoors. One of the best curry mee in the city is served alfresco at the AK Noodle house, which also serves tasty yong tau fu and soupy noodles. Several shops away is a Thai food restaurant and the Rose Cafe. The latter offers fusion cuisine and has a nightly live band. One the best handicraft shops in Johor Baru is also located here. In addition, there are outlets like Secret Recipe, Marrybrown, Otak Otak JB and other quaint eateries with sidewalk cafe concepts.

#6. Danga City Mall

The mall at Jalan Tun Razak has an IT Valley with dozens of shops selling laptops, computer accessories and broadband facilities. It is fast becoming a one-stop centre for IT gadget lovers, who need to buy new equipment or spruce up what they have. There are also boutiques, hair salons, and specialty shops selling movie posters, toy figurines and rare souvenirs.

The anchor tenant is Metrojaya and the expo section is suitable for large exhibitions. The Keretapi Tanah Melayu train stops by Danga City Mall’s mini-station four times a day to take passengers to and from Singapore.

#7. Plaza Pelangi, Holiday Plaza and Plaza Kotaraya

These are among the older and more established shopping malls in Johor Baru that continue to attract regular customers. Plaza Pelangi boasts the Red Box karaoke joint and Cold Storage supermarket.

Holiday Plaza, which was once known as Malaysia’s longest shopping mall in the 1980s, currently has many hair salons and boutiques of mix-and-match apparel.

Plaza Kotaraya in the downtown area is known for its cakes, kuih and traditional apparel during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. It is one of the few shopping malls in Johor that has its own mosque.

#8. Sutera Mall

This new mall has three retail floors spread over 55,742 square metres (600,000 sq ft). There are about 250 retail outlets offering a diverse range of goods, from apparel, electrical items, home decoration to and health spas.

The anchor tenant is Carrefour, while the adjacent Peking Chinese restaurant is known for providing a luxurious dining experience.