Robinsons may quit one Kuala Lumpur site

Singaporean department-store chain Robinsons may close one of its locations in Kuala Lumpur before its lease expires due to lackluster performance.

The store launched a four-story 20,000sqft space in The Shoppes in Four Seasons Place less than two years ago, which has failed to live up to the firm’s expectations in terms of footfall. Its other outlet in the city has been operating since 2007.

Robinsons has reportedly approached other department store operators in the territory to take over the space, including Parkson – which vacated its longstanding space in the neighboring Suria KLCC mall just last year.

According to a report in The Edge, discussions between tenant and landlord are ongoing to determine the firm’s exact date of departure, which is likely to be in the third quarter this year. Robinson’s has filed widening financial losses in recent years.