Cambodians have been flocking to the country’s first huge Japanese shopping mall in Phnom Penh even before it was completed or officially opened.
Aeon Mall, which is being built by Japanese shopping mall operator Aeon, has been attracting around 50,000 Cambodians every day since its partial opening on June 20.
Sos Phoebe, 23, a worker in the clothing section of the shopping mall, said he was happy to see so many people walking through the store every day.
Shopper Men Boparat, 45, said he was impressed by the decoration and design of the four-story shopping mall, which has a floor area of about 100,000 square meters.
Long Molina, 48, has visited the mall twice with her 10 children, nephews and nieces, and said the prices at Aeon Mall are not that different from those at local malls, where shoppers often haggle. He said there was no need and this was common practice. At most retail stores in Cambodia.
Molina said she spent several hours walking around, shopping and eating at the huge food court on the day she visited.
Built at a cost of $200 million, Aeon Mall features a skating rink, Cambodia’s largest cinema complex, and the largest food court with 1,200 seats.
The mall, which broke ground in December 2012, will be officially inaugurated on Monday in the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.