Pop-up Bazaar draws foodies to Eco Sky

FOR developers, there are many ways to engage the local community that they are in, but what better way than through food?

Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) has turned the 20-unit car park area at its Eco Sky sales gallery located at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur into a food bazaar.

The bazaar is open to the public every Friday to Sunday from 4pm to 10pm. It started operating from Aug 7 and will continue until the end of October.

EcoWorld divisional general manager Evon Yap Yoke Ching says the EcoSky Pop-up Bazaar is one of the company’s initiatives to engage with the local community and to enhance Eco Sky’s branding in the Taman Wahyu neighbourhood, near Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.

The 9.6-acre Eco Sky integrated development which has a gross development value (GDV) of RM1 billion comprises serviced apartments, 140 units of shop offices and a commercial pod as well as a 2.7-acre park.

“Our leasing team had started approaching potential F&B tenants for the shop offices and commercial pod since early this year. However, some business owners are quite sceptical about the viability of doing business here. To prove that Eco Sky is able to attract the crowd, the team came up with this Pop-up Bazaar idea,” Yap tells TheEdgeProperty.com.

At the Pop-up Bazaar, the F&B operators get to test the market with their products. The bazaar also allows EcoWorld to engage with the walk-in public to help them understand the concept of Eco Sky.

The food bazaar has attracted 10 F&B operators and one Asian snack retailer to start their businesses in the temporary container-shops provided by EcoWorld.

Some of the business operators are restaurateurs while others are start-ups that are looking for opportunities to build their business.

As at Aug 20, the Pop-up Bazaar has already attracted about 2,000 people. Some of them are locals staying nearby, while others are from different parts of the Klang Valley.

Among the vendors

One of the vendors is The Balls Asia. Its founder Tang Ching Huei began operating her Taroyaki and Ramen business at night markets and various bazaars since last August. She set up the business after getting bored with the corporate world.

“This is a good platform for us to know more about customer preferences, which will help us to improve the taste of our food. From the good response we have gotten from the customers here, I think The Balls Asia can move on to set up its own shop next,” says Tang

With this Pop-up Bazaar, The Balls Asia has gained popularity and Tang is currently in talks with EcoWorld’s leasing team to set up the first physical shop at Eco Sky.

Another F&B operator, Alvin Goh Sun Lin, the owner of Rakusa — who had just opened its first shop in Setapak on Aug 13, says he has gained confidence about his career path and is looking for opportunities to expand the brand.

“In the beginning, I gave myself three to four weeks to test the market through the Pop-up Bazaar. Surprisingly, there was a huge crowd at my stall in the second week and now on average I’m selling 500 bowls of laksa per night,” says the founder, who was a seafood products wholesaler.

Besides new start-ups, there are also existing business owners at the bazaar who are looking for investment partners or franchise opportunities.

Makan Culture, which is owned by veteran restaurateur, Sakura Kristal, is looking for opportunities to franchise the business.

“We are here to try out our fish menu and are looking for investors who are interested to become Makan Culture franchisees,” says Adeline Lee, the founder of Makan Culture, which specialises in assorted fish dishes.

Good platform

Another participant who attracted a big crowd is Papamilk, which has a business in Setapak and is popular for its papaya milk drink.

Founder Keith Chee says the bazaar is a good platform for food operators to know more about their customers and to test the market before expanding their footprint.

“For instance, most of the customers in this neighbourhood (Taman Wahyu) are families who are health conscious. They are looking for less sugar or healthier beverage choices like soya milk. Knowing what they like could help me adjust my menu to cater to their needs,” he says.

Papamilk has also gathered investors’ attention. Chee says there are two to three customers interested in collaborations to set up a physical shop in Eco Sky.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Sept 23, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.