Sunshine Farlim
Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall is a new two-storey shopping mall in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, also known as Farlim. It was opened at 4.18 pm on 10 January 2009 (a time regarded as auspicious), and replaces Sunshine Farlim Hypermarket, which opened just a stone's throw away on 11 November 1999. With the opening of Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall, Sunshine Farlim Hypermarket ceased operations. Sunshine maintains its position as the biggest retail operator in Ayer Itam.
The new shopping mall occupies two floors, and has a total floor area of 371,600 sq ft / 19,675 sq meters. The ground floor is a department store selling clothes and fashion accessories. The first floor houses a supermarket. It is accessed by a set of travelators. In addition to the Sunshine Department Store and Supermarket, the shopping mall also includes other tenants including Bread R Us, Adventist Bakery, Samsung, Artist Gallery, to name a few.
The old Sunshine Farlim Hypermarket premises will be turned into a wholesale centre for fresh produce as well as a factory outlet for garments. When the economy improves, a new multipurpose complex that includes a 4-storey mall and 30-storey hotel or service apartment. When that is completed, the present Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall will then be turned into a library or community hall. It stands on land owned by MPPP, the Penang Island Municipal Council.
I paid a visit to the new Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall and from my observation, I would say that it is positioned to cater to the lower-middle income bracket. The company certainly cut cost as seen in the cement flooring on all except the garment department. Also, most of the patrons have to park their cars at the unpaved ground a good distance away from the main building. The shopping mall itself is poorly lit if compared with Sunshine Square, not to mention Tesco or Jusco.
Perhaps Sunshine Farlim thinks that this poor-man's-look will give an impression that its merchandise is cheap. Yes, some of the offer items are - packs of apples and pears went for just RM1.00. But such a strategy does not work on me. I will still read price tags carefully, and I will not be deceived that this shoddy appearance equals cheap price tags. And, put off by the cement flooring, my wife and I decided that our first visit to Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall will be our last. Not that I will boycott Sunshine - we have no problem shopping in Sunshine Square, which is more comfortable. Incidentally, the Sunshine supermarkets at Lip Sin and Jelutong also have cement flooring - is it to give an impression that the community in Farlim, Lip Sin and Jelutong are poor people who don't deserve better floors to walk on? I do not know and do not care to find out.
Getting to Sunshine Farlim
Sunshine Farlim is located along Jalan Thean Teik, a short distance from Sunshine Farlim Shopping Mall. Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 202 and 203 pass along the main road in front of it.
Nearby Sights
Sheikh Omar Basheer Mausoleum
Kek Lok Si Temple
Nearby Shopping
Econsave
Bandar Baru Supermarket
Visiting Penang
If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!
|
Sunshine Farlim (11 January 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Sunshine Farlim Location Map
Sunshine Farlim (11 January 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
|
