Offering everything from fashion, food and entertainment to artisan brands, Sunway Velocity Mall lives up to its aim of elevating your lifestyle, writes Ewe Paik Leong
THE minute I step off the escalator on the lower ground floor of Sunway Velocity Mall, I am greeted by Aeon MaxValu Prime.
But what surprises me at this supermarket is its salad bar, Earth Salad, which offers pre-packed cold and hot salads and sandwiches. You can also create your own salad. Just mix and match and have them weighed at the counter.
Strolling along the outside walkway, I realise that the floor layout is roughly triangular and food and snack outlets dominate this level.
As I pass Hong Kong Sheng Kee Dessert, a guy hands me a leaflet. I glance at it and an item catches my eye. Gold-dusted chicken cutlet noodle? Wow, I must return to eat gold!
Empire Sushi and Go Noodle House are doing brisk trade, which prompts me to look at the former’s sushi in glass cases. Each is priced at only RM1.10!
The ground floor is devoted to men’s and women’s fashion with prices ranging from mid to upper mid.
Exciting newcomers such as SPAO and MIXXO, both from Korea, are giving established brands a run for their money. Meanwhile, Burton Menswear London will turn men into archetypical British gentlemen.
M&S Food also excites. Adjoining Marks & Spencer Fashion, it sells UK-imported snacks, biscuits, tea and coffee, all at nose-bleeding prices. Besides the Main Atrium in the centre of the floor space, there is also the Vanity Atrium.
Lots of things are happening at both spots and the music is so loud I can almost feel my stomach move!
On the first floor, which is dominated by stores retailing clothes, shoes and leather goods, I step out to the Boulevard, which is lined with smart restaurants and cafes. However, I’m jolted by Restoran Tar Cheong. Furnished with red plastic chairs, it looks like a neighbourhood coffee shop. Ah, well, prices will be comparatively cheaper here.
At Regiustea, I try cheese tea, which is topped with cheese. Wow! The cheese tastes like something out of an aerosol can and does not go well with the jasmine tea.
I proceed to the second floor where the tenants are balanced between fashionwear and restaurants. My Liberica Coffee’s banner offering non-alcoholic stout coffee is an attention-grabber. Alas, stout lovers can now drink and drive!
This level is also home to a smattering of beauty salons and home furnishings stores.
By now, my feet are beginning to tire; this mall is huge and has very few benches for shoppers to sit on and rest their tired feet.
Also be warned — it’s difficult to get a line for your handphone in certain areas so you’ve to wander around for better reception.
On the third level is anchor tenant Parkson which also operates Makan Makan, a food court. A fairly impressive collection of IT-and-digital products stores and F&B outlets are also housed on this level.
There’s a motley mix of Hongkie, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese and local fare. Among the outlets are Suki-ya, J&G Fried Chicken, Hong Kong Jeuk Sing Cafe, Seaweed Club (popiah) and Loong Kee (BBQ meat and floss).
Then there’s action at Like Ice Asia, which is crowded with children. Located in front of Sushi Zanmai, this ice skating rink does not melt, is not cold and is made from specially-formulated plastic. You can book it for a birthday party or an ice hockey match.
The fourth level is home to Food Street, and offerings range from the ordinary (cendul, pan mee, porridge, pizza, dim sum and pasta) to the more exciting (for example, season-themed dishes from Aragon Yokocho).
For entertainment, there are TGV Cinema and Palo, a video games centre. Finally, the fifth floor, designated as Commune, is filled with stalls selling artisan brands.
Sunway Velocity Mall has been tagged as “the destination to elevate your lifestyle” in its rather simplistic website. It does live up to its claim.