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MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 2001. VOL. 8 ISSUE 10
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Still
Alive and Breathing: Rediscovering attractions
and bargains at Taiwan's one and only fashion outlet mall |
By Douglas Habecker
Like most cities around the world, Taichung is full of pleasant
secrets--perhaps a wonderful restaurant or quaint little shop--waiting
to be discovered on some back alley. However, it is also home to
at least one very large hidden gem that has remained invisible to
many residents and visitors, despite the fact that it is literally
a stone's throw from the city's main commercial district.
When it opened to the public a few years ago, La Cite was heralded
as the island's first fashion outlet shopping center. Inspired by
the same concept that drives enormously-popular outlet malls in
North America, it was special by virtue of the fact that its shops
offered a variety of name-brand clothing and fashion accessories
for bargain prices. This was possible because most of the for-sale
items were from last year's lines and stocks--still perfectly new
and appealing but a season or two out of production.
Among the 50 to 60 establishments located on a ground and basement
level were also a number of restaurants, cafes and teahouses, plus
an attached but separately-run Alexander Health Club and a large
basement parking lot. All this was packaged in a beautiful European-style
setting, complete with cobblestone-type pavements, classical architecture,
fountains and other decorative touches.
Despite a good start and enthusiastic shopper response early on,
La Cite and its businesses have struggled over the past year or
two, largely because of one significant factor---location. Simply
put, its placement is amazingly convenient and ideal, provided shoppers
know it's there. Situated on Szechuan Road, its entrance is about
100 meters from the busy intersection Taichung Kang and Hankou/Tunghsing
roads, but completely concealed from there by other buildings.
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with the recent closure or departure of some stores, La Cite
today remains an excellent destination for bargain-hunting shoppers,
not to mention those wanting to stroll down a beautiful European
street, complete with outdoor cafes, quaint tea houses, park
benches and fountains. Although the basement area was closed
in late August (with the exception of the health club, which
has a separate entrance), dozens of establishments continue
in business on the ground level, making this well worth at least
a morning or afternoon visit. For convenience, many stores have
their mall numbers on their signs; such cases have been noted
below. |
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As floor
plan maps around the mall indicate (see below),
La Cite is divided into five sections--"A" through
"E". Coming onto Szechuan Road from Hankou Road, one
cannot miss the large entrance, a modern, square arch that looks
like it was inspired by La Defence in Paris. A few meters on
is the Le Cafe sidewalk cafe, where one can relax under
the sun (or stars) over a cappuccino. |
The mall's "C" section stretches along the right side
of the sidewalk, starting with Liyaku, selling hip, imported
Japanese clothing and accessories, targeted at women between the
ages of 18 and 28. Greenleaf Fashion Center (C07), next door,
caters to a slightly-older class of female customers, with a variety
of classy styles made locally from imported European materials.
The well-known local fashion line Shiatzy Chen Taipei--designed
by Wang Chen Tsai-hsia--is next on the block with an upscale boutique
(C06) selling dresses, skirts, blazers, shoes, handbags, ties and
belts for women and men. True to the outlet mall ideal, the Benneton
store (C04) starts its items at a 50 to 60 percent discount from
regular prices in October and November and continues reducing prices
from there.
"C" section continues with Timmy Wear (C03), owned
by Hong Kong native Timmy Tang, and selling a wide variety of big-name
European, mostly-female fashions--Versace, Iceberg, Biblos, Fendi,
L'Altramoda--from last year's clothing lines for 50 to 80 percent
discounts. The Tzu Ni Brand Names store (C02) next door specializes
in two European female fashion brands--McDavid from Germany and
Elegance from France--and also offers various discounts.
At the back corner, the smaller "B" section begins with
the OPEC European Fashions Store (B09), selling mostly German
and Italian men's and women's brands like Olsen Collection, Miss
College, Fink, and Missoni Sport. Those looking for Hello Kitty
footwear for kids and teens, not to mention some items from Roberta
di Camerino, should go next door to the Graceful shoe shop
(B05). Also selling shoes is George Shoes (B06) next door,
with high-quality, reasonably-priced local and European-made leather
shoes for men and women.
Head around the corner and "B" section continues with
the impossible-to-miss Coca-Cola store, selling all manner
of Coke paraphernalia as well as a decent selection of other clothing.
At the very end is Holiday Teashop, a relaxing place selling
coffees, teas, flower teas, dumplings, noodles and mostly-Chinese
lunch and dinner specials for reasonable prices.
The "D" section begins just inside the main entrance
on the left side, opposite the "C" section. The first
store is Arthur, which sells men's and women's clothing and
accesories from a wide variety of popular European names, including
Moschino, Boss, Fendi, Custo Barcelona, and Lanvin. Head to the
left, around the corner, and you'll come to The Tie Store
(D03), a great place--as the name indicates--to buy a wide variety
of high-end ties from Kenzo, Moschino, Burberry's and other brands.
Next is a store (D04) selling fashionable younger women's clothing
from well-known local brands Bigi and T-Parts.
Further down "D" block, near Szuchuan Road, is a store
(D09) selling Makoto Muramatsu Collection-brand clothing
and other items, including those popular "lucky" Japanese
cat statues. The same store continues around the corner and fronts
the road. Next door is the Angel's Touch store (D10), selling
various beauty-care products.
"A" block is the largest section in La Cite and sits
next to "D" section along Szuchuan Road. On the corner
is a sizable store selling upscale women's clothing from the local
Diana fashion label. Next is a swanky upscale boutique (A02) selling
women's fashions by Envi Creative Italy. Continuing along
roadside stores, you next come to a very pleasant little spa and
beauty products store, The Natural Shop (A03), which resembles
a rustic European shop or cafe, selling a variety of items from
Natural Products U.K., such as flower teas from the Continent, soap,
shampoo and other beauty/spa products. The upstairs floors contain
the spa facilities. Equally-nice is the Pure Plant Palace Day
Spa just next door, selling a wide range of Clayo health, beauty
and spa products from the US. The three floors above contain Touch
America spa system facilities.
La Cite Floor Plan Map:
Click
for a larger version
CONTINUED...
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