TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Far Eastern Sogo Chair Sophia Huang (黃晴雯) said Tuesday that the group’s new department store, Garden City, at Taipei Dome is expected to open in the second half of this year, creating a new shopping corridor linking Taipei’s East District and Xinyi shopping district.
Speaking at a shareholders meeting, Huang said Garden City is projected to generate NT$10 billion (US$307 million) in revenue next year and establish “three-way competition” with Sogo’s Zhongxiao and Fuxing department stores, per CNA.
She said the Taipei Dome area offers larger spaces for exhibitions and public events, giving it an advantage in attracting visitors. By contrast, Huang said the Zhongxiao shopping area faces limitations due to its smaller size and available space.
Sporting events and concerts held at Taipei Dome are expected to increase foot traffic to nearby attractions, including Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, benefiting the wider district. Huang said the opening was delayed because of the project’s scale and complexity, noting fire safety and crowd-control measures required closer scrutiny before regulatory approval could be granted.
Huang said Garden City will not be positioned as another traditional Sogo department store, instead becoming a next-generation experiential mall featuring a new mix of brands and products, including international labels aimed at younger shoppers and families.
She said the retail industry’s future lies less in product sales alone and more in encouraging customers to spend longer periods at shopping centers and return more frequently. As a result, malls must place greater emphasis on experiences and interactive offerings, per CNA.
Far Eastern Sogo sales general manager Cindy Wu (吳素吟) said Garden City will serve as a bridge connecting Sogo’s existing customer base with trend-focused brands, sportswear, and entry-level luxury accessories.
Addressing concerns about the impact on existing stores, Huang said the Fuxing store’s focus on high-end luxury consumers means it is unlikely to be significantly affected and could benefit from increased traffic to the district.
She acknowledged that the Zhongxiao store could initially see a 3% to 5% decline in foot traffic and sales. However, Huang said the combination of the Zhongxiao, Fuxing, and Garden City locations would ultimately attract new customers and create complementary benefits across the shopping district.
