This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 17, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: Bina Darulaman Bhd (BDB) has signed up nine retailers to be tenants at its Axis Neighbourhood Retail Centre within the upcoming Axis Commercial Hub development located in Bandar Darulaman, Jitra, Kedah.

The Axis Commercial Hub will commence construction this month and is targeted for completion by the end of 2019.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, BDB said its wholly-owned subsidiary BDB Land Sdn Bhd had inked a memorandum of understanding with CBD Retail Sdn Bhd, CBR Coffee, Bayu Delight Food & Beverage, Pasar Mini Rajas, Mega Z Resources, Tadika Khalifah Unggul Cemerlang, Nida Atfal Sdn Bhd, Big Galleys Cafe Enterprise, and WB Health & Beauty Sdn Bhd.

They are operators or proprietors of business brands Petron petrol station, Coffee Books & Rain Café, Kopi & Roti, Wash Studio Laundry, Raja’s Grocery, The Little Caliphs, Genius Aulad, Big Galley’s Café and WellBeing Pharmacy respectively.

BDB said a lease agreement had also been signed with EM Opulence Sdn Bhd for the operation of the petrol station at the hub, which is targeted to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2019 (4Q19).

The businesses at the shoplots are targeted to be opened to public as early as 1Q20.

“In the months of its development, the number of retailers has expanded to 25 comprising a mix of lifestyle, food and beverage (F&B), and education outlets,” said BDB.

The Axis Neighbourhood Retail Centre is touted to be Kedah’s first education-centric development, which offers 41,000 sq ft of rentable space. Consisting of 15 units of two-storey shoplot, the education centre set up within the hub will provide early learning and specialised education facilities aimed at the young and growing population around Jitra and Alor Setar.

The centre will be built at a cost of nearly RM5 million and also aims to be a food destination featuring Kedah’s household F&B providers, alongside essential neighbourhood retail services such as laundry, pharmacy and medical clinic.

“The Axis Commercial Hub will provide the Kedah market with a niché F&B and education hub that will enhance the living experience in our developments,” BDB chairman Datuk Paduka Rasli Basir said.

“We want the hub to be synonymous with good food and a retail mix that will be ideal for community engagement amid an exciting ambience. Through the Axis Commercial Hub, we also want to continue to encourage Kedah-based businesses and household brands to participate in the developmental progress of the state,” he added.

“Our partners also recognise the growth potential of the Northern Corridor and are aiming to breathe a vibrancy into the marketplace.”