Not just Taipei and Taichung anymore – Tsutaya Books makes its way to southern Taiwan

Text by MOOK Scenic Spots’ Kumiko / Compiled and Reported

Some might assume that Tsutaya Books' southern move would be in the ancient city of Tainan, but actually, the first Tsutaya Books in southern Taiwan is located at Kaohsiung’s Dairei Department Store. It is said to have a large space of around 400 ping (approximately 1,322 square meters), making it an absolute major talking point across all department stores in Kaohsiung.

Meanwhile, competition among Kaohsiung’s department stores is also intense. This includes Hanshin Department Store’s main branch, which combines with Hanshin Hotel and 15 international luxury brands that arrived in 2019; Hanshin Dome’s food-focused strategy that successfully attracts visitors; Kaohsiung’s E-Da World integrating an outlet mall with leisure and entertainment facilities; Dream Mall as a trendy multi-purpose shopping center; and SOGO Department Store in the Sanduo Shopping District — all contributing to an increasingly fierce retail battle in greater Kaohsiung.

Dairei Department Store has been in operation since 1984 and is managed by the well-known Kaohsiung-based Daitung Group. It was once partnered with Japan’s Isetan Department Store, hence it was called Dairei Isetan. After ending the partnership with Isetan in 2008, it was renamed Dairei Boutique. However, many luxury brands later moved to Hanshin Department Store’s main branch, and Dairei Department Store began undergoing new changes in brand lineup and floor arrangement. For example, in November 2018, a 1,000-ping EATALEE supermarket opened on the B1 level of Dairei Department Store’s main building and Dairei Boutique, generating significant buzz.