Sogo Hong Kong
File:Sogo HK logo.jpg | |
Company type | Privately owned company |
---|---|
Industry | Department store |
Founded | 1985 |
Founder | Ihei Sogo |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Hong Kong and China |
Key people | Shareholders: Joseph Lau, Thomas Lau, Cheng Yu-tung, Henry Cheng |
Parent | Lifestyle International Holdings |
Website | Sogo Hong Kong Company Limited |
Sogo Hong Kong (Chinese: 香港崇光百貨) is one of the largest Japanese-style department stores in Hong Kong. It originally belonged to Japan's Sogo, but is now owned by Lifestyle International Holdings (SEHK: 1212), a company held by Hong Kong billionaire brothers Joseph Lau and Thomas Lau. It owns stores in Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong and Jiuguang Department Store in Shanghai.[1][2]
History
Sogo Hong Kong, parented by Japan's Sogo, commenced its operations in 1985 in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on a site at 555 Hennessy Road. It has been one of the important landmarks in Causeway Bay since then. In 1993, it underwent major renovation to become "Jumbo SOGO", expanding its area from 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) to 400,000 square feet (37,000 m2).[3]
In 2000, Japan's Sogo declared bankruptcy under a US$17 billion debt.[4] Lifestyle International Holdings, owned by brothers Joseph and Thomas Lau, and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, owned by Cheng Yu-tung, acquired Sogo Hong Kong.[5]
In 2005, Sogo Hong Kong opened a second store in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.[6] It was located underground, below Salisbury Road. The location was formerly the site of The Palace Mall,[7] from 1997 to 2001, and of Teddy Bear Kingdom (Amazon), from 2002 to 2005.[8] Sogo ceased operations at this location in 2014[9] and opened a replacement store in the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers directly across Salisbury Road in 2015.
A third store was planned in Nina Tower, Tsuen Wan, but this was scrapped in 2006 after failing to agree to lease terms with Chinachem Group, Nina Tower's owner.[10]
References
- ^ Sogo Hong Kong Company Limited
- ^ Lifestyle International Holdings Ltd.
- ^ About Sogo
- ^ Bankrupt Sogo
- ^ Lifestyle share placement raises $1.26b
- ^ Lifestyle International Opens SOGO TST
- ^ FY2005 Interim Results Announcement
- ^ Building Technology: Thematic Study. Building Selected: SOGO Department Store Tsim Sha Tsui, Cheung Hang Chi Theodoric, The University of Hong Kong
- ^ Jones Lang LaSalle: "Hong Kong: Retail". Accessed 2013-10-09
- ^ Lifestyle ditches Tsuen Wan Sogo plan after lease row