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Sogo Hong Kong

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Sogo Hong Kong Company Limited
崇光香港百貨有限公司
Company typePrivately owned company
IndustryDepartment store
Founded1985
FounderIhei Sogo
Headquarters,
Area served
Hong Kong and China
Key people
Shareholders: Joseph Lau, Thomas Lau, Cheng Yu-tung, Henry Cheng
ParentLifestyle International Holdings
WebsiteSogo Hong Kong Company Limited
File:銅鑼灣崇光百貨8樓.png
Sogo Causeway Bay Store 8/F
Sogo in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Interior of Sogo in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Sogo in Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, since 2015

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 (SEHK1212), 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