A few years ago, old and new patrons of the iconic A&W outlet in Petaling Jaya were devastated to hear it would soon be closing down. However, it has been several years since then and the much treasured place is, surprisingly, still standing.
Well, about five years after the unfulfilled announcement, A&W Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s CEO George Ang has finally set the record straight. He recently took the opportunity at A&W’s 60th birthday bash to clarify what had happened to the plans and why there has been no news since.
Previously, CEO George Ang stated that the outlet in PJ would be closing down for other development projects. However, said plans had been halted by when the ownership of the land changed hands from KUB Malaysia Bhd to Kasmuncak Holdings in 2018.
Kasmuncak Holdings later gave the same reason for deciding to close down the outlet, citing plans for another development project for the land. Yet by the end of 2020, the outlet was still operating, to people’s tentative disbelief. This, of course, left many wondering, what exactly happened between then and now?
Well, according to CEO George Ang, the landlord, Kasmuncak Holdings initially had plans to take over the land for a hotel. Unfortunately, thanks to the pandemic’s untimely arrival, those plans were thrown into disarray. “So, it lengthened the lease. But the lease is on a month-to-month (basis), so we cannot actually do any renovations when it’s on a month-to-month lease,” George Ang added.
Well, the A&W PJ outlet has certainly been a comfort to many since it’s unexpected survival in the neighbourhood. But, it’s continued existence also seems to hang on an uncertain thread. Still, A&W will likely not suffer too much from the loss of the iconic outlet, save for the loss in people’s hearts.
During their 60th anniversary, they revealed their plans for the future, which reportedly involved aiming for up to 150 outlets across the country by 2025. They also hope to open another 100 outlets in the following three years.
Well, for now, only time will tell if the iconic A&W outlet in PJ will remain standing, and for how long. Still, it’s never a bad time to visit again (if you haven’t already) to relieve some memories!
Watch CEO George Ang give his statement here:
@hypemalaysia There’s been so many closure announcements of A&W Petaling Jaya. CEO George Ang sets the record straight. #anwmalaysia #anw
