Over the past few decades, REXKL was home to the iconic single-screen Rex Cinema. Today, the local community hub has been transformed into an ultra-cool BookXcess outlet that also houses trendy eateries and cafes.
Although it opened in November 2021, BookXcess REXKL is now hoping to revitalise the neighbourhood with its unique architecture and spacious setting where visitors can come and hang for hours.
Here are some fun facts about this fabulous maze-like bookstore:
1. BookXcess REXKL is the 16th BookXcess outlet in the country.
2. It officially opened on 26th November 2021.
3. Space: 10,708.55 sq. ft.
4. Has over 80,000 books.
5. Options for children, fiction, & non-fiction books.
6. Gifts & Stationery available:
- Art & Craft
- Pop Art
- Puzzles
- Pilot-Pen
- Toys
7. The inspiration behind BookXcess REXKL.
“Think of Petaling Streets and you’ll think of the narrow aisles or how people would need to squeeze to cross another street. That was the same experience that I wanted foreign visitors to experience when they visit this bookstore ― to feel the streets in this building. We want to go all out and make it a community and art hub that has everything ― music gigs, restaurants, live shows with local artists as well where visitors can spend as long as they want in this building,” said co-founder Shin Chang (who’s also an architect.)
8. BookXcess REXKL is more than just a bookstore.
“KL needs something like this, we are littered with malls everywhere, and tourists don’t want to go to malls. People don’t want to go to malls because all malls are the same. For tourists, if you come from Jakarta or you come from Bangkok, they have malls there, too, so which tourists want to come to malls here, too?” asked fellow co-founder Andrew Yap.
“We wanted to bring that adventure back into the people’s lives, especially in Kuala Lumpur where we don’t get this kind of adventure, so this is an all-in-one,” Shin Chang added.
9. It’s connected to the hidden rooftop bar & restaurant called Shhhbuuuleee restaurant.
10. Visitors can also purchase specially curated artworks from several Malaysian and Indonesian artists.
Bonus:
11. There is also a wide-open exhibition space. It currently features an art installation by Penang-based Lithuanianian artist Ernest Zacharevic, titled “Everything will be OK”.
“A big part of the decision to show it here, the place has a history, it has a cultural purpose as a cinema, and then that ended with the fire and now it’s come back as a cultural hub again for a different generation of people in a very different way,” said Zacharevic. “It plays into the whole title of the exhibition ‘Everyone will be OK’, the very dark end of one era brings an opportunity for the next one.”
12. The details to BookXcess REXKL are as follows:
- Location: 2nd Floor, REXKL, 80, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
- Operating Hours: Closed every Monday
Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday – 10:00am to 10:00pm
Friday & Saturday – 10:00am to 12:00am - Website
