Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Wins First Bid for Taipei Main Station Mall; Aims to Create New 'National Gateway'

The results for the management rights of the Taipei Main Station mall were announced today by Taiwan Railways, with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store Co., Ltd. named as the top priority applicant. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi stated that it will follow regulations to conduct negotiations and contract signing with Taiwan Railways, aiming to connect the Nanxi business district with the Taipei Station Front district to create a new look for the 'national gateway' through art, culture, and trend-focused experiences.

Breeze Plaza Real Estate Co., Ltd. was named the second priority applicant. If negotiations with Shin Kong Mitsukoshi fail, Breeze will be next in line. Following the announcement, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi explained its vision: centering on Taipei Main Station to support the 'Taipei West Gateway Project.' The company plans to leverage its ecosystem of nearly 4.5 million members, retail technology, and hardware upgrades to transform the space.

However, Breeze raised questions regarding the bidding process. In a statement, Breeze alleged multiple procedural issues, including rumors of the results circulating in the market before the official announcement. They also questioned the eligibility of the selection committee members and whether conflict-of-interest rules were followed. Breeze filed an objection yesterday, which has yet to receive a response, and is now evaluating whether to file an administrative lawsuit.