In the sprawling eastern corridor of Kuala Lumpur, where the residential neighbourhoods of Cheras stretch for kilometres and millions of families call the surrounding townships home, there existed for decades a significant gap in the retail landscape.
The population density of this part of the city was enormous, yet the availability of modern, spacious, and family-oriented shopping destinations had not kept pace with the community’s growth.
MyTOWN Shopping Centre, located at Jalan Cochrane in the heart of Cheras, was developed precisely to address this gap.
Operated by Eastern Holdings Group’s property arm By-Eastern, this stylish and expansive mall brought a new standard of retail and lifestyle experience to Kuala Lumpur’s eastern suburbs, combining international anchor tenants, a diverse mix of fashion and lifestyle brands, and comprehensive family entertainment facilities within a single, thoughtfully designed environment.
Today, MyTOWN Shopping Centre stands as the premier shopping destination for the Cheras community — a place where families gather, friends socialise, and neighbours connect over great food, exciting entertainment, and excellent shopping.
A Strategic Response to Community Need
The development of MyTOWN Shopping Centre was driven by a clear understanding of the retail needs of Kuala Lumpur’s eastern corridor.
Cheras and its surrounding townships represent one of the most densely populated areas in the Klang Valley, home to a diverse and vibrant community of families, young professionals, and long-term residents who have historically had to travel toward the city centre for access to major retail destinations.
This represented not only an inconvenience but an opportunity.
By developing a large-scale, modern shopping centre in the heart of Cheras, the developers sought to bring the full retail experience to the community rather than forcing residents to commute elsewhere.
The decision to locate the mall at Jalan Cochrane was particularly strategic.
This major arterial road connects Cheras to the broader Kuala Lumpur road network, making the mall accessible from a wide catchment area.
The site’s proximity to major residential townships—including those along the SMART Tunnel corridor and the Ampang Highway—ensured that the mall would serve a substantial population within a short travel distance.
The development of MyTOWN was, in many ways, as much a community service as a commercial venture, bringing employment opportunities, social infrastructure, and lifestyle amenities to an area that had long deserved better retail provision.
International Anchor Tenants
The centrepiece of MyTOWN Shopping Centre’s retail proposition is its impressive roster of international and domestic anchor tenants, each of which has established the mall as a destination in its own right.
Among these anchors, IKEA Cheras holds a particularly significant position.
As one of the world’s most beloved home furnishing brands, IKEA brings its signature combination of affordable, stylish furniture, home accessories, and Swedish-inspired food offerings to the Cheras community.
The IKEA Cheras outlet has become a pilgrimage site for Malaysian families furnishing new homes, redecorating apartments, and seeking inspiration for living spaces of every size and budget.
Complementing IKEA is Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), which provides comprehensive cinematic entertainment for the whole family.
The cinema complex at MyTOWN offers multiple screens showing the latest local and international releases, making it a preferred movie-going destination for Cheras residents who previously had to travel to the city centre for a comparable cinema experience.
Parkson, the well-established Malaysian department store, provides a curated selection of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products across multiple categories, while Village Grocer brings a premium supermarket experience offering imported goods, fresh produce, and specialty foods that cater to the discerning home cook and food enthusiast.
Fashion, Lifestyle, and Dining
Beyond its anchor tenants, MyTOWN Shopping Centre offers a comprehensive selection of fashion, lifestyle, and food and beverage outlets spread across its spacious floors.
The fashion offering covers a broad spectrum, from popular international high-street brands to local fashion labels and specialty boutiques.
Whether visitors are seeking casual everyday wear, formal work attire, children’s clothing, sportswear, or accessories and footwear, the mall’s tenant mix provides abundant choice without the overwhelming density of larger megamalls.
The dining landscape at MyTOWN reflects the multicultural character of the Cheras community. International chains share space with local Malaysian favourites, ensuring that every culinary preference and budget is accommodated.
The food and beverage outlets at the mall range from quick-service cafés and food court stalls for casual everyday meals to sit-down restaurants offering more elaborate dining experiences.
The variety ensures that MyTOWN functions as both a daily convenience — where residents pick up groceries, grab coffee, or meet for a quick lunch — and a weekend destination where families gather for leisurely meals and celebrations.
Family-Friendly Facilities and Community Role
What distinguishes MyTOWN Shopping Centre from many of its competitors is its explicit commitment to family-friendly facilities and community-building.
The mall has been designed with families at its heart, recognising that parents with young children represent a significant portion of the Cheras community’s retail consumers.
Spacious corridors, comfortable rest areas, clean and well-maintained facilities, and a welcoming atmosphere make the mall accessible and enjoyable for visitors of all ages.
The presence of IKEA, with its famous children’s play area Småland, adds an extra dimension of family appeal.
Parents can shop while children are entertained in a safe, supervised environment—a practical arrangement that removes one of the key barriers to productive shopping for families with young children.
The cinema complex and the comprehensive range of family-oriented retailers further reinforce the mall’s positioning as a destination where every member of the family can find something of interest.
This community focus has made MyTOWN a social hub for the Cheras neighbourhood, a place where community events, festive celebrations, and promotional activities draw crowds throughout the year.
The Broader Eastern Corridor Ecosystem
MyTOWN Shopping Centre exists within a broader ecosystem of development and infrastructure that is transforming Kuala Lumpur’s eastern corridor.
The mall’s proximity to the Kajang Expressway and the SMART Tunnel provides car-borne visitors with excellent connectivity to the rest of the city.
For those relying on public transportation, the surrounding area is served by multiple bus routes and is within reasonable reach of the LRT stations along the Ampang Line, with future transit improvements expected to enhance accessibility further.
The development of MyTOWN has also catalysed broader commercial activity in its surrounding area.
Restaurants, cafés, and service businesses that have opened in the vicinity to serve mall visitors have contributed to the creation of a more vibrant local economy.
The mall’s presence has, in effect, helped establish Jalan Cochrane as a commercial node in its own right, complementing the residential communities that surround it.
For the Cheras community, MyTOWN represents not just a shopping centre but a catalyst for broader neighbourhood development.
A New Standard for Eastern Kuala Lumpur
Since its opening, MyTOWN Shopping Centre has firmly established itself as the shopping centre of choice for the Cheras community and the surrounding eastern suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.
The mall’s combination of international anchors, diverse retail mix, comprehensive dining options, and family-friendly atmosphere addresses the needs of a community that was underserved by modern retail for far too long.
Its success has validated the vision of its developers and set a new benchmark for what the eastern corridor can offer its residents.