Original caption: Long before Ampang Park, Sungai Wang, BB Plaza or the newest Pavilion shopping malls .. the colonial " Prestigious " shopping places were Whileaway Laidlam, John Little's and Robinson's Dept Store located at Mountbatten Road ( Jalan Tun Perak ) which managed to stay in business till the 1970s ( photo ) with the top 2 floors being converted into a Chinese restaurant and night club.
If my memory serves me right, OCBC (KL Main) occupied the building further down the road from Robinsons. But I am certain its premises was at the corner (on Mountbatten Road into Malay Street). When Wisma Lee Rubber on Jalan Melaka was ready, OCBC moved into it, leaving its old premises vacant for a number of years. One day, in the 80s, I was walking from Jalan Melaka to DBKL building (Jalan Raja Laut) where my car was parked. I had to walk on some wooden platforms outside a building under construction just after the vacant OCBC building. I made eye contact with a guy walking in the opposite direction within the narrow walkway. He stopped me. Sensing trouble, I turned back and there was another guy behind me. But I remembered there was a policeman near Jalan Melaka, so I pushed him aside (luckily he was a softie, maybe a drug addict) and I ran back to Jalan Melaka to get into a cab to get to my car in Jalan Raja Laut!
Back to the story on OCBC. The bank owned a few shops (could be Robinsons) next to their old premises. It took them a number of years to plan and put up their new building which they now occupy. If anyone were to check OCBC KL Main's history of managers, for many years the surname Ong was predominant! There was Ong Thai Ghee in the 60s, then Ong Chong Hui and years later (80s), Ong Seng Kuan.
4 comments:
Since you are into music you may remember next to Robinson is William & Co.
I did not have much freedom during childhood and have only vague memories of Robinson and William & Co.; never stepped into a music store until years later. Bought my first Kapok guitar from stationery shop and a used drums set from an ex-classmate in 1968. Never had proper soundproofed room, playing drums was half-expecting complaints from brothers and neighbours!
Just checked with someone who knew the place well. Robinson is now CIMB Bank (absorbed United Asian Bank). The new OCBC building included former William & Co. and Tay Seong coffee shop premises. Ubaidullah refused to sell to OCBC and is squeezed between CIMB and OCBC.
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