The founder of the Centro 360 Group, Mr Michel Lu, announced plans today to open Centro in the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur by the end of 2004. This will be Centro’s maiden venture in the Malaysian market after the success of Centro in Singapore and recently in Indonesia.
The Centro 360 Group which has operations in both Singapore and Jakarta currently, plans to enter the exciting Malaysian market via a joint venture with an established local company. The group currently operates Centro (the club), Lola (a sexier housier dance club), Embargo (modern waterfront tapas bar) and Restaurant 360 in Singapore as well as Centro (Jakarta), La Dolce Vita (sophisticated lounge/bar), Yoshi's (Japanese haute cuisine), Cicada (modern European bistro) and a private members roof top bar in Jakarta.
Centro KL will be a 30,000 sq ft free standing building which will be custom built for Centro's signature multi concept entertainment venue. It is anticipated that there will be four club/bar/restaurant concepts in this building along with a roof deck and 2 private penthouse attached. The exact location has yet to be revealed but it will be within walking distance of KLCC and the Petronas towers in the very heart of the city. Speaking about the venture Mr Lu says, “We are extremely excited about the opportunities in KL and feel that we have a great combination of a strong partnership, an amazing location and specialised experience in running multi concept F&B operations”.
He emphasised that Centro will not be a Singaporean club entering the KL market but that each of Centro’s ventures in overseas markets are indigenous entities which tap into a regional network. Negotiations are also underway for Centro Bangkok and Tokyo.
Mr Lu has recently stepped down as active director of the company in order to pursue other new business ventures but continues to guide it’s creative and strategic directions. In the works for Mr Lu are a debut release from his new record label ‘Isola Music’ as well diversification into a regional medical start-up. The busy Lu is also close to realising his dream of owning & operating a hip fashion / media hotel in Singapore. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the Centro groups plans for Asian expansion.