 |
 | |
 Facade of the south wing seen from Edgware Road | |
 | |
| Location | Colindale, Brent, London, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°35′36″N 0°15′37″W / 51.59333°N 0.26028°W |
| Opening date | August 1993 |
| Closing date | June 2008 |
| Owner | Yaohan Co., Ltd (1993-1997) |
| No. of stores and services | 73 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 1 |
| Total retail floor area | 141,000 sq ft (13,100 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2 |
| Parking | 800 spaces |
Oriental City was a major shopping centre in Colindale, North London, England, originally built as a luxury Japanese shopping centre called Yaohan Plaza by the Yaohan retail company of Japan. After Yaohan filed for bankruptcy in 1997, the centre became a lower-end mall specialising in various oriental foods and items, while also containing health and social services for the East Asian community. Opening in 1993, the 141,000 sq ft complex was located at 399 Edgware Road with a dedicated car park and two floors.[1]
As Yaohan Plaza, the shopping centre played a short but significant role in promoting Japanese cuisine and culture in London. Later, as Oriental City, it was referred to as London's "real Chinatown". Oriental City received about 10,000 visitors weekly as of 2006.[2] The complex was closed for redevelopment on 1 June 2008 and, after several changes of ownership, was demolished in August 2014. In July 2017 the smaller Bang Bang Oriental Food Hall opened on the site, comprising 32 food kiosks, massage and beauty therapy suites as well as shops and a cultural centre.[3]
- ^ "Japan finds a place in the suburbs: North London is facing the culture". Independent.co.uk. 27 June 1993. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
- ^ "Campaign to save 'real Chinatown'". 17 November 2006.
- ^ "Bang Bang Oriental".