Eslite Bookstore pulls out of Asiaworld

After nearly five-years in the Asiaworld Department Store (大亞百貨), Eslite Bookstore (誠品書店) has decided to close its Taipei Train Station store on May 20.

Slow consumer traffic is the reason behind the move.

"Before the MRT system opened in the Taipei Main Train Station, most traffic was on our side of the street -- the AsiaWorld and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store (新光三越) side -- but after the subway moved in, traffic shifted to the other side of the street," said Tseng Ya-wen (曾亞雯), a public relations official at Eslite.

There are two major underground shopping districts in the MRT network -- the Eslite Bookstore Square (誠品賣場) and the Easy Mall (台北捷運大街). Located at the first basement level of the MRT's Taipei main station, Eslite Bookstore Square oversees 20 shops including a convenience store, a coffee shop, a CD shop and an electronic appliance store.

The second complex, the Easy Mall, is in charge of 100 shops that sell clothing, accessories, food and general merchandise.

The new Eslite location will be in the Hsinyi district's Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store.

Prior to moving, Eslite will have a sale between May 15 and 19. All foreign language books and magazines will go for 40 percent off, and all Chinese language publishing will be offered at a 20 percent discount.