He added that the time is right to enter the Tokyo market also seeing as “Singaporeans love Tokyo and Japan. When Japan opened for travel, I think it was bigger news than when the US opened.” The group is also looking to expand its reach in F&B with more collaborations in Japan.
As for opening in Los Angeles, that will take place in March or April next year, Li said. In partnership with lifestyle hospitality company sbe, Zouk LA will be located in what is currently sbe’s Nightingale club on La Cienega Boulevard in West Hollywood. The 6,500 sq ft space will be redesigned by Christian Schulz and team of boutique design agency Studio Collective.
The Tokyo and Los Angeles projects are “extremely exciting” because they are partnerships with third-party operators, a first for the Zouk brand and testament of its draw, Li said. And, while they have had offers to open elsewhere, their strategy is to focus on “gateway cities”, he said, adding that going forward, Miami and Ibiza could be good targets.
“Globalisation started when we branched out to Las Vegas – it propelled the Zouk brand onto the global stage because only a few nightlife entertainment brands expand globally, and they are usually concentrated in Europe, the US or Asia.” This, he said, opened the door to Japan. And, “To have clubs in places such as Singapore, Malaysia, Las Vegas, and soon, Tokyo and Los Angeles, puts us into only three to five brands that have managed to do that.”
Source: CNA
