Hong Kong is the city where, in 2012, the first Eslite Bookstore outside Taiwan opened. Located at Causeway Bay, selling both Chinese and English books, three others have since opened
Eslite bookstore, Hong Kong: four cultural hubs
In 2015, Eslite Spectrum crossed the Victoria Harbour and opened its second store in Hong Kong, at Tsim Sha Tsui, where history, culture and tourism intertwine. One year later, they set up a third Eslite spectrum store in Cityplaza at Taikoo Shing, which carries a wide range of health and lifestyle products and the largest children section among the three branches. The latest Eslite – 6,000 square feet – opened in Phase III of Olympian City on 23 September 2020.
All of these four Hong Kong stores pursue the original quest for cultivating humanities. Connecting the dots, they are four cultural hubs continuing the path of a comprehensive business based on the correlation of arts and creativity.
The experience offered differs in details – the first and last opening are more focused on books and stationery whereas the other two branches are ‘spectrum’, approaching other domains – but it remains consistent with its philosophy: offering a unified reading and lifestyle path that celebrates the diversity of life.
Eslite bookstore in Taiwan
The first store was founded in 1989 in Taiwan – Eslite began as an independent bookstore specialized in arts and humanities before starting opening a different set of businesses that today includes hotels, galleries, food services, events and lifestyle brands.
Even though reading has always been at the heart of Eslite, they extended their activities in order to touch every aspect of life, counting nowadays more than 5,000 cultural performances and attracting 144 million visitors from around the world.
In 1999 Eslite was the first to set up a 24-hour bookstore at its Dunhua store, magnetizing night-time readers. It was the provider of the largest English language publications and translation materials in Taiwan.
Having expanded overseas, Eslite today runs fity stores in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Mainland China. But there is a keyword which connects all of them: culture, a root being able to rely on the past and shape the future.
Eslite Bookstore Hong Kong – Causeway Bay
Opened in 2012, this three-storey bookstore in Hysan Place sells both Chinese and English books, as well as a large collection of stationery and accessories. It also has a café, perfume shop, snacks store and bubble tea store.
The retail interior of the whole building was designed by Benoy using a monochrome palette and organic geometric architectural lines. Causeway Bay area is a built-up zone located in Hong Kong Island.
Zooming there, Eslite bookstore is encircled by first class businesses and retail facilities. The area is a magnet for fashion, lifestyle products, hospitality and dining.
Eslite Spectrum Hong Kong – Tsim Sha Tsui
Unlike its Causeway Bay shop, the second-opened branch is more like a department store, selling, since 2015, jewellery, arts and crafts, handbags and skincare products alongside novels and other books.
This store, which also offers a great view of the area, is on two floors of Star House next to the Star Ferry Pier and hosts over 200,000 books. Precisely, Eslite is in the Star Annex of Harbour City, the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong.
Located at the heart of the city, with more than 450 shops, 70 food & beverage outlets, it offers a wide range of shopping, dining, and entertainment, becoming a major city attraction.
Eslite Spectrum Hong Kong – Taikoo Shing
Chronologically, Eslite Spectrum Tai Koo Store is the third step the brand has made in the city. It combines reading and living, by hosting a rich collection of books, containing the most living brands and the largest children’s section.
In a way, it extends the concept of ‘family’: it’s not a case if one floor is called Eslite Life. It could be considered indeed a lifestyle bookstore which takes up 49,000 square feet and two-storeys space at the Cityplaza, the largest shopping mall on Hong Kong Island.
Hosting Eslite, it expands its diversity offering other cultural experiences above the already rich portfolio: 170 international brands, a 5-star Cineplex and full-facility ice rink.
Eslite Spectrum Hong Kong – Taikoo Shing Olympian City
The latest Eslite opened in Olympian City on 23 September 2020. Carrying over 40,000 titles, the bookstore offers a collection of English and Chinese books, with designated sections for children’s titles, Eslite recommendations, and themed book exhibitions. Like its other branches, the last Eslite in Olympian City carries lifestyle products, ranging from gadgets and stationery to traditional Taiwanese snacks and home décor.
Eslite bookstore, Hong Kong
500 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
