Ah, Holiday Plaza

 

Holiday Plaza in JB was the scene of many firsts for me — all back in the glorious 80s.

It was where I had my very first taste of KFC — and yes, a friend had to teach me the “proper” way to eat it. Back then, KFC was quite the dining experience — they served the chicken on proper plates, with metal forks and spoons! None of this paper box and plastic cutlery business. It felt posh, ok?

Apart from KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut were also popular makan spots at Holiday Plaza. And if I’m not mistaken, White Castle even had a brief stint there.

And who could forget the smell of Chinese herbal eggs wafting through the air? It was distinctive, pungent… and totally unforgettable. You either loved it or held your breath walking past.

It was also where I bowled for the first time — at Holiday Bowl (see pic above). My schoolmates and I became regulars, showing up almost every weekend. Some of the guys came decked out like Miami Vice characters — white blazers, pastel shirts, the whole vibe (and sockless, of course).

We’d spend hours at the video arcade too, even though we were technically underage!

Then there was Kimisawa — the department store that had everything under one roof. I bought some of my Raya outfits there over the years. But the bulk of my wardrobe? That came from 2nd Chance. Their “diskang” fashion was the look back then. That said, a few of my more stylish (and loaded) friends swore by getting their (carrot cut) pants tailor-made at Ken Follet, which gave them that extra “custom fitted” swagger.

One semester break during uni, I even worked at Sate Ria — making drinks, washing dishes, smelling like grilled meat by the end of every shift. Not glamorous, but unforgettable.

Our ritual usually started at KOMTAR. From there, we’d hop on the Alec or T. Hakkim bus to Holiday Plaza. That weekly trip felt like an adventure, every single time.

These days, while the building still stands, Holiday Plaza is more like a ghost mall. I haven’t been back in ages, but I’ve heard it’s a shadow of its former self.

Still, for us 80s kids, Holiday Plaza will always be the spot — where friendships were forged, fashion experiments happened, and weekends were never boring.

Pics: FB