Mall #9| Plaza Imbi: The Computer Mall of The Past Can Still Survive?
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- #deadmall #shoppingmall #digitalmall
Today let's take a jog down memory lane to the busiest computer mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Before Plaza Low Yat existed, where did everyone go to buy the latest gadgets or computers? Where were the most advanced computer accessories available back then?
What about computers, electronic goods, video games, and remote control models?
Unfortunately, Plaza Imbi has lost its shine. With the more modern and newer Plaza Low Yat just beside it, can Plaza Imbi still survive?
#Imbiplaza #deadmall #abandonedplaces #exploremalaysia #malaysia #lostplace
I can tell you this is a big improvement from when I remember I last visited it about 20 years ago. As far as I know Imbi was already dead 15 years ago. All the vendors moved to Low Yatt. What I see in this video look so different to before. The most obvious change is that it is clean! That is why when I read the title it is so funny. How it "can still survive", when it is supposed to be already dead. I wonder when they started cleaning the place up.
Ahh thanks for sharing. I didn't know that. Well good to know that it has improved. 😊
Thanks for this walk down memory lane. Used to go here at least once a week in the 90s after school to buy pirated PC games. Those who still remember will know the games were sold in multiple floppy disk/CDs in plastic packets. The big name shops in low yat like C Zone and thundermatch began life here.
No worries. Glad my video helps. Thank you for your support. Ya, I still remember the days of floppy disks and CDs. Those were the days 😊
I bought my first proper gaming GPU, an nVidia Riva TNT with 16MB VRAM there back in 1998. The card served me for many years. I still have it, by the way.
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What do you have as your main now?
@@loop6913 i've got an AMD Radeon RX 570 4GB DDR6 on my AMD Ryzen 5500 Linux desktop and a gaming laptop with a GTX 1650 4GB DDR6 + AMD Ryzen 5600H CPU combo.
@@zamhar i remember i had 3dfx voodoo lol
@@loop6913 AMD Radeon RX 570 in my Linux gaming desktop and a GTX 1650 in my Windows gaming laptop.
I love these dead malls series. Keep it up Ryan, I hope the algorithm picks this channel up!!
@@aishahshamsul8642 hi thank you so much for your support. It means a lot. Definitely will produce more contents like these. Hope you enjoy 😊
the old layout design in old malls give out the same vibe of how an episode of Keroro depicting Akihabara like back in the day.
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I remember back around 1996-1997, when I bought my first computer running Windows 95 with Dos, and i bought it from Plaza Imbi. It was the IT center back in the days. Both ground and 1st floor was very lifely, fill with shops selling all sorts of IT stuff and also vcd lah. The computer that i bought was a clone computer, back in the days, there were many flyers around on clone pc with all sorts of configuration. I hang out at Plaza Imbi regularly during weekends, sometimes just to walk around looking at the latest pc, laptop or even video games. Good old days.
It's great to hear those nostalgic stories. 😊
This place got me excited back in the 90's as a teen, whenever my dad dropped by in KL. All the PCs, tonnes of games on sale 😂
Ya, those were the days ! 😊
The shop that sell game and console is call Imbi Mario. I think closed down during PS2 era. I maybe wrong for this, as after DS, I didn't go back to Imbi to buy game anymore. So I not 100% sure when it closed.
Ohh ya I think that's the name. Thanks for sharing. 😊
I used to go with my friend to one of the computer shops my friend frequented. The owner was a very nice guy and also can bargain pricing as well. He used to participate in the early years of PC fair. Now it all just a fading memory. His shop also has been long since closed.
Ahh those were the days. It's sad to see many of those computer shops gone now 😢.
Perhaps the owner can change it to housing units. Like in the US, some dead malls are turning into room lots that young workers use to commute to their places of work in the city. The lower floor can still be retained as shop lots though as passers by would normally hop over for some convenience.
@@Hasnanembong ya that is indeed one of the solutions. I would love to stay in a place like that 😁 instead of new condos with new malls below. Malaysia has too many malls now 😅
got ghost...😬
Oh yeah then charge more price for a room jeez.
I remember in 1981 , I was 15, my late uncle( 1944 - 2016) bought us to visit imbi Plaza. Those days , this place sells turntable , amplifier and speakers. No computer yet in Malaysia.
Wow what a story. Thanks for sharing. :)
Imbi Plaza was 'dead' decades ago, countless memories remain.
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the thing i remember the most is the rc plane/helicopter signboard seen from the outside, those were the toys i envy but can't afford as a kid
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I remember almost 20 years ago when The Sims 2 Nightlife came out. I made a trip there just knowing that they would have it fresh from the oven, and sure enough, they did not let me down. Was the best place to buy original PC games until Gamers in SS2 came about. I recall going to New Era in Menara Keck Seng for Morrowind, some shop in Subang Parade for Icewind Dale, and for a short while there was a place in KLCC called Wizlink where I bought a few games too, but almost everything else I bought from Imbi. Sadly, once Gamers came out I stopped going to Imbi, partly because Imbi seemed to stop being really up-to-date with games. Sims 2 Nightlife was likely the last ever game I bought from them.
Ahh those were the days when Imbi was the go-to place for games.
0:57 my what...?? 😂😂 jokes aside, great video and really brings back memories..
😅😅😅 clock .. 😅
Had you ever go to Low Yat Plaza despite near the Imbi Plaza?
No I haven't been there. Ya I could check it out in one of the future videos :)
@ryan_go_where ( • v < )
3 pc games for rm 10 used to be the favourite place...best pc games spot
😮😮😮 cheap!
@ryan_go_where yes there used to be one shop on the 1st floor.
Imbi Plaza used to be your everyday PC FAIR to look for bargain PC parts to purchase and assemble PC. When Lazada and Shopee come go life, things change..
I know! I miss those days.😢
Plaza Imbi - Buy warcaraft, starcaraft, command and conquer
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that place looks like a backrooms level, bro. great video! 10/10 👏🏻
Thank you for your kind words. 😊 Appreciate your support. Will keep up the good word.
My dad bought for me Sega mega drive console in Imbi back in 1990. Back then, place to go was Imbi, Sg wang and Bukit Bintang. Stopped visiting these places in the mid 90s. It sits in a prime location in KL, so a lot of potentials.
Lots of memories. 😊
This place is really good to get third party repairs of your gadgets done. You do have to ask around a bit to get the best price, but once you done that you can't really beat the price. They also do the fix right then and then. But yeah, I wont bring my family for jalan2 😆
Ya not family friendly 😅
Iomega products are all Made in Penang Malaysia. Very reliable. Mine still works to this day. I have two of them. One usb interface and one parallel port. I am using the usb one. The cartridges are very very long life. The best Made in Malaysia. Many places dumped Iomega. But imbi plaza still promoting them. Superb give them a 5 star rating
Interesting! Never knew they were still available. 😊
@ well mine still work. And I still have data in the 100 M and 250M disc. You still can buy the disc online these days
@ I have over 50 pcs. SO I am well stocked for life. IOMEGA , the best !!!
I used to come here a lot in the early 2000s to buy games and second hand monitors
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never been there... my first intro to IT mall only known plaza low yat... circa 2004...
now always go low yat if one to buy immediate or just online shopping if can wait...
but the vibe of shopping already gone compare 10 years ago where super duper busy with many people, collecting flyers for comparing prices and so on. basically 2 hours for research before buying. Today, only one hour for sight seeing, compare and buying
😂😂true
Bought my PS and PS2 from Andy, one of the nicest guy and also Kristal who was also very2 friendly.
Ah Imbi Plaza, so many good memories. 🥰
my fav place in the 80s 90s. i remember that pineapple shop.
anyone still remember wilayah computers?
The shop's name was pineapple 🍍?
@ryan_go_where pineapple computers
@@ryan_go_whereyup. They had a number of outlets in Klang valley including Subang Parade (when it was first opened)
Wow thanks for sharing 😊
2005 - 2007, after graduating and looking for a job, I worked as a freelance computer tech. Plaza Imbi is where I get my supplies, rams, hard disk, monitors, display card, etc. Wow, this place look really old. There is a shop in the basement where the price is cheaper than others. I saw the basement entrance in your video (0:46) and it looks like its change to something. I wonder what it is?
@@faizalnayan it's turned into a Karaoke lounge. But alas, I didn't explore that level. 🙏🏻
Zx Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad, MSX. If you know the Imbi Plaza i know, you are legend.
That's a blast from the past! 😄
Omg they still promoting Iomega zip drive. They still sell while many places are out of stock. Iomega zip, jazz were the drives to get. I had mine zip drive since 1996. Did not know that there are still promotion posters on the ceiling for Iomega.
Hahaha ya their ceilings are full of promotional posters still 😅
@@ryan_go_where ok mah, loyal to IOMEGA. IOMEGA the best!
you know sometimes going through this old malls really feel like you just time travel to the past, it feel sureal
Yup it definitely is. 😊
Between 30 to 35 years ago, I used to go to the philatelic shop there, run by two sisters (can't remember their names). I assume they closed many years ago as collecting stamps as a hobby is essentially dead (at least in M'sia).
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bought my first PC built here back in the 90's. and a lot of cheap CD Games where every time you install, it needs to be patched! haha. those days
Those were the days! 😄
You did not mention if the karaoke lounge is still operational or not. If I am not mistaken, it was the primary anchor tenant in Imbi Plaza.
Thanks for sharing. 😊
Came here to buy CM'3 cd
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I still have a shoebox full of game CDs and a couple of game DVDs I got back in late 90s and early 2000s. Doom 2, Myst, Riven, Symbiocom (a rather obscure title I presume), Shivers 2, Hell A cyberpunk thriller and a few more titles I can't quite recall off the top of my head. (There was actually another box full of them (apps, games, even educational CDs but never movies...not much of a movie buff then. However, due to my incompetence to pay attention to details...I left it behind when I moved out. What a bummer...) Those were the years we were first introduced to computers as part of learning in the class. On a day in in the month of Ramadhan a friend took us there and I was kinda blown away for a few indescribable moments of my life! Imbi was the go-to tech haven and being solo all those years I would patronize the floors once in a fortnight. I owned my first pc knowing virtually zero abt the nitty gritty of it but Imbi showed me how to raise that level to something more meaningful, pragmatic at least for my own sake, bit by painstaking but precious bit.
Sweet memories.
Wow, so many memories! 😄
Hobby world was my lepak spot at imbi plaza
Good old days 😊
Looks like it is in bangladesh, not KL
My sega megadrive was all 2nd hand games but i bought a new game here, Sega Virtua Racing at rm100-120,couldnt remember.
Ahh Sega Virtua Racing, good times. 😊
wow i still remember buying CDs here. Modo and Adobe Premiere. 😊
Those were the days! 😎
For me its still ok as long there still operates. Since nowadays a lot shopping malls nearby make its quite challenge to survive.
Hopefully the new project of Branniganz Suites beside it finish, it could make the place more clean and more beauty on the front.
Yeah it's a shame how many malls have closed down lately. Hopefully this new project does revitalize the area.
Is Low Yatt fairing well nowadays? Last time I went there... 2016/2017 maybe... the foot traffic wasnt how it was back in the 2000s-2010s. Back then Low Yatt was packed, really hard to move around.
Still the same story. Low Yatt still quite packed
The only reason I go to Imbi Plaza for the past 15 years is the karaoke spot at the basement level. It's cheap and they refurbished it lately! 😅
Ratu Karaoke?
@ryan_go_where Before PKP/MCO it was called News KTV.
Change also the monorail sign from Imbi to Time Square.
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Got my first mario game catridge here, everytime I pass by that area when visiting KL.
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The Plaza sits on one of the expensive parcel of real estate in town..the owners maybe just waiting for any investor prepared to invest on something grand..
Ya, maybe that's true. 🤔
still going this place to buy some laptop spare parts cause price still reasonable than lowyat 😉
I should do some price comparison next time. Thanks for the tip!
I still remember those day ah, everybody was holding and looking one piece of paper, tag price list and compared with other shop, and which one cheaper. I bought my pc celeron, 6gb hdd and 8MB RAM.
Ah yes, the good old days of PC shopping! The memories!
My friend brought his laptop to repair here, maybe 2 years ago. His laptop keyboard broke, so he went here to get repaired. The keyboard worked, but other thing broken, like usb 3.0 port not working, audio port not working, bluetooth not working, sata connector for hard disk missing lol. Yes the hard disk is there but the connector from hard disk to motherboard is missing. I dunno why he sent to this plaza, where most open shops are probably operated by pakistanis or similar -stan countries. So if you want to go here.....just be careful. Or maybe just don't come here. Imbi plaza era is done.
Wow that's a pretty rough experience. 😢
My workplace for now. Still alive keeping tech affordable
Thank you so much. Appreciate your hard work. 😊
Can be converted into a low cost apartment for office workers.
😂😂😂😂
Supposed to be dead long time ago but it's alive until today!
Yup glad it is still alive for us to explore. 😊
The lower ceiling making this place look crowded and cramped
Yaya most older malls have low ceiling.
2:52 You make it sound like you never seen a single row escalator before. We have these in Avenue-K >_
Ya I have never seen before. 😅 Thanks for sharing though. Will check out Avenue K
This type of escalator can also be found in UNIQLO Fahrenheit88, and LaLaport’s Link Bridge to the Monorail Station 🏃🏻➡️
My pc built here still running to these day..
Amazing to hear. Next time when I need a new PC, will consider coming here. 😊
shame used to be the place indeed. only place to get SSI goldbox, my first copy of Simon the Sorceror also from here
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You should go to Wisma Saberkas, Kuching Sarawak. Same dead mall vibe. Also, the mall is an IT centre currently.
@@ryanoneiljohnson8743 thanks for the recommendation. 😁 will drop by there when I go Kuching.
The video game shop was called Imbi Mario. I did buy games there as a kid. There was a lady there called Connie. Good times.
The ground floor had cool stamp collectors shop.
@@ianalbert4959 ahhhh, yesss that's the one. Yup the good old days. Thanks for refreshing my memory 😊
They should get 5 star for brand loyalty. They still promote and sell Iomega.
Hahahah ya 5 star on brand loyalty 😊
wow iomega jaz drive and zip disk 4:55
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u didnt check out the ktv downstairs?
Hahahah sorry I missed out. 😅 Will check it out the next round
Jaz and Zip Drive signage. Even the company has been bankcrupt very long time ago....
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Did you went on a weekend? Some of the shops only operate on weekdays which is why you see more shuttered doors on a weekend. Maybe on a week day it becomes 1/2 star....
😂😂ya I went on a weekend. Thanks for sharing though. Will do a revisit on weekday
Only in msia foreigners buka kedai n monopoli whole floor/block/building 😊 locals pls wake up lha 😊
The owner is Malaysian, they hired foreigner because dirt cheap wages
beli barang pc , cd piret kat sini la dulu awal tahun 2000
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i remember the computer console shop - mario imbi. used to have aunty at the counter. used to buy ps2 and xbox OG there.
Yup missing those days. 😢
Plaza Imbi have long been taken over by Bangla and Middle East foreigner dealing pc used part. Not seeing any improvement there.
I think this property has ownership problem like some of owners are dead/lost/no will situation and that is why its not redeveloped..
@@Bigjoe99 oh I see. Thanks for sharing. 😊 now I understand why it's still not being developed
Before plaza low yatt...imbi was epicenter of it gadget
😢😢yup it was
Good old times. Must went there by bus or train
@@muhamadaiman6312 ya drop by have a look. It's a very different look nowadays 🥲
My fond memories buying pentium 3 pc at plaza imbi
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Many years ago authorise Lenovo laptop repair still here now i don't know, seen on internet some shop are famous selling computer parts and audio headset or camera
Good to know there are still some gems around.😊
this is where i got my 3DFX Voodoo 2 graphic card......man it has been so long.
Time flies 😢
Looking so haunted😮
Ya it does at some places. 😅 But it's Ll well and good. No ghost encountered
sini ada tempat repair hard disk .
Ohh. I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Dekat mana eh? Nak jugak tau sebab ada hard disk rosak.
big citiy folks...
😊😊 big city life
Pineapple? Spectra? And some gurus went to crack DOS games copy protection realtime after their school hours.
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The Karaoke at LG there is not bad. haha.
Thanks for sharing. Will check it out the next round. 😊
In the late 1990 i went to Sim Lim tower to hunt electronic items. I overheard Singaporean talking to each other ....Go Imbi some more cheaper ....I.was like 😮...what in the world i am in Sim Lim Tower...
Sim Lim Tower is Singapore's Plaza Imbi equivalent?
@ryan_go_where No...Sim Lim tower is an electronic haven similar to Pasar Pudu Malaysis while Imbi Plaza is more on Computer hardware and software.
I almost vomited when I went there 😥😥😥
Woww... what happened?
this place is outdated in every way
It is 😅
Most importantly,hows the prices there? Will get parang or not 😂😂😂
This one ... Not sure😅
Now Pakistani paradise
I only saw bangla
not safe anymore. building too old. fire safety no more implies. lots illegal activities. bangla do illegal business but no pay tax. extortion service all around. bad image for malaysia.
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Wow.... Haven't been here for a long time....almost dead place now?...the traffic there is what i hate most
Looks like it needs a lot of upkeep. But dead or not, not too sure. 😅aya the traffic here is the worst. Tourist area .
My fond memories buying pentium 3 pc at plaza imbi