Many Singaporeans head over to neighbouring Johor Bahru (JB) for delicious food and affordable groceries.
But books? That’s rather unheard of, perhaps until now.
BookXcess, a bookstore based in Malaysia, opened its latest outlet in Johor Bahru on Thursday (27 Feb) that’s just a 20-minute drive from Tuas Checkpoint.
If pictures are anything to go by, this sprawling bookstore comprising of floor-to-ceiling shelves are giving us some major Beauty & The Beast library vibes.
Measuring a whopping 32,000 sq ft, BookXcess’s latest outlet is the largest bookstore in Southern Malaysia.
With over 1 million titles, you’ll be able to find books of all sorts, from fairy tales for your kids, to self-help books for adults seeking growth.
As you enter the store, your eyes will naturally gravitate towards the store’s centrepiece — an 8-metre floor-to-ceiling bookshelf.
Illuminated with warm yellow light, this reminds us of the iconic library from Beauty and the Beast, only this time, it’s on some pretty serious steroids.
Instead of the wooden stairs that Belle uses, there’s a sleek staircase that allows you to reach the higher decks.
Climb atop the stairs and you’ll be greeted with a breathtaking view of the entire store — the perfect vantage point for your Insta-shot.
Hidden inside the colossal shelf is a “sanctuary” named Children’s Cave.
As its name suggests, the section is designed specially for kids and encourages budding readers to start picking up books from a young age.
The Children’s Cave will also house ‘Magical Books’ that use augmented reality (AR) to give readers an “immersive and interactive” reading experience.
So if you happen to be planning a trip to JB with your young ones during the upcoming March school holidays, drop by BookXcess Big Box so your kids too can reap the benefits of reading from young.
Eating and drinking are normally prohibited in libraries. But that’s not the case in BookXcess Big Box, which has an in-house café.
Named Café Wolf, the place is perfect for those looking for some refreshments, or for others who just want to sip on a cup of joe while admiring the gorgeous aesthetics of the bookstore.
As part of its opening promotion, BookXcess is having a series of deals till 1 Mar.
So if you’re planning a visit to Johor this weekend, do drop by BookXcess Big Box to enjoy these irresistible deals.
For more information on the deals, check out BookXcess’ Facebook page here.
The fairytale-esque bookstore is just a 20-minute drive away from Tuas Checkpoint and a 10-minute drive from Legoland.
If you’re not driving, book a private-hire ride using Grab. It probably wouldn’t cost you much, given the 1:3 currency conversion.
Here are more information on BookXcess Big Box:
BookXcess Sunway Big Box
Address: FF-01, Sunway Big Box, Sunway Iskandar, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: 10am-10pm daily
Website
JB might be synonymous with delicious food and cheap groceries, but with a game-changer like BookXcess, book-lovers may soon have a new reason to cross the Causeway.
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Featured image adapted from Facebook, Facebook, and Facebook.
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