Japanese colonial era (1895-1945) Hayashi Department Store in Tainan City reopened June 14 in a ceremony presided over by Mayor Lai Ching-te.
“This is a historic moment,” Lai said, adding that the facility is Taiwan’s first culturally innovative department store.
According to Lai, it is of great cultural significance that the building is now restored to its original function. When constructed in 1932, Hayashi was one of only two such stores in the country and state-of-the-art features such as elevators were a major novelty for people in the south.
“‘Go to Hayashi to ride the elevator’ was a popular saying of the time,” Lai said.
The store was bombed by American planes in the closing stages of World War II, with the building’s shell put to various uses since.
Lai said the newly refurbished store offers everything one would expect from a sophisticated shopping experience, but with an additional focus on local cultural products. Exhibitions on the top floor also give visitors a better insight into local farming culture and handicrafts.
The renovated building has regained its role as a Tainan landmark, demonstrating local people’s pride in their cultural heritage, Lai added.
Hayashi was originally a byword for modernity, along with Taipei City’s Kikumoto store. At six stories high, the reinforced concrete structure was one of Tainan’s tallest at the time, featuring Western-style cafeterias, an observation deck and elegant lighting. (SDH)
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