New Yaohan
New Yaohan is a Macau department store established from the former Macau branch of Japan's Yaohan retail group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
New Yaohan is a department-store retailer in Macau, China, operating from Avenida Dr. Mário Soares in the Praia Grande area and from an outlet at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. The business traces its immediate origins to the Macau branch of the Japanese retail group Yaohan, which opened in 1992 beside the Jai Alai Casino on Avenida da Amizade. That branch was historically significant because it was described as Macau's first department store. The present New Yaohan identity emerged after Yaohan Japan announced its bankruptcy filing on September 18, 1997. Panda Sociedade de Gestão de Investimentos Limitada, a subsidiary associated with Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau (STDM) and Shun Tak Holdings, acquired ownership of the Macau branch. STDM subsequently established New Yaohan Department Store to operate the business under a new name. The rebranding preserved the store's connection with the Yaohan retail legacy while separating the Macau operation from the bankrupt Japanese group. The retailer later underwent a major relocation connected with redevelopment of its original site. In 2005, STDM announced plans to demolish the Avenida da Amizade building and redevelop the location as Oceanus, a casino and entertainment project associated with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau. New Yaohan closed its original premises on August 2, 2008, and reopened six days later at its current site on Avenida Dr. Mário Soares, opposite the former Judicial Court of Macau. The move shifted the department store into a central commercial area while allowing the former site to be redeveloped. New Yaohan expanded its outlet format in 2010. It invested 30 million patacas in a New Yaohan Outlet on the third floor of the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. The outlet occupies approximately 11,000 square feet and opened on March 22, 2010. In addition to its principal department-store operation, New Yaohan has managed outlet presentations for different brands at locations including The Venetian Macao, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, and One Central. The business is therefore best understood as a Macau-focused department-store and outlet retailer rather than as the continuing international corporate group formerly known as Yaohan. Its positioning combines a centrally located department store with tourism-oriented retail sites serving residents, visitors, and ferry-terminal traffic. Publicly available reference material identifies the store's retail format and locations but does not provide a complete current brand portfolio, detailed financial disclosures, or a named executive roster.
History
New Yaohan's history is rooted in the expansion of the Japanese Yaohan retail group into Macau. In 1992, Yaohan opened a branch on Avenida da Amizade beside the Jai Alai Casino. The store was identified as Macau's first department store, making it an important development in the territory's modern retail history. Its location near a major casino and entertainment complex also placed it within a visitor-oriented commercial environment. The Macau operation was transformed by the financial collapse of its Japanese parent. On September 18, 1997, Kazuo Wada, Yaohan Japan's director-general, announced that the group was filing for bankruptcy. The Macau branch was subsequently purchased by Panda Sociedade de Gestão de Investimentos Limitada, an investment company associated with STDM and Shun Tak Holdings. STDM established a new operating company, New Yaohan Department Store, and reopened the business under the New Yaohan name. This transaction allowed the Macau store to continue operating despite the failure of the wider Yaohan group. A second major turning point came from redevelopment pressure at the original site. In 2005, STDM announced an intention to demolish the Avenida da Amizade building and replace it with Oceanus, a casino and entertainment development connected with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau. New Yaohan consequently moved its retail operation. The original store closed on August 2, 2008, while the new department store on Avenida Dr. Mário Soares opened on August 8, 2008. The new location is in the Praia Grande area and opposite the former Judicial Court of Macau, giving the retailer a central urban presence separate from the redevelopment zone. New Yaohan subsequently developed a more explicit outlet presence. The company invested 30 million patacas in an outlet on the third floor of the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. Covering about 11,000 square feet, New Yaohan Outlet opened on March 22, 2010. The site connected the retailer with ferry passengers and Macau's tourism economy. The company has also managed outlet operations or brand presentations at The Venetian Macao, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, and One Central. Across these changes, New Yaohan evolved from a branch of an international Japanese department-store group into a Macau-owned retail business under STDM. Its history is defined by continuity through ownership change, relocation caused by urban redevelopment, and expansion into outlet formats. Available reference material does not establish a comprehensive public record of later strategic changes, financial performance, named executives, or a complete list of merchandise brands.
- 2010
Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal outlet opens
[1]New Yaohan opens an approximately 11,000-square-foot outlet on the third floor of the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal after an investment reported at 30 million patacas.
- 2008
New flagship store opens on Avenida Dr. Mário Soares
[1]The original store closes on August 2 and the relocated New Yaohan opens on August 8 in the Praia Grande area.
- 2005
Redevelopment plans trigger relocation
[1]STDM announces plans to redevelop the original store site as Oceanus, leading to the planned relocation of New Yaohan.
- 1997
Macau operation becomes New Yaohan
[1]After Yaohan Japan announces bankruptcy, the Macau branch is acquired by an investment subsidiary associated with STDM and Shun Tak Holdings and relaunched under the New Yaohan name.
- 1992
Yaohan opens its Macau branch
[1]The Japanese retail group Yaohan opens a department store on Avenida da Amizade beside the Jai Alai Casino. The store is described as Macau's first department store.
Products and positioning
A Macau-based department-store and outlet retailer with a heritage linked to the former Yaohan group, serving local and visitor-oriented shopping demand through a central flagship store and transport- and resort-linked outlet locations.
Department-store retail · 2008
New Yaohan Department Store
The central New Yaohan store on Avenida Dr. Mário Soares is the retailer's principal department-store operation. Public reference material identifies it as a multi-category department store, but does not provide a complete current floor-by-floor product catalogue or named brand list.
Outlet retail · 2010
New Yaohan Outlet
The New Yaohan Outlet at the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal is an outlet-format retail location designed for a high-traffic transport setting. It occupies approximately 11,000 square feet and carries outlet merchandise and products from different brands.
Multi-brand outlet retail
Managed resort and commercial outlets
New Yaohan has managed or operated outlet presentations for different brands at The Venetian Macao, Four Seasons Hotel Macao, and One Central. Specific participating brands and current operating arrangements are not identified in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2010
Launch the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal outletProduct launchBackground
New Yaohan sought an outlet presence in a major passenger and tourism gateway.
Action taken
The company invested 30 million patacas in an approximately 11,000-square-foot outlet on the terminal's third floor.
Aftermath
The outlet extended New Yaohan's reach beyond its main department store and supported a tourism-oriented retail format.
Investment. 30 million patacas (Reported for the 2010 outlet project)
2008
Relocate the department storeStrategyBackground
The original Avenida da Amizade site was designated for demolition and redevelopment as Oceanus.
Action taken
New Yaohan closed the original store on August 2 and opened a replacement store on Avenida Dr. Mário Soares on August 8.
Aftermath
The retailer continued operating from a central Praia Grande location while the former site was redeveloped.
1997
Acquire and relaunch the Macau Yaohan branchM&ABackground
Yaohan Japan announced bankruptcy, putting the future of its Macau branch at risk.
Action taken
Panda Sociedade de Gestão de Investimentos Limitada acquired the branch, and STDM established New Yaohan Department Store to operate it under a new name.
Aftermath
The Macau retail business continued independently as New Yaohan under STDM ownership.
Recent events
- 2010
New Yaohan opens Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal outlet[1]
Product launch
The retailer opened an approximately 11,000-square-foot outlet on the third floor of the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal after an investment reported at 30 million patacas.
- 2008
New Yaohan relocates ahead of Oceanus redevelopment[1]
Other
The original Avenida da Amizade store closed on August 2, 2008, and the retailer reopened at Avenida Dr. Mário Soares on August 8 after the former site was designated for redevelopment.
- 1997
Yaohan's Macau branch is acquired and relaunched as New Yaohan[1]
Bankruptcy · M&A · Leadership change
Following Yaohan Japan's bankruptcy announcement, an investment subsidiary associated with STDM and Shun Tak Holdings acquired the Macau branch. STDM then created New Yaohan Department Store to continue the operation under a new identity.
Sources1 sources
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