Nestled in the heart of Causeway Bay, Island Beverley and LAFORET are two shopping centers that once stood as the pinnacle of trend-driven retail on Hong Kong Island. Their evolution symbolizes the shifting consumer behaviors that persistently redefine the district.

Launched in the 1980s, Island Beverley emerged as one of Causeway Bay's key shopping destinations for everyday wear even before LAFORET. By the mid-1990s, with the inauguration of LAFORET, these arcades had established a connection with SOGO, the area's landmark department store located just across the street. Since then, they evolved into prime locales for spotting the latest trends. Housing over 300 shops collectively, the arcades showcased boutiques primarily selling imported fashion from Japan and Korea, attracting a young, niche clientele keen on crafting unique identities. This generation, more affluent than their 1980s counterparts due to the city's rapid development, readily indulged in foreign fashion to distinguish themselves from the crowd.

With the rise of online shopping, however, the arcades are losing their edge. The trendy boutiques that once marked the place have given way to empty spaces waiting to be leased. The stylish crowd that once flocked the venues now sits comfortably in front of their shopping sites. At Island Beverley, there used to be 4 floors of boutiques. Now 2 of them have been converted into a restaurant. Gone were the golden days of the arcades which remain vivid in the minds of many who grew up with them. 

One of the few shops that managed to survive all these years is not a boutique. Rather, it is a puzzle shop called Puzzle King, located on the 2nd floor of Island Beverley. First opened 25 years ago, it was the first shop to specialize in puzzles in Hong Kong. With puzzles from all over the world, the shop has withstood the challenge of time. Nowadays, you can also bring your own picture there to customize your puzzle!

With the development of online shopping, the need for retail shops has shrunk. How these small shopping arcades find their way out will be the next challenge. Failing to reinvent themselves, they may end up being taken down by key developers and refurbished into large, dazing-chained stores. Let’s hope they can find a position in the new era soon as they have always done.