From Vintage Hot Wheels to Pre-WW2 Newspapers, Bazar Karat is THE Place for Collectors

By Charmaine Shaharin • 14 Jul 2020 in Features

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If you’re a fan of all things vintage, you would know that Amcorp Mall and Pasar Seni have always been the most popular, albeit mainstream, places to get your dig on. However, as the local collector’s community grew, and some shops at the two aforementioned places drastically changed from what they originally looked like and had offered years ago. Of the two places, Pasar Seni is even referred to as a tourist trap amongst locals and definitely not a safe haven when it comes to finding vintage goods and antique items.

For vintage-lovers in the Klang Valley, we’ve found another location which still manages to maintain it’s vintage-feel as it’s packed with hidden gems and looks the part of a vintage market too! That place to be added on your list is – Bangi’s Bazar Karat street mall.

Bazar Karat is home to several small businesses that sell yesteryear items like old collectable toys and figurines, clocks, preserved newspapers and quirky sketches of Malaysian film stars, to name a few.

Besides the wide selection, the place is also known for being the largest venue that sells used books in Malaysia–it was even dubbed as ‘a book city’ by locals. Bazar Karat also hosts special book market events every second and fourth Sunday every month.

Although Bangi’s book city looks interesting, according to Facebook user Nik Lee, the existence of this hidden gem is less realised by the people of Bangi themselves, let alone the people of the Klang Valley. With that, it’s highly encouraged for not just vintage lovers but book lovers to give this place a visit.

Amongst the bookstores there are Gms Buku, Kutub Khanah, Marjan Yaacob, Syed Mohd Zakir, Sahidan Masterpiece – Sahidan Jaafar, MJ Storbuku, Kedai Buku Mok Ali dan Komikkita Studio.