Tainan’s Old Lin Department Store (林百貨)
I was fortunate to get a sneak preview of Hayashi Hyakkaten, commonly called Lin Department Store (林百貨), a Japanese era department store which, sadly, saw very little commerce since its heydey in the 1930’s.
Shortly after opening in 1932, the Pacific War in 1941 soon brought financial hardship then closure to the elegant, Japanese run store.
Damaged during the war, the building changed ownership many times but never regained its former glory. Presently, the city government’s renovations are nearing completion and the beautifully restored building will serve as a culture showcase of some sort.
Besides the amazing architecture, the building’s claim to fame is its elevator. It is the first elevator to be built in Tainan, the second in Taiwan (by a matter of days) and now the oldest existing elevator in Taiwan. The elevator has been restored and some of the work was overseen by one of the original contractors, now 100 years old!
Lin Department store is on the corner of Zhongyi and Zhongzheng Roads — once the poshest shopping district in Tainan.
Lin Department Store: No. 63, Section 2, Zhōngyì Rd, Zhongxi District, Tainan City, 700 (忠義路二段63號)
I so wanted to get in there….I drive pass by everyday, it recently has been some construction going I sensed something exciting must b happening soon.lucky u.thx for the sneak preview digitally anyway
Went in there about a year ago, when it was all covered up. The place sure has come a long way since then. Guess your photography helps a little bit, too 😉
You’re lucky to be able to get in there. I can’t wait for it to open up to the public. I heard something about a niche department store that focused on local goods.
@@??為什麼可以上去? 封鎖了嗎?
wow, so very cool. i’ve been told that was the first department store in taiwan.
Great pics! I am very excited to visit this and hope that Tainan continues to work harder to tend some of its run down glories. That Land Bank facade on the other side of the road would be a good place to start…
Looks like a great place to squat !
Thanx Rich for taking the sunlit, beautiful photos of Lin’s.
Anytime, Guy!
[…] I blogged about the old building before it was re-opened here: Tainan’s Old Lin Department Store (林百貨) […]