Jamwaktu.com – The Surabaya City Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening the creative economy and empowering small businesses through the revitalization of the former Hi-Tech Mall building. The previously unpopulated mall site is now being designed as a collaborative space for youth creativity, MSMEs, and local technology development. This transformation is one of the Surabaya City Government’s strategic efforts to expand employment opportunities, support MSMEs’ advancement, and create a sustainable digital economy ecosystem in the City of Heroes.
This initiative was led by Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi, who conducted a comprehensive inspection of the revitalization progress in mid-2025. According to him, the former Hi-Tech Mall will be transformed into a center for creative industries and sportstainment, with each floor specifically designed to meet the needs of Surabaya’s creative community and youth.
“This building will be a gathering place for young people and creative economy players. It will include a concert area, dining venues, product showrooms, and modern sports facilities,” said Mayor Eri during the revitalization inspection.
He emphasized that the front area of the building will be demolished to create an open-air creative activity area and accommodate street vendors (PKL) who previously operated in the area.
Multifunctional Creative Zone
The spatial planning of the former Hi-Tech Mall is divided into several main zones: an IT and gaming space, a media and design area, an arts and culture center, and sports entertainment. The basement will house an event atrium and community commercial space, while the ground floor is designed as a digital technology and gaming creativity space for local developers. The first floor will focus on media and creative design, and the second floor will be a center for arts and culture activities such as dance performances and art performances. The third floor will feature performance and recreation areas to enhance the visitor experience.
Mayor Eri also mentioned that the former cinema in the building will be maintained as a venue for screening films by Surabaya’s youth, providing a platform for the film community to develop their own creative potential.
Supporting MSMEs and Creative Entrepreneurs
As part of the city government’s strategy to empower MSMEs, this revitalized building will provide a dedicated outdoor area with a concept similar to modern shopping centers like Sarinah Jakarta, but with a curated selection of local MSME products. MSME tenants entering the building will also undergo a rigorous selection process to maintain the quality and competitiveness of the products marketed.
Interestingly, the city government is also providing incentives in the form of free booth rental for several months to creative economy actors who will occupy this location, as a form of initial support to revive their businesses and attract new entrepreneurs.
Collaboration with Communities and Investors
This revitalization is not solely carried out by the government, but also involves collaboration with local communities, investors, and business developers. This step is expected to not only create workplaces and creative spaces, but also strengthen Surabaya’s overall digital economy ecosystem.
The mayor also confirmed that he will hold a competition to determine a new name for the former Hi-Tech Mall, as part of the city’s branding efforts to reflect the spirit of innovation and creativity of Surabaya’s residents.
Regional Legislative Council Response and Challenges of Public Involvement
Despite widespread support for this revitalization, several members of the Surabaya Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) urged the City Government to open up more dialogue and directly involve residents in decision-making regarding the function and direction of the area’s development. Members of Commission B of the Surabaya DPRD suggested a more representative public hearing approach so that the aspirations of residents, including those of MSMEs in the surrounding area, would be reflected in the final revitalization design.
Promoting the Creative Economy as a Key to Growth
The revitalization of the former Hi-Tech Mall is in line with the Surabaya City Government’s broader efforts to establish the city as a global creative city and a center for MSME innovation and the digital economy, including through various transformation programs such as MSME digital integration and year-round creative exhibition festivals.
These initiatives demonstrate how Surabaya continues to innovate in providing opportunities for creative economy players to thrive, while creating an environment that supports sustainable and inclusive economic growth for all levels of society.
