Aeon Mall Co., a unit of supermarket chain Aeon Co., plans to open most of its new shopping centers near train stations to lure shoppers driving less because of higher fuel costs.
The company will stick to its target of opening 15 malls by February 2011 at a cost of about ¥380 billion, President Noriyuki Murakami said, noting Aeon Mall will hold down costs for opening stores near stations, locations that command premiums over suburban areas, by reducing sales floors and using energy-saving facilities.