China Square K.U — Local services in Nairobi

The mall is located near the Kenyatta university. Not much else happening at the mall apart from the 3 floors of China Square. Parking was Ksh100 flat rate fee… & you pay at the exit, as parking machine wasn’t working. I can see how this gets busy, fast. Security at the entrance wasn’t even scanning or checking cars/bags on entrance so definitely a concern. Once you reach the actual shop a nice security lady asked to see inside my hand bag. Security seemed excellent in the actual shop.

I’ve had this social media hyped location on my list for about 2 months now. Decided to try it before pay day, midweek, first thing when it was quiet. Parking lot had about 20 cars in & it was peaceful. Staff seem plentiful & were cleaning, restocking etc.

Level one has tools, bright orange traffic cones, beauty supplies, lighting fixtures, car accessories, crockery, decor, ladders etc. Level 2 has shoes, children’s toys, stationary, party supplies, bedding, curtains & rugs etc. Level 3 - if you have a trolley/pushchair/pram or mobility challenged that will have to stay on level 2. Level 3 has outdoor furniture, couches, outdoor umbrellas, electronics, office equipment, beds & cupboards etc.

Let’s address the empty shelves that others have mentioned. Yes they did have a few… maybe 15%. However it’s a big store & they need space for incoming inventory, so that didn’t bother me. Good potential for Christmas stock. It has a overall glitzy, glam vibe going in the decor area. If you not into gold or sparkling you might be disappointed. Prices seem on par for international standard. Didn’t buy as much as I had thought. A lot of plastic or cheaper looking goods that can get the job done. Walked every aisle & took about 90 minutes to see it all. If it’s busy or many people have trolleys in the aisles - pack your patience. The cash out process can take sometime. Not as many cashiers & it just felt like a slower process. Be sure all the items you chose have a barcode/Item number for scanning on.

Room for improvement: No signage to figure out what is where. Maybe done deliberately to make you peruse/hunt more or the inventory changes so often.

Toilets in the actual mall have no signage. As you exit the shop, go up the stairs/ramp one floor. You will see a open door at the end of the mall with no signage. You will then see two more doors inside that marked male/female. Only the disabled toilet cubicle was open, the others were locked/closed off. Clean for first thing in the morning.

Will I go back? If I need some cheaper equipment or was fitting my place out as a beginner… yes maybe. However if your home is established or you appreciate better long term quality, then this isn’t the place for that. I will add that the crockery section looked good & if I wanted to expand on that I’d go here. I can see how this place would be...

China Square is definitely not worth the hype. tTey are not actually cheap and some items are significantly overpriced. I don't struggle with money but if you advertise something else cheap and affordable options for everyday use maybe you should also follow this as a pricing strategy. Some items are priced affordably but it's definitely not the majority. I don't know if it has anything to do with government taxation at the moment though, so maybe let's keep that in mind. however, it feels more like a supermarket that has everything but food items. also I don't quite understand this place, there's for example a lot of light bulbs like multiple rows and you would wonder are people trying to become enlightened or what is the goal here? I wish they had more variety that is not all the same. additionally, I don't understand why I am not allowed to bring my back into the store despite of the fact that there's a sign that says if I want to bring it I have to be prepared for security to search it, however security did not allow me to take it inside. It was a normal backpack so I don't understand the problem because this doesn't happen for example when I go to Panda Garden city. the arguement from the security personnel was it was too large to be taken inside, but that doesn't make sense. I can conceal things very easily inside a jacket, a small bag, and it might even be easier than having people being suspicious of a large bag. I mean I'm not a criminal but the arguement just doesn't make sense. get rid of this rule and treat everyone the same, or don't allow even small bags inside but to make it dependant on the size of a bag doesn't make any sense from a security perspective. unfortunately, the essential oil diffusers were significantly overpriced and they are actually cheaper to buy online so I'm going to buy them there. unfortunate but I have given...

I honestly don't see what all the hype is about with this place. After hearing so much buzz from friends and seeing the constant social media posts, I expected something truly special, but my experience left me feeling underwhelmed and questioning whether the reputation is justified.

The most glaring issue is the incredibly limited stock selection. Every time I visit, half the items I'm interested in are out of stock or simply not available. It's frustrating to make a special trip only to find that the products you came for aren't even there. The inventory management seems poorly handled, and it gives the impression that they either can't keep up with demand or deliberately create artificial scarcity.

Speaking of which, the pricing is absolutely outrageous. I understand that quality comes at a cost, but these prices feel inflated beyond reason. You're paying a premium that seems more about the brand name and perceived exclusivity than actual value. For what you get, there are definitely better alternatives available elsewhere at more reasonable price points.

However, I have to admit that occasionally - and I mean very occasionally - you can stumble upon something genuinely worthwhile. There have been a few instances where I discovered items that were truly exceptional and worth the investment. These rare finds almost make up for the overall disappointing experience, but they're so infrequent that they don't justify the regular frustration of shopping here.

The whole experience feels like a gamble where the odds are stacked against you, but the potential payoff keeps you coming back despite...