CentralWorld
CentralWorld
Interior of the CentralWorld (Atrium – Zone A), before the fire |
| Location |
Ratchadamri Road, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Opening date |
1990 |
| Developer |
Central Pattana |
| Management |
Kobchai Jirathiwat |
| Owner |
Central Pattana |
| Architect |
Altoon + Porter Architects LLP |
| No. of stores and services |
600 |
| No. of anchor tenants |
11 |
| Total retail floor area |
1,024,000 square metres (11,000,000 sq ft) |
| Parking |
7000+ |
| Website |
http://www.centralworld.co.th |
Other facts and statistics of CentralWorld:
- Renovated opening date: July 21, 2006
- GFA of shopping mall: 550,000 square metres (5,900,000 sq ft) include:
- GLA of stores rental: 429,500 square metres (4,600,000 sq ft)
- GFA of public spaces: 120,500 square metres (1,300,000 sq ft)
- GFA of 5-star hotel (exclude convention center): 90,000 square metres (970,000 sq ft)
- GFA of convention center: 17,000 square metres (180,000 sq ft)
- GFA of offices tower: 80,000 square metres (860,000 sq ft)
- GFA of indoor parking structure and parking underground of shopping mall and offices tower: 287,000 square metres (3,100,000 sq ft)
- No. of floors in CentralWorld complex:
- Shopping mall (zone A-C): 7
- Shopping mall (zone D): 8
- Shopping mall (zone E): 3
- Shopping mall (zone F exclude cineplex and indoor parking structure): 3
- Shopping mall (zone F only cineplex): 4
- Shopping mall (zone F only indoor parking structure): ~20
- ZEN tower (ZEN Trend Megastore and ZEN World at CentralWorld): 20
- Isetan tower: 8
- Offices tower: 45
- Hotel tower (include convention center): 57
- Convention center (a part of 5-star hotel tower): 4
- Parking underground of shopping mall and offices tower: 2
- CentralWorld is a part shopping mall of Ratchaprasong Shopping District in Bangkok
- CentralWorld is a member of Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association (RSTA) [3]
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CentralWorld (Thai: เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์) is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand.[1] It is the third largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, CentralWorld was expanded to 550,000 square metres of shopping mall and 1,024,000 square metres of complex, topping nearby rival Siam Paragon in terms of size.
On 19 May 2010, CentralWorld was one of the many properties set on fire when the Red Shirts anti-government protestors were forcibly removed after months of demonstrations which included complete blockage of the Rachaprasong shopping district. The parts of the complex most affected were the Zens department store and its adjacent annex.
A portion of the shopping complex reopened on 28 September 2010 after months of repair work.[2]
History
World Trade Center
Originally called the World Trade Center, the eight-story mall was opened in 1990. Central Group acquired the property in 2002 from the Wang Petchaboon group and changed the name to Central World Plaza. In 2005 it was renamed CentralWorld. It is on leased Crown Property Bureau land. In its acquisition, the Central Group's property development arm, Central Pattana (SET: CPN), secured a new 30-year lease on the site.[3]
Mall renovations
Anticipating the opening of the luxury Siam Paragon, CPN started massive renovations and expansion on the site in 2003. The original mall structure was 300,000 square meters. The expansion plans boosted that to 550,000 square meters. Though work was yet complete, CPN held an official opening of the renovated complex on July 21, 2006; it was expected to be fully operational by October 2006. By May 2007 the mall was fully opened, but some parts of the upper floors remained vacant. Major exterior construction was ongoing on the hotel in the northwest corner of the mall and the extension floors to the ZEN department store in southeast corner.
The renovated complex aimed to attract 150,000 customers per day, spending more than 7 billion baht annually. It marketed itself as a middle class shopping center, opposed to the upper class-market Siam Paragon.[4][5]
CentralWorld did not acieve its goal in term of daily visitors because of several reasons, including political turmoil and an ongoing economic downturn. However, shopper numbers soon increased, though reliable figures are lacking. Bangkok's New Year countdown celebrations were held in front of CentralWorld, which quickly became a traition, with the number of people increasing every year.
The Offices at CentralWorld
Renovations included completing an unfinished office tower, work on which had been halted in 1999 with only 39 of the planned 63 floors completed. Construction resumed in early 2003, expanding the tower to a 45-story, 204 meter, design, with the completed tower opening in 2005.[6]
Centara Grand at CentralWorld
Centara Grand is a chain hotel built on land leased from the Crown Properties Bureau. The flagship hotel, the Centara Grand at CentralWorld, is attached to both the CentralWorld mall and the Offices at CentralWorld.
Fire damage
CentralWorld was temporarily closed on 19 May 2010 due to severe arson damage, which occurred as troops dislodged protesters from the area during the 2010 Thailand political protests. The adjoining 'Zen' section suffered massive damage from the rioters. [7] [8]
The Isetan portion was reopened soon after. Following repairs, a large part of CentralWorld was reopened on 28 Sep 2010, with the 'Zen' section to be reopened in 2012.
Location
CentralWorld is located in Pathum Wan district at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok's busiest shopping and tourism districts.
Nearby attractions
Nearby Shopping Centers and Attractions include Gaysorn, BigC Ratchadamri, the Erawan Shrine, Amarin Plaza, Central Chidlom, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery Center, Siam Square, MBK Center, Platinum Fashion Mall, Pantip Plaza, Chamchuri Square, Chulalongkorn University, the Royal Police Headquarter, and Wat Pathum Wanaram.
Transportation
Facilities
CentralWorld Square
The largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok, this covered an area of 8,000 square metres, which was ideal for large-scale activities such as The New Year's Eve Countdown party. There were 400 dancing fountain heads incorporated into the plaza.
CentralWorld Avenue
CentralWorld Avenue is a six-lane road that circles the complex. It links Rama I Road and Ratchadamri road together.
Anchors
Main anchors
- Isetan – This branch of the Japanese department store chain has six stories. The merchandise ranges from apparel to domestic goods.
- Zen Department Store – Branded as Asia's first lifestyle trend megastore. It had 50,000 square metres and was seven stories high. It was managed by the Central Retail Corporation.
- SF World Cinema – An upscale cinema complex located on the seventh floor, it has a total of 15 screens, which include the 800 seats of World Max Screen and luxury "first-class" theatres. The venue played host to a number of Thai cinema premieres as well as the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival and the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.
Key tenants
- PowerBuy – A large electronics store selling electrical appliances ranging from refrigerators to home theatre systems. It is located on the fourth floor of the complex.
- SuperSports – A large sporting equipment shop.
- B2S – The flagship branch of the Thailand-based bookstore chain, it spreads over three floors and offers international and local publications, books, stationery, office supplies and various forms of entertainment media.
- Central Food Hall – This premium-level supermarket offers household products, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, butcheries and seafood. There are also a wine cellar, a food court and a variety of restaurants and fast food outlets.
- SB Design Square – The flagship store of S.B. Furniture, selling furnitures and home decorate products.
- Toys R Us – The flagship location of the store in Thailand, it offers more than 10,000 square meters of imported toys and attractive gadgets and gizmos for teenagers.
- Centerpoint at CentralWorld – A complex of shops, restaurants, game zones and entertainment venues located on level 7. The complex was developed and operated by Pornpailin Development Co Ltd who has previously operated the Centerpoint at Siam Square.
- TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park) – A complex that includes a library, Internet centers, a 4D movie theatre and other media facilities. Owned and operated by the government of Thailand.
- Genius Park- A newly added facility, replacing the Asian Senses, it consists of a children's playground, an arcade, and various learning centers for children and adults.
- Uniqlo Central World - The first Uniqlo store in Thailand and the currently largest branch in South-east Asia.
Former tenants
- King Power – A local duty free store which used to operate on the sixth floor of Zone A. It eventually closed down in June 2006 to make way for the expansion of the ZEN Department Store.
- Major Cineplex – A former cineplex boasting six screens and twenty four bowling lanes. The cineplex eventually closed down due to poor business, after SF World Cinema opened in January 2008. Centerpoint at Central World now occupies this space.
Retail tenants
Some of the stores included:
Apparel and accessories
Cosmetics and beauty
Gifts and stationery
Services
Restaurants and eateries
Hotel
Shrines
Two Hindu shrines are located at the north-east corner of CentralWorld: one dedicated to Trimurti and used by people praying for true love, and one dedicated to Ganesha.
See also
References
- ^ Asia Web, CentralWorld
- ^ Bangkok Post (28 September 2010)
- ^ Jitpleecheep, Sukanya. "Plenty of new offerings in store", Bangkok Post Year-End 2002 Economic Review (retrieved July 21, 2006).
- ^ Nguyen, Lan Anh (July 21, 2006). "Unfinished CentralWorld to hold grand opening", ThaiDay (print edition).
- ^ Thai News Agency (July 21, 2006). Thailand's largest shopping complex CentralWorld opens July 21, MCOT (retrieved July 22, 2003).
- ^ Bangkok Highrises – Central World Tower
- ^ Bangkok Post (May 19, 2010). Several bodies were found in the damaged area, thought to have been looters trapped by the fire. [1] (retrieved Apr 26, 2011).
- ^ Bangkok Post (May 21, 2010). [2] (retrieved Apr 26, 2011).
External links
