CentralWorld (Thai: เซ็นทรัลเวิลà¸"์) is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the tenth 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 protesters 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 Zen department store and its adjacent annex.
A portion of the shopping complex reopened on 28 September 2010 after months of repair work.
History
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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.
Mall renovations
Anticipating the opening of the luxury Siam Paragon, CPN started massive renovations and expansion on the site in 2003. CPN change the name toCentral World Plaza from World Trade Center. The original mall structure was 300,000 square meters. The expansion plans boosted that to 550,000 square meters. Though work was not 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. At the time CPN change the name to Centralworld. 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.
CentralWorld did not achieve 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 tradition, 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.
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.
The Isetan portion was reopened soon after. Following repairs, a large part of CentralWorld was reopened on 28 September 2010. The 'Zen' section reopened on 6 January 2012.
Mall renovations 2016-2018
Renovations included Enhance circulation and simplified navigation, add escalator in Zone, re-zone merchandise to suit current market, use open shop-front design to enhance customer experience and Enhance linkage to BTS. The renovations started in Autumn 2016 and will be completed in Q3 2018.
Location
CentralWorld is located in Pathum Wan District at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok's busiest shopping and tourism districts.
Facilities
CentralWorld Square
The largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok, this covered an area of 8,000 square metres, which was 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 â€" This branch of the Japanese department store chain has six stories. The merchandise ranges from apparel to domestic goods.
- Zen Mega Store â€" 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 â€" 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.
- Groove @ CentralWorld The New Zone with varieties of cafe, restaurants, hang-out space at the front of The Offices
Key tenants
- PowerBuy â€" 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 â€" A large sporting equipment shop.
- B2S â€" The flagship branch of the Thailand-based bookstore chain, it spreads one floor and offers international and local publications, books, stationery, office supplies and various forms of entertainment media.
- Central Food Hall â€" 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 â€" The flagship store of S.B. Furniture, selling furnitures and home decorate products.
- Toys R Us â€" 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.
- TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park) â€" 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 - The first Uniqlo store in Thailand and currently the brand's largest branch in South-East Asia.
- H&M - The Largest H&M Store in Southeast Asia and 3rd Largest After Las Vegas' and NYC's.
- The Rink Iceskate - An indoor ice skating rink located at the 2nd floor Forum zone.
Former tenants
- King Power â€" 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 â€" 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. Japanese town now occupies this space.
- Centerpoint at CentralWorld â€" 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. It closed down in August 2012 to make Endutainment Zone. But until January, 2018, the area still vacant.
Hotel
- The Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld is a 57-storey 5-star hotel. There are 17,000 square metres area of convention hall and numerous function rooms on level 22nd of the 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
- List of shopping malls in Bangkok
- List of shopping malls in Thailand
- List of largest shopping malls in Thailand
- List of the world's largest shopping malls
- Ratchaprasong
Further reading
- Taylor, Jim (March 2011), "Larger Than Life: 'Central World' and its Demise and Rebirth â€" Red Shirts and the Creation of an Urban Cultural Myth in Thailand" (PDF), Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series (150)Â
Notes
References
- Central Pattana (21 March 2012). Annual Report 2011 (PDF). Retrieved 30 March 2012.Â
- Central Pattana (5 April 2012). Form 56-1 2011 (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 23 May 2012.Â
External links
- Official website
- Central Pattana: company site
- Altoon + Porter Architects: company site
- ZEN lifestyle trend megastore
- Isetan Group
- How it will look when finished
- Modulo Language School Homepage
