CentralWorld explained

CentralWorld
Address:999/9 Rama I Road
Location:Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates:13.7469°N 100.5397°W
Opening Date: (World Trade Center)
(Zen Now Close 27 November 2019)
(Isetan Now Close 31 August 2020)
(Major Cinema Now Close 6 January 2008)
(Central World Plaza)
(CentralWorld Offices)
(SF World Cinema)
(CentralWorld)
(Centra Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld)
(Uniqlo at CentralWorld)
(Central @ CentralWorld)
(Apple Store at CentralWorld)
(Shake Shack at Centralworld)
(Nitori at CentralWorld)
Previously Name:World Trade Center (1989-2002)
Central World Plaza (2002-2007) -->
Developer:Central Pattana
Manager:Patcharin Apirukworawut
Owner:Crown Property Bureau
TBF4
Architect:Altoon + Porter Architects LLP
Number Of Stores:495
Number Of Anchors:7
Floor Area:1870462NaN2
Parking:7,000
Floors:7
Publictransit:Siam BTS Station, Chit Lom BTS station
Footnotes:Other facts and statistics of CentralWorld:
  • Renovated opening date: 21 July 2006
  • GFA of shopping mall: 5500002NaN2 include:
    • GLA of stores rental: 4095002NaN2
  • GFA of 5-star hotel (exclude convention center): 900002NaN2
  • GFA of convention center: 170002NaN2
  • GFA of offices tower: 800002NaN2
  • GFA of indoor parking structure and parking underground of shopping mall and offices tower: 2870002NaN2
  • No. of floors in CentralWorld complex:
    • Shopping mall (zone A-C): 7
    • Shopping mall (zone D, I): 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
    • Central tower (Central Department Store and Central Tower @ CentralWorld): 20
    • Isetan tower: 8 (To be renamed in 2021)
    • 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) http://www.ratchaprasong.org

CentralWorld (Thai: เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์, styled as centralwOrld) is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand.[1] It is the ninth largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by the company Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, CentralWorld was expanded to of shopping mall and of complex, topping nearby rival Siam Paragon in terms of size.

History

Original Name

The mall opened in 1989. Central Group acquired the property In 2002 from the changed the name World Trade Center to Central World Plaza. In 2007, it was renamed CentralWorld. It is on leased Crown Property Bureau land. In its acquisition, the Central Group's property development arm, Central Pattana, secured a new 30-year lease on the site.[2]

Renovations

Anticipating the opening of the luxury Siam Paragon, CPN started massive renovations and expansion on the site in 2002. CPN changed the name from World Trade Center to Central World Plaza. The original mall structure was 300,000 square meters. The expansion plans boosted that to 430,000 square meters. Though work was not yet complete, CPN held an official opening of the renovated complex on 21 July 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.[3] [4]

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.

Offices at CentralWorld

Renovations included completing an unfinished office tower, work on which had been 2003 halted in with only 39 of the planned 63 floors completed. Construction resumed in 2003, expanding the tower to a 45-story, 204-meter, design, with the completed tower opening in December 2004.[5]

2010 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.[6] [7]

The Isetan portion was reopened soon after. Following repairs, a large part of CentralWorld was reopened on 28 September that year. The 'Zen' section reopened on 6 January 2012.

Mall renovations 2016–2018

Renovations included Enhance circulation and simplified navigation, add escalator in Zone A, re-zone merchandise to suit current market, use open shop-front design to enhance customer experience, enhance linkage to BTS Skytrain, and building for second Apple Store in Thailand.

The renovations started in Autumn 2016 and were due to be completed in 2018.

2019 fire and ZEN renamed into Central

During the evening rush hour on 10 April 2019, a fire that apparently started elsewhere spread to the eighth floor via air vent pipes, and the mall was ordered evacuated. At least two people, both employees, were reported to have died after jumping from the building.[8] [9] [10] [11]

That December, after three decades, ZEN was renamed into Central, positioned as an experimental experience store. The whole Central Department Store's CentralWorld store will be revamped by hiring three famous designers from France, Italy, Germany, and Thailand. The revamp cost 1 billion baht.[12]

Isetan closure and subsequent renovation

On 14 March 2020, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and CPN jointly announced the closure of Isetan Bangkok at CentralWorld per 31 August 2020 due to expiration of contract between two parties. After Isetan closes, CPN plans to renovate the area and the façade while negotiating with new department store anchor replacing Isetan. Renovation will be completed per 1Q 2022, with the Japanese feeling and ambience and its authentic Japanese restaurant zone will be kept intact.[13] [14]

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 square kilometres, 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. In 2020, Apple Store opened at this square.

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

Key tenants

Former tenants

Centara Grand at CentralWorld

See main article: Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre. 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.

Hotel

Floors

Mall& Office wing: B2-B1 parking 1-7 Retail 1-2 groove B2-7 i and Japan avenue B2,1-2 Apple store B2-27 Department Store Wing 8 tk park hall concerts 9-45 Office Hotel wing B1 G-3 3A 4-5 5A 6-7 7A 8 8A 9-10 carpark 22 sky lobby 23-26 28-55 guestrooms 56-57 bars (note 13 floors=12M Floors)(1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A 9A 10A is additional floors)

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-mall/centralworld.html Asia Web, CentralWorld
  2. Jitpleecheep, Sukanya. "Plenty of new offerings in store", Bangkok Post Year-End 2002 Economic Review (retrieved 21 July 2006).
  3. Nguyen, Lan Anh (21 July 2006). "Unfinished CentralWorld to hold grand opening", ThaiDay (print edition).
  4. Thai News Agency (21 July 2006). Thailand's largest shopping complex CentralWorld opens July 21, MCOT (retrieved 22 July 2003).
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20091027060803/http://geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/cwt.html Bangkok Highrises – Central World Tower
  6. Web site: 2010-05-19 . CentralWorld on verge of collapse . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100521143720/http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178462/centralworld-to-collapse . 2010-05-21 . Bangkok Post.
  7. Web site: 2010-05-21 . CentralWorld costs Zen fire at B1.3bn . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100524144313/http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178720/centralworld-repair-to-take-over-6-months . 2010-05-24.
  8. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47883708 "CentralWorld: Deadly blaze at Bangkok shopping complex"
  9. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1659704/fire-kills-3-at-centralworld-in-bangkok "Fire kills 2 at CentralWorld in Bangkok"
  10. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-fire/fire-at-bangkok-shopping-mall-kills-at-least-two-injures-16-idUSKCN1RM1JL "Fire at Bangkok shopping mall kills at least two, injures 16"
  11. Jintamas Saksornchai, "2 Mall Staff Likely Jumped to Death While Aiding Fire Rescue: Official", Khaosod English, 11 April 2019.
  12. News: Central earmarks B10bn for revamp. . Bangkok Post. 4 December 2019.
  13. https://www.prahchachat.net/marketing/news-432211
  14. News: Isetan to exit Thailand after 28 years. . Bangkok Post. 16 March 2020.