Is the closure of your favorite bar or restaurant imminent?

[Ling Kae]

3 hours ago, Leaver said:

Nothing weird about the thread.  Just trying to keep it on topic.

 

I seriously don't think a few of my favorite bars will still be here, 6 to 12 months from now, and they run a good operation in them, and have been around a long time.  I think they are headed for the same destiny as The Pig and Whistle and The Butcher's Arms, but time will tell.  Maybe they will be one of the survivors, maybe not. 

 

It's just they are empty now, and whilst the low can account for some of the lack of clientele, it can't be blamed for these places being devoid of customers completely, because I have seen them busy in previous low seasons.   I'm not talking about places like a brick bar under a tin roof, but proper nice places. 

Proper and nice places hey?

 

What may be proper and nice to you might not be for the majority. 

 

In my opinion the majority could not care less who closes and does not survive.  Tonight I was drinking with 7 of my buddies,  none of them are loyal to any particular bar or restaurant.  They change locations at a whim. I know this for a fact as the bars we were drinking in 18 years ago are bars that we rarely go into now. No one cares, we adopt the new places that offer a better deal.

 

As far as restaurants go you need to go take a look at Shabushi in Central Festival. It is full at all hours of the day. I have only once ever in the last 20 visits have been able get in straight away. Every other time I had to take a ticket and wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to vacate their table. Costs 419 baht per head and yet it's full all the time, mostly Thais too. Why are they successful and your bar is not? Answer, maybe your bar is not adapting. Please don't tell me how cheap rent is in Central Festival. 

 

To me it sounds like you are a bar/restaurant owner who is not meeting the market and losing business.

 

If you are not and if your best place might close then why should the other 99% of people in this town care? We don't use it anyway.

 

So so much choice in Pattaya, each to his own, why worry?

[shdmn]

On 10/8/2019 at 12:53 AM, metempsychotic said:

the waste side, epic.

im going to file that with "finger of speech", "statue of limitations" and "adding salt to the jury".

 

keep em coming please!

There are more burger and steak joints than ever.  For every one that closes 2 more open up.  But yea, the ThaiVisa peanut gallery say they are all going away so it must be true...

Edited October 10, 2019 by shdmn

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, shdmn said:

There are more burger and steak joints than ever.  For every one that closes 2 more open up.  But yea, the ThaiVisa peanut gallery say they are all going away so it must be true...

The evidence doesn't support that.... by your statements the total number of eating places should be increasing rapidly. I have lost 3 of the places I used some years ago and found only one alternative, where there should be 6 according to you. 

I do not count the large number of Indian places as alternatives, nor burger and steak joints.

Edited October 10, 2019 by jacko45k

[sunnyboy2018]

On 9/15/2019 at 4:38 AM, kinyara said:

Went to my local Sports bar/restaurant last night at 6pm to get ready for the early Premier League game and based on how packed it was with people watching a different game on the multiple games I decided just to watch that one back in the condo. Some people may not like Sports bars but I do think a good one has the right formula for success in Pattaya. The beauty of Pattay has and always will be something for everyone.

Name me 10 bars out of thousands that do not have TV screens constantly flickering. 

[sunnyboy2018]

5 hours ago, Ling Kae said:

Proper and nice places hey?

 

What may be proper and nice to you might not be for the majority. 

 

In my opinion the majority could not care less who closes and does not survive.  Tonight I was drinking with 7 of my buddies,  none of them are loyal to any particular bar or restaurant.  They change locations at a whim. I know this for a fact as the bars we were drinking in 18 years ago are bars that we rarely go into now. No one cares, we adopt the new places that offer a better deal.

 

As far as restaurants go you need to go take a look at Shabushi in Central Festival. It is full at all hours of the day. I have only once ever in the last 20 visits have been able get in straight away. Every other time I had to take a ticket and wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to vacate their table. Costs 419 baht per head and yet it's full all the time, mostly Thais too. Why are they successful and your bar is not? Answer, maybe your bar is not adapting. Please don't tell me how cheap rent is in Central Festival. 

 

To me it sounds like you are a bar/restaurant owner who is not meeting the market and losing business.

 

If you are not and if your best place might close then why should the other 99% of people in this town care? We don't use it anyway.

 

So so much choice in Pattaya, each to his own, why worry?

Due to the change of bars becoming sports bars showing non stop  cr@p there is not much choice. Same with the music. Just peurile sh!te. Thats not what I call choice. Its dumbing down to the level of the most undiscerning punter. Most of whom seem to be chain smokers. If such bars are closing. GOOD! 

[sunnyboy2018]

On 8/13/2019 at 3:50 PM, gk10002000 said:

I just came back from 3 weeks in Thailand.  The Domicile Austrian restaurant has closed on second road in Pattaya and a smaller version of itself is next to it.  The Thai fellow that spoke German now works at the Brauhaus next door.  The wiener schnitzel at the Domicile used be great with fried potatoes and salat.  Things change.

 

PapaGayos was literally empty at all hours.  That place used to rock and be a great place for late night stop ins

PapaGayos, sniff sniff, silver foil stained brown, has not rocked for over 10 years.

[sunnyboy2018]

On 8/13/2019 at 3:57 PM, Leaver said:

No agenda.

 

One favorite place of mine has been very quiet lately, and I mean, very quiet.  Actually, has been for some time, despite no change in prices or quality of service.

 

This is a well established, around 15 years, or more, bar restaurant, with legitimate staff. 

 

It has always had repeat tourist clientele, as well as constant expat support. 

 

It's not a small establishment, and is in a good location, so rent must be huge. 

 

The boss is a good businessman, and good communicator, not a drunken pimp. 

 

If business continues as it has been, through no fault of his, I can't see it being sustainable, and it will close. 

 

 

'Not a drunken pimp' YES you have a mega agenda....You prefer footie to girls ...In Pattya! 

[Ling Kae]

46 minutes ago, Ron jeremy said:

Wore a surgical  mask???? When they came to visit you???? Never had that happen, 

viet woman are not whores like the Thai woman, they are more like western woman, they still have morals and don't care to throw themselves at old overweight balding men, what woman in the world would?

u didn't have the game to get ladies back home, or in Vietnam , that's why you came to pattaya, best stay there.

I would say there is a big BS alert here. I was there a Month and observed the comings and goings of Viet ladies going to guys rooms over several afternoons. They turn up for an hour or so. They arrive on their motorcycle with their face mask on. They leave an hour later with their face mask on, funny how that was always around 3 pm when they started work. They just do not want to be identified,  that's all. Oh the shame of it hey?

 

But don't worry I won't be swapping Pattaya for Vietnam anytime soon. This place is way better and way easier for everything. 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

'Not a drunken pimp' YES you have a mega agenda....You prefer footie to girls ...In Pattya! 

Why not both.... ? Footy for 90 minutes Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, then off for the girls!

[Leaver]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Why not both.... ? Footy for 90 minutes Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, then off for the girls!

Exactly, but rocket science for some.  ????

[Leaver]

4 hours ago, sunnyboy2018 said:

'Not a drunken pimp' YES you have a mega agenda....You prefer footie to girls ...In Pattya! 

No, I prefer playing pool with bar girls all night and answering questions like, "where you come from" and "how long you stay Pattaya" and "where your hotel" all night.  ????

[Rimmer]

some off topic about Vietnam removed also replies

[Leaver]

9 hours ago, Ling Kae said:

Proper and nice places hey?

 

What may be proper and nice to you might not be for the majority. 

 

In my opinion the majority could not care less who closes and does not survive.  Tonight I was drinking with 7 of my buddies,  none of them are loyal to any particular bar or restaurant.  They change locations at a whim. I know this for a fact as the bars we were drinking in 18 years ago are bars that we rarely go into now. No one cares, we adopt the new places that offer a better deal.

 

As far as restaurants go you need to go take a look at Shabushi in Central Festival. It is full at all hours of the day. I have only once ever in the last 20 visits have been able get in straight away. Every other time I had to take a ticket and wait 15 to 20 minutes for someone to vacate their table. Costs 419 baht per head and yet it's full all the time, mostly Thais too. Why are they successful and your bar is not? Answer, maybe your bar is not adapting. Please don't tell me how cheap rent is in Central Festival. 

 

To me it sounds like you are a bar/restaurant owner who is not meeting the market and losing business.

 

If you are not and if your best place might close then why should the other 99% of people in this town care? We don't use it anyway.

 

So so much choice in Pattaya, each to his own, why worry?

Firstly, I am not a bar owner, and I am not particularly loyal to any establishment.  I frequent certain places regularly, but will I be lost if they closed tomorrow, no, but would I miss their food, service, and facilities, yes.

 

We all know things can change here very quickly, so I have already chosen some alternatives.  As I have said, it will be survival of fittest in the next 6 to 12 months.  Some will remain open, others will close. 

 

I doubt that for every 1 that closes, 2 more will open, as another member suggests.   I think there will be closures, which then leaves less variety and choice.  Of course, with such closures, the survivors become more busy.

 

Do you really think your example of Shabushi is indicative of restaurants in Pattaya?   How about posting about the 100 empty restaurants you walked past to get to Shabushi?  

I get your point that it's not your fault, or mine, nor should we care, that any, or all, of these 100 empty restaurants go broke and close. 

 

Perhaps my thread title should have simply been, "Do you know of any bars or restaurants that you have been to that you think will close soon?"

 

Perhaps my use of the word "favorite" in the thread title has drawn too much focus that it has to be one's "local." 

 

Your example of Shabushi is interesting.  Hypothetically, let's just say, for whatever reason, it closed tomorrow.  Haven't you then lost some choice, and variety, for your dining out here?   Where would you go to get a similar dining experience?  

 

Let's say bars like Billabong Bar and Triangle Bar closed tomorrow.  Both are larger bars, offering 2 for 1 drinks, with live music.  Where would the clientele from these bars go for a similar experience?

[Leaver]

9 hours ago, shdmn said:

There are more burger and steak joints than ever.  For every one that closes 2 more open up.  But yea, the ThaiVisa peanut gallery say they are all going away so it must be true...

I would say for every burger joint closing, an Indian curry place is opening up.  ????

[Leaver]

5 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I have lost 3 of the places I used some years ago and found only one alternative,

Which is a point I am trying to make. 

 

Do we care if places we frequent go broke and close?  For most of us, no.  However, do we lose choice and variety with that closure, yes.

 

Also, would such closures see some have to travel further for a similar dining / drinking experience, possibly. 

 

Will such closures make other establishments more busy, yes.  We they become uncomfortably busy, possibly. 

[Leaver]

4 hours ago, Ling Kae said:

I would say there is a big BS alert here. I was there a Month and observed the comings and goings of Viet ladies going to guys rooms over several afternoons. They turn up for an hour or so. They arrive on their motorcycle with their face mask on. They leave an hour later with their face mask on, funny how that was always around 3 pm when they started work. They just do not want to be identified,  that's all. Oh the shame of it hey?

 

But don't worry I won't be swapping Pattaya for Vietnam anytime soon. This place is way better and way easier for everything. 

I have seen the dial up hookers come to hotels wearing surgical masks.  As soon as they enter the hotel lobby they remove it.  They have to show reception their ID card, so mask comes off.  From what I have seen, they keep it off as they head to the elevators. 

 

Ho Chi Minh City is busy, dusty, and has smog.  Similar to Bangkok.  Vietnamese men and women wear the surgical masks and sunglasses when riding their bikes.  Nothing new about this across Asia. 

 

4 hours ago, Ling Kae said:

I won't be swapping Pattaya for Vietnam anytime soon. This place is way better and way easier for everything. 

If you are talking about the sex trade being better, then yes, I agree, but then again, there's no where else on the planet for the sex trade like Pattaya.

 

If you are talking about an easier lifestyle, I would have to disagree, particularly when it comes to visas, but also to affordability. 

 

 

[Ling Kae]

6 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Your example of Shabushi is interesting.  Hypothetically, let's just say, for whatever reason, it closed tomorrow.  Haven't you then lost some choice, and variety, for your dining out here?   Where would you go to get a similar dining experience?  

Only 1 of many choices, I really wouldn't care. By the way there is a Shabushi in Harbour and Terminal 21 as well so if I really wanted to make the effort l could go there.

 

If Billabong or Triangle bar closed tomorrow it wouldn't worry me at all. I have not had a drink in Billabong for 2 years already. With Triangle, it's an ok place to go but if it disappeared it wouldn't worry me.

 

There is unlimted choice here. The new Rich Bar just re opened.  New stage with a super rock and roll band. Completely renovated premises, looks and sounds good. Might pop in there in the next few nights.

 

Choice is limitless, who cares about the failures,  some win, some lose, customers adapt.

 

[Leaver]

1 minute ago, Ling Kae said:

Only 1 of many choices, I really wouldn't care. By the way there is a Shabushi in Harbour and Terminal 21 as well so if I really wanted to make the effort l could go there.

 

If Billabong or Triangle bar closed tomorrow it wouldn't worry me at all. I have not had a drink in Billabong for 2 years already. With Triangle, it's an ok place to go but if it disappeared it wouldn't worry me.

 

There is unlimted choice here. The new Rich Bar just re opened.  New stage with a super rock and roll band. Completely renovated premises, looks and sounds good. Might pop in there in the next few nights.

 

Choice is limitless, who cares about the failures,  some win, some lose, customers adapt.

 

My post was more aimed at members in general, not yourself personally, and has nothing to do with "caring" or not. 

 

It has to do with would you have then lost variety and choice, and the answer is obviously, yes. 

 

Three Shabushi restaurants down to two is a loss of one.  As they serve the same things, in a similar environment, you haven't lost variety, but just lost a choice of location. This is why it's not a good example, unless there was only one Shabushi in Pattaya.  If that was the case, now no more Shabushi for you. 

 

Take The Butcher's Arms for example.  Let's say it goes from one bar / restaurant, to being carved up and turned into ten small bars, in a new bar complex.  Some will argue, one bar closed and ten opened, but I would argue the style of the bar that closed has not been replaced by another bar, at the same location, or elsewhere, that is of a similar style, thus, a loss of choice and variety, and the the former clientele now moving to a similar style establishment. 

 

It's not about "caring" or not about such closures. 

[Ling Kae]

5 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

If you are talking about an easier lifestyle, I would have to disagree, particularly when it comes to visas, but also to affordability. 

 

 

That was not my experience at all. Here I walk out of my hotel and I have 12 ATM's within 100 meters, 4 exchange booths, 2 x 7/11's, 1 x family mart, maybe 30 restaurants,  50 bars, motorcycle rental places, travel agencies etc. All from 30 seconds to a 5 minute walk. Plus lets not forget those hospitals we need.

 

Vietnam is absolutely nothing like that, and I mean nothing at all as easy as this. No way would i swap Pattaya for Vietnam.  I mentioned it before,  the difference between the price of beer here vs Vietnam is $2 usd here and $1 over there. For that small difference and major benefits here, I would rather pay the extra $1 a beer here. So many good choices, great bars and great places for farangs to enjoy.

 

 

 

[Ling Kae]

4 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

Take The Butcher's Arms for example.  

You keep bringing this place up. Do you know it is now a Prime Hamburger restaurant? How smart do you think they are opening up next to a McDonalds and Hungry Hippo? My guess is, once again someone hasn't done their homework.  The place is empty all day and night. If this place lasts 6 Months I will be surprised. 

[Leaver]

4 minutes ago, Ling Kae said:

You keep bringing this place up. Do you know it is now a Prime Hamburger restaurant? How smart do you think they are opening up next to a McDonalds and Hungry Hippo? My guess is, once again someone hasn't done their homework.  The place is empty all day and night. If this place lasts 6 Months I will be surprised. 

I used the building as an example. I clearly stated this.

 

Here's the definition of the word "example." 

 

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/example

 

Ok, so you think it will be closed in 6 months.  That's all this thread is about.  That's it.  Simple. 

 

Any others restaurant / bars that you think will be closed in 6 to 12 months?

Edited October 11, 2019 by Leaver

[Leaver]

6 minutes ago, Ling Kae said:

HCM Bui Vien area. Yes not bad but nothing like Pattaya.

And

Vung Tau. Certainly many deficiencies there. Could not source a decent breakfast anywhere other than the casino. Beach on both sides worse than Pattaya.  Bars, there are a few but nothing like here. Girls, hard as nails.  All looking for a husband and a ticket out to a farang country.

 

Certainly everything you desire is only meters away in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.  This is the same with the CBD's of Danang and Nha Trang.  What couldn't you source in HCMC?

 

I agree with your description of Vung Tau, but it's a lot quieter there, so it's not my chosen Plan B for Thailand. 

[Ling Kae]

21 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Certainly everything you desire is only meters away in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City.  This is the same with the CBD's of Danang and Nha Trang.  What couldn't you source in HCMC?

 

Ok, so I am a bit of a fitness fanatic and do 10 km to 15 km hard walks each day. The only decent place to do that was in the big park there. All doable but going around and around can get monotonous. The streets are bad though, a bit like soi buakhow at 6 pm. Heavy traffic and no where to go at times. The beachfront walk here is better for that.

 

The other thing was a decent big supermarket like Big C. Plenty of small 7/11 types but nothing big. I did find a mall about 5kms away but it's supermarket was small.  

 

HCMC was ok, I think it's a good place to do a visa run. The 2 streets off Bui Vien had some great restaurant/bars there. Can easy do a week there again in the future. 

[singking]

I remember being in Udon Thani, on the way to Vientiane, during the Global Financial Crisis.  The farang establishments in Udon Thani were quite busy at that time, as many of the foreigners had to move back to the village because they could no longer afford to live in the tourist areas in the south.
 
Issan cities, towns and villages may see a similar influx in the near future, as many face affordability issues again.

The Isaan area is constantly developing and when the rail system and freeways are completed people will start moving to these areas. As long as the right sort of development follows the infrastructure Isaan will become more popular. The tourist areas are suffering from overkill. This kind of development has happened all over the world and whilst not always successful it is inevitable. The tourist areas and Bangkok are already becoming too expensive for many. If an option arises that includes high speed rail and quality housing at liveable rate then people will move. I’m not talking tourism here, I’m talking lifestyle for residents. Interestingly though, there are plenty of opportunities to develop tourist related development. Thailand, like all of Asia is moving into the future. It has to.


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[singking]

Well the Baht may well be too strong against the USD I agree but the other side of the currency pairing that forms half of the "bottom line" has absolutely nothing to do with Thailand
Sterling/Dollar Euro/Dollar AUD/Dollar etc.....until those ratios improve and for Brits obviously Brexit has sunk Sterling than some tough times ahead. I can see Sterling improving but not the Euro and AUD and those currencies form a huge part of traditional visitors

When it comes to the AUD I see a different analogy. If the AUD continues to stay low, which seems to be the case, then you will have tourists from Australia who would normally travel to EU, USA etc are likely to come to SEA instead, due to that devaluation.


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[Rimmer]

More off topic removed, if you want to discuss Vietnam then please do it in the Vietnam Forum HERE

[shdmn]

I got a table at Triangle bar all to myself tonight.  The bar was only maybe 3/4 full.  According to internet randos here that is a clear sign of the Pattaya tourist apocalypse.  So Pattaya is doomed. Case closed.  Stick a fork in it.  Full stop.  The end!!!

 

 

[shdmn]

Buakao a ghost down.  Bars all empty.  Pattaya is doomed.  6 months and it won't exist anymore.  You can take that to the bank!  Only low end Chinese and Indian tourists.  High end suffering.  I know it's true because some rando here said so.

[Leaver]

1 hour ago, shdmn said:

I got a table at Triangle bar all to myself tonight.  The bar was only maybe 3/4 full.  According to internet randos here that is a clear sign of the Pattaya tourist apocalypse.  So Pattaya is doomed. Case closed.  Stick a fork in it.  Full stop.  The end!!!

 

 

Triangle Bar doesn't appear to be 3/4 full in these photos. 

 

Triangle Bar is a 2 for 1 bar.  Just think how busy it has to be to even cover costs, let alone turn a profit, with those slim margins. 

 

The amount of customers in your photos wouldn't even cover costs. 

[Leaver]

1 hour ago, shdmn said:

Buakao a ghost down.  Bars all empty.  Pattaya is doomed.  6 months and it won't exist anymore.  You can take that to the bank!  Only low end Chinese and Indian tourists.  High end suffering.  I know it's true because some rando here said so.

So, some photos of traffic jam is supposed to show Pattaya is busy.

 

Go down to Walking Street.  You will see it's busy with pedestrian traffic, but none of them are spending. Looks busy, but no money.  

 

You really need to differentiate between the numbers of people, and the amount they spend.  Pattaya could be rammed, but it means nothing if no one is spending, and that's what we have with the Chinese and Indian tourists. 

 

Unless they make a toll way on Soi Buakaew, there's no money in traffic.  ????????