Going inside Kad Suan Kaew

[clokwise]

I thought this was quite interesting, I have plenty of memories of the place from back in the day. Unbelievable that it has been left to just flood and collapse in on itself......

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

9 minutes ago, clokwise said:

I thought this was quite interesting, I have plenty of memories of the place from back in the day. Unbelievable that it has been left to just flood and collapse in on itself......

 

 

 

IMO it was the worst of Chiang Mai's shopping malls, even Promenada was better.

[TheAppletons]

55 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

IMO it was the worst of Chiang Mai's shopping malls, even Promenada was better.

 

  This may be true but if you live on the NW side of the city, the convenience of the TOPS market and the BBL branch open on the weekend was quite nice..  

[clokwise]

Oops, forgot to post the link to part 2. wow, what a disaster area

 

 

[clokwise]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

IMO it was the worst of Chiang Mai's shopping malls, even Promenada was better.

 

It always was a pretty crap mall, but before Central Airport or any of those other malls this was basically all there was.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, clokwise said:

Unbelievable that it has been left to just flood and collapse in on itself......

 

  It will have to be knocked down and rebuilt  , too old and decrepit to be refurbished 

[chiang mai]

There is a full theatre and stage on the top floor that few people realise is there, excellent accounstics and views from every seat. We went to a number of events there, including to see/listen to  the Bangkok Philharmonic which was surprisingly good. Sorry to see it go, it wasn't modern but it was the first mall and special in many ways.

[OneZero]

Somebody is going to have to have deep pockets to buy & either refurbish or demolish /rebuild. 

Does it have potential as a location for one of those proposed Gambling /Entertainment complex's?

 

[ChaiyaTH]

Its for auction already and should be re-opend within 1-2 years.

[ChaiyaTH]

22 hours ago, chiang mai said:

There is a full theatre and stage on the top floor that few people realise is there, excellent accounstics and views from every seat. We went to a number of events there, including to see/listen to  the Bangkok Philharmonic which was surprisingly good. Sorry to see it go, it wasn't modern but it was the first mall and special in many ways.

Also a full bowling alley with smoking balcony that would have snacks and beers etc. Plenty of use for the building, if they had reasonable rent plenty of SME owners would go in again but the problem in Thailand is that they think you work for the landlords.

[CMBob]

55 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Its for auction already and should be re-opend within 1-2 years.

I see the large sign that's recently been erected there that indicates the property is for sale and to contact Krungthai Bank but haven't read anywhere that the bank has scheduled it for an auction.  Has it?

Given the cost to acquire and modernize it (which probably means tearing it all down and re-building new), I'm doubtful that any investor with that kind of money (likely a billion baht or more) would be willing to gamble that enough quality tenants could be found to justify the price of doing all of that.  

[clokwise]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Its for auction already and should be re-opend within 1-2 years.

 

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Also a full bowling alley with smoking balcony that would have snacks and beers etc. Plenty of use for the building, if they had reasonable rent plenty of SME owners would go in again but the problem in Thailand is that they think you work for the landlords.

 

From what I recall of the place, it would be silly to reopen it as-is. It was an architectural nightmare. But after watching the videos I don't think there is any point in reopening it, it looks like it's already been largely destroyed by the elements, it will need to be knocked down. Just my guess - we'll see condos there soon.

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Also a full bowling alley with smoking balcony that would have snacks and beers etc. Plenty of use for the building, if they had reasonable rent plenty of SME owners would go in again but the problem in Thailand is that they think you work for the landlords.

 

   Didn't that bowling alley close down about 10 years ago ? 

[tubber]

WHen did that shut? It's next to the Yamaha dealership? 

[Nemises]

Why did it shut?

 

 

[Dcheech]

36 minutes ago, tubber said:

It's next to the Yamaha dealership? 

Yes. The Yamaha dealership is doing fine BTW.

[tubber]

19 minutes ago, Dcheech said:

Yes. The Yamaha dealership is doing fine BTW.

That Mall was open the last time I was there. Might need to try and get up again.

[Classic Ray]

With the change in shopping habits since Covid and the comparatively new Maya mall down the road, it would be hard to see a case for rebuilding/reopening it.

 

I have fond memories of it but like others think it is destined for condos.

[Dcheech]

It's just a stack of bricks ....  Still I find it sad, as I have fond memories of the place.  Two numb buttcheeks watching LOTR Fellowship of the ring & The Score among others, way back when.  I believe the last movie I watched their was The Dark Night Rises. 

All Things Must Pass

[moe666]

I never liked going there. I think in 14 years 3 times in this place

[nglodnig]

On 10/17/2024 at 1:22 PM, Lacessit said:

worst of Chiang Mai's shopping malls

In the eighties it was the ONLY shopping mall in CM and was a wonder to explore. Then along came shiny new Airport Plaza as I think it was called then

[sqwakvfr]

I spoke to a lady who worked at a local investment company and she heard the company that built Terminal 21 mall in BKK was interested in KSK.  This was two years ago and now probably not so much. For years I was there almost every day and it was very convenient to have just about everything I needed.  When the cinema opened I thought it was  step in the right direction but like many companies Covid just accelerated it's death.  

[Lacessit]

32 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I spoke to a lady who worked at a local investment company and she heard the company that built Terminal 21 mall in BKK was interested in KSK.  This was two years ago and now probably not so much. For years I was there almost every day and it was very convenient to have just about everything I needed.  When the cinema opened I thought it was  step in the right direction but like many companies Covid just accelerated it's death.  

I really have to wonder if people even use cinemas nowadays. With wide screen TV's and Netflix, Amazon etc. why bother?

[BKKKevin]

I miss the place... 😩

[Ombra]

My wife and I stayed in the hotel a couple of times twenty years ago or so. It was a good place to stay, and it had live music in the evening. I remember there was a very amusing Elvis impersonator. It was very convenient to walk through to the mall for coffee and shopping. I have happy memories of our visits.

[CMBob]

While I liked the place (knew where everything was), what caused it's death (besides it being tired and old) was going from two malls (KSK and Airport Plaza) to 5 (adding Central Festival, Maya, and Promenada) in a relatively short period of time.  Even Promenada couldn't survive the glut of new mall space.   Maya, after having what seemed like a slow start, thankfully appears to be doing well.

With the increasing use of online shopping, it probably isn't very financially wise to invest in big box stores and malls anywhere.

 

[sqwakvfr]

35 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I really have to wonder if people even use cinemas nowadays. With wide screen TV's and Netflix, Amazon etc. why bother?

The only movie that I wanted to see in a theatre lately was Deadpool and Wolverine.  It was worth it. Most movies are like "nah" so watching it on a tv is fine.  But when the blockbusters come out it's worth the trek to an actual theatre.  Top Gun Maverick at the theatre was much much better than on my TV.

[1FinickyOne]

51 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I really have to wonder if people even use cinemas nowadays. With wide screen TV's and Netflix, Amazon etc. why bother?

It was the oldest of the malls - young people like the latest movies and I like the big screen movie experience... try going on a Saturday and see the crowds... 

[Lacessit]

27 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

The only movie that I wanted to see in a theatre lately was Deadpool and Wolverine.  It was worth it. Most movies are like "nah" so watching it on a tv is fine.  But when the blockbusters come out it's worth the trek to an actual theatre.  Top Gun Maverick at the theatre was much much better than on my TV.

Admittedly there are films such as Avatar that don't look anywhere near as good on a smaller screen.

[JimTripper]

Was my favorite in CM. Old school mall.

Also had one in Pattaya I liked, Harborland, where I would go to sit and work on the laptop and have a Pepsi. Felt like I was in high school again. Many of them are becoming obsolete as you have mentioned. There is a particular feeling and vibe to them that's hard to explain. They remind me of the 80's. Also they are usually empty and quieter which I like. Thai's don't like them generally. They view certain quiet non-crowded spaces as haunted, or just won't go where lots of other people are not going for some reason.