mild7even Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Been out of town for awhile so I don't know when it happened... but it looks like Baskin Robbins/31 Flavors at both Central malls are closed. I realize they didn't have as much business as Swensons, but in my opinion the ice cream was better quality. Anybody know if they are reopening ever? Any details on why they closed? Bummer for the kids... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackSterling Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Really?/ that is a bummer not just for your kids but for all who loved their cream.. I loved the butter pecan.. would buy it as big as they could make it.. I think again it has to do with we just do not have the same sort of taste buds as the Thai do.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) I don't know how they stayed open as long as they did. There was virtually no one in the place for years. Swensons is not as good but they marketed it as a "fun" place when Baskin Robbins was shooting for high quality and Swenson's prices were a little cheaper. Too bad for us ice cream lovers as Baskin Robbins was the best deal around for high quality ice cream. Hagan Daz is good, but the prices verge on highway robbery. Edited December 28, 2009 by Ulysses G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderpuff Posted December 28, 2009 Share Posted December 28, 2009 Swenson's is part of Minor food group, who wrote the book ion Thai fast food. Wendy's buggered off too. One has to adapt to local market, i.e. Mickey Dees selling fried chicken. Burger King will likely fold too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Wendy's was not around long and was killed by the 1997 crash of the baht. Burger King has stayed open for more than 20 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmac Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Wendy's was not around long and was killed by the 1997 crash of the baht. Burger King has stayed open for more than 20 years. Not quite sure how they survive in Pattaya though as they are always empty even when McD's and KFC are doing good business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 (edited) Burger King don't usually do as well as McDonald's, but many people swear their burgers are better. In the U.S., they use much better beef than McDonald's and I like them better, but here, they are using exactly the same beef and McDonald's is much cheaper. Edited December 29, 2009 by Ulysses G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanForbes Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 I guess Thai police ain't like the North American police that keep the doughnut shops in steady business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWalkingMan Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Wendy's was not around long and was killed by the 1997 crash of the baht. Burger King has stayed open for more than 20 years. Not quite sure how they survive in Pattaya though as they are always empty even when McD's and KFC are doing good business. I think the Baskin Robbins in Big C has closed also. TheWalkingMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mestizo Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Wendy's was not around long and was killed by the 1997 crash of the baht. Burger King has stayed open for more than 20 years. Not quite sure how they survive in Pattaya though as they are always empty even when McD's and KFC are doing good business. There is a Wendy's in Pattaya?!?!? -Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderpuff Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderpuff Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Baskin Robbins Burger King dodo bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lannarebirth Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Shame about the B&R. Swensons is dreadful and one needs to take out a mortgage to bring the familiy to Haagen Dazs (plus it is in high traffic area). Maybe gelato for a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gennisis Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Shame about the B&R. Swensons is dreadful and one needs to take out a mortgage to bring the familiy to Haagen Dazs (plus it is in high traffic area). Maybe gelato for a change. Can't agree with you regarding Swensons...I love their Maccadamia Ice cream....creamy and a good strong Macadamia taste with bits of the nuts....delightfull ...although I will say that their other flavours are nothing special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerbeer Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Shame about the B&R. Swensons is dreadful and one needs to take out a mortgage to bring the familiy to Haagen Dazs (plus it is in high traffic area). Maybe gelato for a change. Can't agree with you regarding Swensons...I love their Maccadamia Ice cream....creamy and a good strong Macadamia taste with bits of the nuts....delightfull ...although I will say that their other flavours are nothing special. the missus likes the macadamia ice cream from Swensons as well. I find all their ice creams a bit too sweet. Baskin and robbins would be missed! It found the prices cheap for the quality of their ice cream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
getgoin Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 The Central Group was the master franchiser for Baskin-Robins. They have given it up and a new master franchiser will take over soon. I'm not sure about their present locations but I'm willing to bet that they will have to open all new stores. Baskin-Robins was is much better than Swenson's and Bud's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swain Posted December 29, 2009 Share Posted December 29, 2009 Off topic for a second.. but still in the same vein I think Dunkin Donuts will be on the chopping block soon as well.. was in there the other day.. 42 baht for a donut... sheese.. same donut with Mr Donut is about a third of that. Plus I found it very strange that they didn't sell milk there.. Coffee or milk with a donut is the norm for most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenside Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 The Central Group was the master franchiser for Baskin-Robins. They have given it up and a new master franchiser will take over soon. I'm not sure about their present locations but I'm willing to bet that they will have to open all new stores.Baskin-Robins was is much better than Swenson's and Bud's. BR was about as good as it got for a chain operation in Thailand. To be honest, I'm surprised that Bud's has been able to last, given the low key marketing, secondary sites and quality of the product, although I suspect that maybe the franchisee doesn't have the same hard headed return targets as Central who also hold the licenses for Auntie Annie's, KFC, Pizza Hut and Mister Donut. Ice cream lovers need not panic since CM has several local ice cream makers and although I'd hesitate to nominate any one as having a consistently good range, I can say that Buenissimo's chocolate wins by a mile as far as I'm concerned in the individual flavour stakes. Better even than the late lamented Belgian Chocolate Chocolate by Haagen Dazs (can't find the little thingy to put over the "a") axed, rumour has it, because it was so chocolaty it was next to impossible to scoop from the freezer resulting in long lines at the counter. No, really. Sesto gets the award for most tempting display but the times I've tried it have all been disappointments due to texture as well as flavour. They do make them look great, though. I hear there's a new ice cream store just off Nimmenhamen is due to open sometime soon and look forward to trying it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el jefe Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 I hear there's a new ice cream store just off Nimmenhamen is due to open sometime soon and look forward to trying it out. That's "Ice Chic" on Soi 11. They've had the "opening soon" sign out for weeks. I live in the neighborhood and go past daily. There's always two people sitting outside at a table. But they're not open to the public. I think they're just teasing us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el jefe Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Off topic for a second.. but still in the same vein I think Dunkin Donuts will be on the chopping block soon as well.. was in there the other day.. 42 baht for a donut... sheese.. same donut with Mr Donut is about a third of that. Plus I found it very strange that they didn't sell milk there.. Coffee or milk with a donut is the norm for most. Continuing off-topic. I've never had a Dunkin Donut in Thailand but I go past several regularly. It's always 21 or 22 baht. Do "most" Thais normally drink milk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mild7even Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 The Central Group was the master franchiser for Baskin-Robins. They have given it up and a new master franchiser will take over soon. I'm not sure about their present locations but I'm willing to bet that they will have to open all new stores.Baskin-Robins was is much better than Swenson's and Bud's. Not sure your source, but if true this is good news indeed--that they will reopen at some point. I've found all other ice creams in town to be watery and decidedly not creamy. I heard once, not sure if it was true, that BR imported their ice cream and Swensons produced it locally. While I believe in the "slow food" concept, in this case it just didn't work. I guess ice cream joins the ranks of authentic hot dogs and hoagies as impossible to find. BR fan until I die! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 I can say that Buenissimo's chocolate wins by a mile as far as I'm concerned in the individual flavour stakes. Buenissimo is supposed to be closing very soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo the Face Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) I can say that Buenissimo's chocolate wins by a mile as far as I'm concerned in the individual flavour stakes. Buenissimo is supposed to be closing very soon. I hope not..... I like that place.... Edited December 31, 2009 by Gonzo the Face Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenside Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) I can say that Buenissimo's chocolate wins by a mile as far as I'm concerned in the individual flavour stakes. Buenissimo is supposed to be closing very soon. Oh no, I'd better go and stock up on a few catering packs. And a freezer to accommodate them... Edited December 31, 2009 by Greenside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiangmaimary Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I hear there's a new ice cream store just off Nimmenhamen is due to open sometime soon and look forward to trying it out. That's "Ice Chic" on Soi 11. They've had the "opening soon" sign out for weeks. I live in the neighborhood and go past daily. There's always two people sitting outside at a table. But they're not open to the public. I think they're just teasing us. Hi all! Mary from Ice Chic here, looking forward to serving fresh Italian gelato to all the ice cream lovers in Chiang Mai. Sorry if you feel we're teasing! We just want to make sure everything is perfect when we open our doors. Coming very soon... Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheWalkingMan Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Mary, Can you give a more specific date? Before Songkran? Before Valentine's Day? Before the end of January? TheWalkingMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el jefe Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 I hear there's a new ice cream store just off Nimmenhamen is due to open sometime soon and look forward to trying it out. That's "Ice Chic" on Soi 11. They've had the "opening soon" sign out for weeks. I live in the neighborhood and go past daily. There's always two people sitting outside at a table. But they're not open to the public. I think they're just teasing us. Hi all! Mary from Ice Chic here, looking forward to serving fresh Italian gelato to all the ice cream lovers in Chiang Mai. Sorry if you feel we're teasing! We just want to make sure everything is perfect when we open our doors. Coming very soon... Thanks! How do I get the job hanging out in front of the shop, testing the gelato until it's perfect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infernalman7 Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 There's also another McDonalds coming next to Warm Up ... as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiangmaimary Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I hear there's a new ice cream store just off Nimmenhamen is due to open sometime soon and look forward to trying it out. That's "Ice Chic" on Soi 11. They've had the "opening soon" sign out for weeks. I live in the neighborhood and go past daily. There's always two people sitting outside at a table. But they're not open to the public. I think they're just teasing us. Hi all! Mary from Ice Chic here, looking forward to serving fresh Italian gelato to all the ice cream lovers in Chiang Mai. Sorry if you feel we're teasing! We just want to make sure everything is perfect when we open our doors. Coming very soon... Thanks! How do I get the job hanging out in front of the shop, testing the gelato until it's perfect? I would love nothing more than to give you a more specific opening date, but unfortunately we are at the mercy of our finicky Italian equipment, which is requiring a bit of time and much love to adjust to the climate here in Chiang Mai. We have a qualified team of technicians helping us sort everything out, but at this moment I must superstitiously decline to offer even a ballpark figure, as each time I set a date we are somehow prevented from meeting it. Rest assured, our recipes have now been perfected and all that is needed is the technical assurance that we can maintain a reliable production schedule. I will keep you all posted when I have more news! In the meantime, if you're in the neighborhood you are welcome to pay us a visit as a tester, as we usually have a few fresh flavors on hand. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulysses G. Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I think that Mary told me about this venture about a year ago in Gecko Books and it sounded like she knows what she is doing. The fact that she has taken so long to work out her plan makes it sound like she is very serious. I don't know of any gellato in town that is more than just fair, so I'm hoping hers is as good as it sounds like it will be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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