Five Chiang Shopping Complex

[AmeriThai]

I came across an interesting online photo album featuring the Five Chiang Shopping Complex, located at Sop Ruak, Chiang Rai. The photo collection dates back 6 years ago (2004) The new building looks excellent, but remained vacant and never opened. At the time, it was assumed it was out of the way too much to attract any businesses. Anyone know about this place? Did it ever open? Still standing? Converted to some other use? Or has it been demolished?

http://www.uer.ca/locations/viewgal.asp?locid=22404&galid=14148

[jubby]

Ah. Thats the place close to the River north of Chiang Sean and just short of the Golden Triangle.

Last time I looked I'm sure I saw activity there but its not being used for the original purpose. Maybe an import/export business.

Someone else will know for sure .

Its more a 'white Elephant' than 5 Elephants I suspect unfortunately.

Beautiful Building, what a waste

Edited September 12, 2010 by jubby

[sceadugenga]

Another victim of the financial collapse/economic meltdown of a few years back.

Travellers to Chiang Mai from here will see a number of abandoned projects around the hot springs area.

I'd say that they were repossessed by financial institutions who have never worked out what to do with them.

I was told that in many cases the original company ownership is that convoluted no one really knows who they belonged to.

[AmeriThai]

Ah. Thats the place close to the River north of Chiang Sean and just short of the Golden Triangle.

Last time I looked I'm sure I saw activity there but its not being used for the original purpose. Maybe an import/export business.

Someone else will know for sure .

Its more a 'white Elephant' than 5 Elephants I suspect unfortunately.

Beautiful Building, what a waste

Thanks jubby. You're right, it's located right next to the river. I first came across the photo album a couple of years ago and wondered if anything has happened to the place. I can imagine an import/export business would make a good addition. From the looks of the space, it looks like a couple of restaurants would fit in, and any number of other shops. I agree, it's a stunning building.

[jubby]

Theres quite a few other restaurants and things in the area that are probably just surviving. A couple of five star Hotel which probably cater for all the peoples needs. There are a few developments happening on the other side of the river in Laos. Shopping complex maybe, but defo a casino or two.

Maybe when the new road opens via Chiang Khong to Loas and then China , it'll bring more Visitors. I'm sceptical.

Its a travesty to see such a beautiful building wasted. The place must have cost a fortune considering all the wood.

There are many, many others scattered around Thailand though as Scea points out.

maybe it wasn't such a foolish venture, maybe people just needed to spend some money for whatever reason

[AmeriThai]

Another victim of the financial collapse/economic meltdown of a few years back.

Travellers to Chiang Mai from here will see a number of abandoned projects around the hot springs area.

I'd say that they were repossessed by financial institutions who have never worked out what to do with them.

I was told that in many cases the original company ownership is that convoluted no one really knows who they belonged to.

Not sure when it was built, but yes, the financial crunch of 96-97 might have contributed to it's failure. I'd also guess it's location might have been another factor. It's a shame to allow such an amazing building go to waste. But you're right, that sort of thing happened. I remember a few years ago in the outskirts of Bangkok seeing a few brand new high-rises, condos I think, that were completely empty.

[AmeriThai]

Theres quite a few other restaurants and things in the area that are probably just surviving. A couple of five star Hotel which probably cater for all the peoples needs. There are a few developments happening on the other side of the river in Laos. Shopping complex maybe, but defo a casino or two.

Maybe when the new road opens via Chiang Khong to Loas and then China , it'll bring more Visitors. I'm sceptical.

Its a travesty to see such a beautiful building wasted. The place must have cost a fortune considering all the wood.

There are many, many others scattered around Thailand though as Scea points out.

maybe it wasn't such a foolish venture, maybe people just needed to spend some money for whatever reason

It's pretty amazing to build such a fine structure only to leave it empty and unused. You're right about the wood, and a lot of fine detailing as well. I've also seen plenty of empty building around Thailand. I suspect the shopping complex was planned to do well, but ended up failing from the get-go. I'm not familiar with the area, but I can't help but wonder if the location was unsuitable to attract typical mall-type businesses.

[Joel Barlow]

I can remember when it was open. At the time, I was in the arts and crafts trade.

Nothing there for me though - I'd have done better to buy at Pier 1!

Overpriced, tacky, low quality gaudiness purveyed by a bevy of cute chicks (can I

still say "chicks"? yes, I guess I can, at least in this context).

A bit like some of the larger jewlrey stores in Mae Sai at the time, except huge.

And there were huge wooden elephants for sale - just what every tourist wants!

It was easy to suspect money laundering.

We had that in New York City too, of course: businesses right by that of my family,

my outlet for a decade, quite clearly didn't need clientele...

and hurt our business substantially.

Before that, I had my own store in Columbus Ohio, and the competition wasn't money

washers, but missionaries! Their organizations were "non-profit" and so didn't pay tax.

Goods like mine, but of lower quality, were offered for a third my (low) asking price.

I was soon out of business there...

I've come to wonder if what we call capitalism is really that at all.

More like gangsterism, I've come to think...

("No Thinking During National Emergency!")

[mumbojumbo]

My remembrance of this complex was:

It was built buy a politician named Wattana,i think, who was very active in the heroin drug trade during Kun Sa era-could that be possible, politicians dealing in drugs-??

He also had a chain of petro stations-cant member name- help me out Limbo

He also had the big complex on the left, after the bus station, named Gem City. Look to the back will see abandoned 5-star hotel, and was supposed to have condo complex

He did have 5 luxurious boats up there for a while, to take people up the Mae Khong for evening dinner, saw one being trucked south shortly after.

Maybe when Burma went from heroin to meth, he wasn't invited---???

Maybe Talksins crony took over there-???

It is a beautiful building, and was supposed to have a Foodland store in it

[Joel Barlow]

MP Gas - for "Member of Parliament"

was he the one elected PM, whom the US vetoed? Not sure.

Close with "Little Duck" of Thai Stick fame.

and sure, when things went to meth, the Wa were not particularly his best friends.

Went by there yesterday. Be warned, unless you're coming from ChiangKhong, the roads are bad.

Especially the one from Mae Sai.

Wide wide swath of mud where the road was, big mud ridges...

one of those big studly vehicles locals love slid into another, and everything stopped.

A big wheeled pickup made it by, but just barely.

Not as big a mess, quite, as in front of Rajapat today.

Either Rajapat's or PoangPrabat's water main burst, plus a reservoir overflowed,

I am told.

Early this morning, no problem. Before 10, one side of the highway was carrying traffic both ways,

while the other was a rapidly flowing river, so deep motorcycles conked out.

Edited September 13, 2010 by Joel Barlow