Hello,

I am wondering if anybody has an experience with having a retail space in Chatuchak Weekend Market?

Do you know what is the price range for rent?

Thanks!

A friend of mine (thai fellow) has just opened a shop at Chatujak, and is paying 17,000 THb/month for the space. Its the regular sized outlet, i guess around 5 square metres.

Bloody small and expensive if you ask me, and to make your money only at weekends, as its closed throughout the week. You cant even access your store through the week i believe.

Ad to this the fact that my buddy stands there sweating his ass off all weekend, means that he is hating it!

Regards

Well, in my humble opinion, JJ Market is less than a pleasent shopping experience.

Too many picpockets, too crowded and if you're taller than 4ft 5", you get your head bashed in.

The old Sunday Market at Sanaam Luang was much better.

Depends on the location of the space etc .... many shops are open throughout the week ... with special days on Wed's and Fris etc (I think Weds is pets/animals and Fri is Furniture?

Depends on the location of the space etc .... many shops are open throughout the week ... with special days on Wed's and Fris etc (I think Weds is pets/animals and Fri is Furniture?

You are right JD, but from what my buddy tells me, and he is in the clothing area, it is closed all week. Any store renovations or stock delivery he has to do on a friday night.

I know the Chatuchak Plaza is open all week, but thats a different kettle of fish.

Regards

Depends on the location of the space etc .... many shops are open throughout the week ... with special days on Wed's and Fris etc (I think Weds is pets/animals and Fri is Furniture?

You are right JD, but from what my buddy tells me, and he is in the clothing area, it is closed all week. Any store renovations or stock delivery he has to do on a friday night.

I know the Chatuchak Plaza is open all week, but thats a different kettle of fish.

Regards

It is a different type of business than a 7 day a week operation. Instead, for opening shop 3 days a week, the other 4 days can be holiday/inventory/purchasing/accounts. It also requires some thought to ensure that you draw up a business plan suiting this kind of operation.

Some of the stalls have turnovers that are astronomical; and these are the ones who understand the benefits and shortfalls of a location like JJ.

I actually prefer the atmosphere of Suan Lum night bazaar as it is not as hot in the evening; however for sales and stuff, the most successful JJ stalls IMHO are outselling Suan Lum; although some do business in both.

I had the chance of taking up a unit on the subway entrance side near Or Tor Gor a few years back, from what I recall it was 30,000b a month lease for about 20 sq. m. enclosed.

Sorry no experience with rents at Chatuchak but my gf runs a shop at Suan Lum Night Plaza. Typical rents are.

5,000 baht/mth for a footpath table.

10,000 - 15,000 /mth for a small size walk in shop

20,000 and up for the bigger ones.

Rents also depend on what location in the complex and the tourist season.

As for my gf's shop she makes a meagre profit , enough to give her some shopping money. I love it because it gets her away from me 5 nights a week!

From what she's said everyone is getting kicked out next year by the developer for new condos.

"I love it because it gets her away from me 5 nights a week!"

I'm sure she feels the same.

Remember, you will be in competition with Thais that are OK with 5,000bt per month profits.

Often, these places want "key money" too.

Hard to make a living.

There's the air conditioned Chatuchak being built across the street. Rents will be similar to what has been mentioned for open air Chatuchak (you're paying the meter, not the landlord for your electricity anyway). If you want to purchase a 20 year lease (or "seng" as the locals call it), they are going for 1.5 million each, give or take a few hundred thousand depending on the unit. A bargain if you're selling yourself, and also potentially lucrative if you're subleasing.

We've picked up a few and already have tenants signed up. It's 7 floors if I recall, the first two floors are sold out.

Important to note that this isn't a purchase of property, only right to use for 20 years... and if it's anything like the current Chatuchak rates (now going for 10 million+ for another 15-20 years for many key booths), it'll be big time expensive once the first 20 years are up.