Panthip Plaza-CM Refurbishment 2017

[scottiejohn]

If you have been in Panthip Plaza (Chiang Mai) recently you may have noticed that since the addition of BIG C (mini) there has been a lot of shops either closing or relocating to higher floors and lots of ‘reconstruction notices’ all over the place.

I have spoken to the manager (who I have known for years) of one of the computer repair shops that has had to re-locate why he had moved and what was going on.

He says that all specialist shops have been asked to move up one floor 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th so that the ground floor where BIG C is (1st floor in Thai terms) can be turned into quote "A Tourist and Market Zone" with Starbucks, KFC and MacDonald's all putting in branches plus other big name touristy type shops/bazaar stalls.

I agree I have not spoken to the management of the Plaza to get a verified account but my friend has no reason to spin such a story if there was no truth in it. My friend also mentioned that the Plaza was originally intended as an Hotel before becoming the Computer plaza and now a Tourist and Market Zone!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Interesting.   Fourth floor is a bit sucky though when the sun is on the roof, heating up shops more than the central aircon can deal with.  But they'll likely pay less rent (or no increase) so it may be okay.

 

It does make sense because it's not a real obvious location for computer shops.

 

The building just sat there for years and years with just the concrete frame after the 1998 economic crash.   It turned out pretty nice in the end though, but I would agree something new is needed now.

Edited January 10, 2017 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Lizard2010]

Will be interesting over the coming months to see what actually happens on the ground floor

Yes my IT man told me a few things too

I did hear it was going to be a food mall on the ground floor

Maybe Big C might expand too

 

 

 

[cmsally]

Wow another McD and Starbucks. Don't have enough of those,

[WinnieTheKhwai]

21 minutes ago, Lizard2010 said:

Will be interesting over the coming months to see what actually happens on the ground floor

Yes my IT man told me a few things too

I did hear it was going to be a food mall on the ground floor

Maybe Big C might expand too

 

 

Both of those things would be good news for that area.

[scottiejohn]

52 minutes ago, WinnieTheKhwai said:

Fourth floor is a bit sucky though when the sun is on the roof, heating up shops more than the central aircon can deal with.  But they'll likely pay less rent (or no increase) so it may be okay.

The fourth floor is where the language schools will have/are moving to. (as I have been told-everybody goes up one floor or out (a few shops have said they have moved or moving out already) if not willing to go up a floor.

If what you say is correct, especially in those tiny glass classrooms, that could be very uncomfortable! 

Slightly off topic but can you put individual A/C units into those glass rooms if you do not have access to an outside wall/outlets?

[lordblackader]

I doubt a Starbucks or McDonalds will go in there given both have outlets less than 500 meters down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection, but other specialty shops are definitely welcome, even a KFC. The Big C has been a blessing if you live in the area, not only for convenience but cost as well as it's an alternative to the more expensive Rimping across the river (the closest if you're in the north parts of Chang Klan.) 

 

Are the language schools moving as someone suggested though? there are heaps of empty shops on level 3 and 4 that the shops from downstairs could use. 

 

Edit: forgot to mention, it's not a Big C mini, it's a Big C market, half way between the mini and the extra stores, you can do most of your shopping in there, be it with limited ranges with some items

Edited January 11, 2017 by lordblackader

[Lizard2010]

well said  lordblackader

 

We will just have to wait and see

 

I have heard that all levels now  have to move up one level

 

Yes plenty of empty spaces

[WinnieTheKhwai]

21 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

The fourth floor is where the language schools will have/are moving to. (as I have been told-everybody goes up one floor or out (a few shops have said they have moved or moving out already) if not willing to go up a floor.

If what you say is correct, especially in those tiny glass classrooms, that could be very uncomfortable! 

Slightly off topic but can you put individual A/C units into those glass rooms if you do not have access to an outside wall/outlets?

 

Yes, that's what most shops/offices of that type do anyway, put in an extra air conditioner.  Condenser unit goes on the roof or outside wall.

Edited January 11, 2017 by WinnieTheKhwai

[bluweyze]

What happened to the office supplies store where Big C now is?

[LannaGuy]

what would be GOOD is a Villa Market which is a great shop not another Big C!  why we don't have one amazes me

[sanemax]

16 minutes ago, bluweyze said:

What happened to the office supplies store where Big C now is?

 

  It closed down

[lkn]

11 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

what would be GOOD is a Villa Market which is a great shop not another Big C!  why we don't have one amazes me

 

We have Rimping and Tops. I definitely prefer Rimping to the Villa Market I used when I stayed in BKK, but maybe that branch was not representative of the chain.

[elektrified]

On 1/11/2017 at 11:13 AM, lordblackader said:

I doubt a Starbucks or McDonalds will go in there given both have outlets less than 500 meters down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection, but other specialty shops are definitely welcome, even a KFC. The Big C has been a blessing if you live in the area, not only for convenience but cost as well as it's an alternative to the more expensive Rimping across the river (the closest if you're in the north parts of Chang Klan.) 

 

Are the language schools moving as someone suggested though? there are heaps of empty shops on level 3 and 4 that the shops from downstairs could use. 

 

Edit: forgot to mention, it's not a Big C mini, it's a Big C market, half way between the mini and the extra stores, you can do most of your shopping in there, be it with limited ranges with some items

It's the new trend, putting McDonalds or KFC right across the street from each other. There's a few such situations around town. God forbid anyone should have to walk 200 meters to get junk food.

That Big C mini in Panthip is MUCH more expensive than Rimping - by a long shot!

[Lizard2010]

1 minute ago, elektrified said:

It's the new trend, putting McDonalds or KFC right across the street from each other. There's a few such situations around town. God forbid anyone should have to walk 200 meters to get junk food.

That Big C mini in Panthip is MUCH more expensive than Rimping - by a long shot!

Actually it's a Big C  Market

Not a Mini

Both places  prices can be overpriced

Depends on what you buy

I live locally

Shop at both places

[LannaGuy]

8 hours ago, lkn said:

 

We have Rimping and Tops. I definitely prefer Rimping to the Villa Market I used when I stayed in BKK, but maybe that branch was not representative of the chain.

 

Well I can only say that the Villa Market I use in Pattaya is better than both by a mile!  much more selection and, to me, competition is what we need. We already have loads of Rimping's and Tops why not something new to Chiang Mai?

[lkn]

7 minutes ago, LannaGuy said:

Well I can only say that the Villa Market I use in Pattaya is better than both by a mile!  much more selection and, to me, competition is what we need. We already have loads of Rimping's and Tops why not something new to Chiang Mai?

 

Better by a mile? I googled Villa Market and noticed that there are ratings from Facebook and Foursquare, so I tallied up the ratings from a page’s worth of hits from Foursquare, and only 3 out of 10 Villa Markets have a rating of 8 or above (30%). For Rimping it was 5 out 8 (75%).

 

So on average Rimping is at least rated better than Villa Market. Facebook ratings showed a similar picture.

 

Makes me curious what you think needs improving with Rimping. I would have joked and said fresh seafood, but Rimping actually does that…

[LannaGuy]

19 minutes ago, lkn said:

 

Better by a mile? I googled Villa Market and noticed that there are ratings from Facebook and Foursquare, so I tallied up the ratings from a page’s worth of hits from Foursquare, and only 3 out of 10 Villa Markets have a rating of 8 or above (30%). For Rimping it was 5 out 8 (75%).

 

So on average Rimping is at least rated better than Villa Market. Facebook ratings showed a similar picture.

 

Makes me curious what you think needs improving with Rimping. I would have joked and said fresh seafood, but Rimping actually does that…

 

wow you are a real fan of Rimping!  I shop at Rimping regularly and don't dislike them but their selections of cheeses and wine are well below that of Villa Market and they rarely stock some of the things I can get at Villa (Jacobs Crackers,  Ryvita, Walla Crisp Bread) to name a few.  

 

This was not a 'knock Rimping' post. It was a 'let's have MORE competition' post and I admire your devotion to a shop, even going to look at ratings on FB,  but I wonder why you don't like competition. 

[stament]

3 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

 

Well I can only say that the Villa Market I use in Pattaya is better than both by a mile!  much more selection and, to me, competition is what we need. We already have loads of Rimping's and Tops why not something new to Chiang Mai?

bit of a walk/drive from CM though isn't it ?

[LannaGuy]

Just now, stament said:

bit of a walk/drive from CM though isn't it ?

 

I was suggesting wouldn't it be nice to have one in Chiang Mai rather than yet ANOTHER store we already have  

[lkn]

2 hours ago, LannaGuy said:

This was not a 'knock Rimping' post. It was a 'let's have MORE competition' post and I admire your devotion to a shop, even going to look at ratings on FB,  but I wonder why you don't like competition. 

 

You did say that Villa Market was “better by a mile” — I am happy with more choice, and your comment did not offend me on behalf of Rimping, I was simply curious as what Villa Market would have to offer for them to be “better by a mile” and thus did a google search, only to see “Rating: 3.3” as the second result, so I decided to look at ratings for 10 stores to see if this was just an outlier, and compare to Rimping.

 

As for more choice though, remember Chiang Mai is a small town, so there is limited demand. Look at how the new shopping complexes have turned out.

[LannaGuy]

Just now, lkn said:

 

You did say that Villa Market was “better by a mile” — I am happy with more choice, and your comment did not offend me on behalf of Rimping, I was simply curious as what Villa Market would have to offer for them to be “better by a mile” and thus did a google search, only to see “Rating: 3.3” as the second result, so I decided to look at ratings for 10 stores to see if this was just an outlier, and compare to Rimping.

 

As for more choice though, remember Chiang Mai is a small town, so there is limited demand. Look at how the new shopping complexes have turned out.

 

I can only 'speak as I find' having a home in Chiang Mai and Pattaya. I like Rimping and just think another is not required but something different would be nice. The wine selection at Villa Market near my condo is HUGE and the cheeses (Brie, Camembert) are to die for.  NVM just my opinion my post was not about who is better but more about 'can we have one'.   

[elektrified]

6 minutes ago, lkn said:

 

 

 

As for more choice though, remember Chiang Mai is a small town, so there is limited demand. Look at how the new shopping complexes have turned out.

That's the thing, and exactly why the initial concept at Tops Festival failed so miserably and they had to throw out a fortune in perished imported cheeses and deli meats as well as relocating the farang baker back to Bangkok. There was no demand at all. It looked too good to be true at the times - and it was.

[stament]

30 minutes ago, LannaGuy said:

 

I was suggesting wouldn't it be nice to have one in Chiang Mai rather than yet ANOTHER store we already have  

Fair do's, I am not very good at reading between the lines as you can see ?

 

I agree it would be nice, but unfortunately we will end up having more of the same lime we do with McD, Starbucks, etc

[stament]

21 minutes ago, elektrified said:

That's the thing, and exactly why the initial concept at Tops Festival failed so miserably and they had to throw out a fortune in perished imported cheeses and deli meats as well as relocating the farang baker back to Bangkok. There was no demand at all. It looked too good to be true at the times - and it was.

I read someone before said that it was Rimping ?

[elektrified]

1 hour ago, stament said:

I read someone before said that it was Rimping ?

No Festival Market is Tops; not Rimping.

[scottiejohn]

It could become a cut throat ‘competition corner’ if a whole group of ‘twin like’ companies open up in such a small space! It just needs something like ‘Costa Coffee’ to balance ‘Starbucks’ and a ‘Rimping’ or ‘Villa’ to balance ‘BIG C’. Add a small ‘Home Pro’/’Index’ pairing and could we possibly see some form of competition in there.

 

The big malls tend to have a Large ‘anchor’ store which dominates one area of the mall and does not ‘allow!’ similar type large outlets under the same roof.

 

Doing this on a smaller scale looks attractive, if it were to happen.

[lkn]

2 hours ago, elektrified said:

That's the thing, and exactly why the initial concept at Tops Festival failed so miserably and they had to throw out a fortune in perished imported cheeses and deli meats […]

 

Rimping at Maya also tried a cheese bar which unfortunately closed before I had a chance to try it out. Now it seems to be sushi instead, for which there is probably more demand among the Thais (or tourists shopping there).

 

[scottiejohn]

It could become a cut throat ‘competition corner’ if a whole group of ‘twin like’ companies open up in such a small space! It just needs something like ‘Costa Coffee’ to balance ‘Starbucks’ and a ‘Rimping’ or ‘Villa’ to balance ‘BIG C’. Add a small ‘Home Pro’/’Index’ pairing and could we possibly see some form of competition in there.

 

The big malls tend to have a Large ‘anchor’ store which dominates one area of the mall and does not ‘allow!’ similar type large outlets under the same roof.

 

Doing this on a smaller scale looks attractive, if it were to happen.

[rawhod]

On 1/12/2017 at 11:04 AM, bluweyze said:

What happened to the office supplies store where Big C now is?

 

They moved to Central Festival...