I haven't been in Pantip for awhile and went there today. I noticed that they seem to be moving everything around and the majority of the entire downstairs was under renovation. Has anyone heard what's going on? Are they going to bring in some new businesses? In my opinion they are in a very desirable location and the mall was starting to die off and look shabby.

No idea but they did embark on a huge refurbishment a couple of years ago that was supposed to have finished last July, and TIT after all.

 

yea, it's been renovated and refurbished.

41 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

yea, it's been renovated and refurbished.

Surely you're joking as it looked as though it was just getting started.

Renovation has just begun.

I did say TIT.

 

As I posted in January they are moving a large number of shops from their present location up one floor each and zoning them (there are notices outside Panthip explaining what each floor will have) to make way for some big name outlets like Macdonalds, starbucks etc.

 

The intention appears to be to create a mini tourist market zone. 

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

As I posted in January they are moving a large number of shops from their present location up one floor each and zoning them (there are notices outside Panthip explaining what each floor will have) to make way for some big name outlets like Macdonalds, starbucks etc.

 

The intention appears to be to create a mini tourist market zone. 

Thx ScottieJohn. Sorry I wasn't on TV much, if at all, during Dec/Jan as I was enjoying the holidays with the family so I guess I missed your original post. I was thinking that someone could had already posted on this topic but looking yesterday it seemed to me that the renovations had just recently started.

 

I did see some signs where it seemed that they were grouping like businesses together but I didn't see anything about what was going in the areas on the first floor under renovation. I guess I missed that.

 

Thanks again for the reply. I guess we can now wait for it all to be completed (half-arsed) in a few years.

Hi Dingdongrb
I have copied my original post below (with a very small edit - removed 'mini' after Big C, as it caused confusion).  As you say the notice outside only outlines the rough floor level arrangement and nothing about who the new occupants might be!

 

My Previous post;
'If you have been in Panthip Plaza (Chiang Mai) recently you may have noticed that since the addition of BIG C 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!'

I'll say what I said the last time this came up: there's no chance at all McDonald's and Starbucks will open in Pantip given they both have existing outlets less than 200m down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection. KFC is a possibility though. 

59 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

I'll say what I said the last time this came up: there's no chance at all McDonald's and Starbucks will open in Pantip given they both have existing outlets less than 200m down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection. KFC is a possibility though. 

I suppose you don't think they'd put two Adidas outlets within spitting distance on Nimman then?

You seem to forget how much unlaundered cash there is lurking around in Thailand.

"You seem to forget how much unlaundered cash there is lurking around in Thailand."

 

My mate a UK Chartered Accountant used to call CM the Washing Machine of Thailand.

 

john

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Hi Dingdongrb
I have copied my original post below (with a very small edit - removed 'mini' after Big C, as it caused confusion).  As you say the notice outside only outlines the rough floor level arrangement and nothing about who the new occupants might be!

 

Thanks but no need as I went and searched through your posts and have already read the original... but thanks for it anyway.

2 hours ago, lordblackader said:

I'll say what I said the last time this came up: there's no chance at all McDonald's and Starbucks will open in Pantip given they both have existing outlets less than 200m down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection. KFC is a possibility though. 

Who says that they won't close down their existing locations and move to a new one? I do believe that has happened before.....

 

47 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

Who says that they won't close down their existing locations and move to a new one? I do believe that has happened before.....

 

I would think that their current locations are far better than moving to Panthip......

We can all speculate and argue as much as we want but it may be worth noting the following:

 

KFC/HRC have some work going on between their two premises.
Is HRC taking over some or all of the KFC area?
Maybe HRC is moving the temp? merchandise area (opposite HRC) in to that part of the combined area?

 

There is very limited parking (apart from McD parking chit) in the KFC/HRC/McD area.
Panthip has both above and below parking available.(at cost).

 

Many Large chains have duplicate outlets opposite/near their opposition's location.

Different clientele in a 'new' area, maybe, if this'Zoning' happens.

 

Panthip also has a very underused medium sized auditorium/stage area which they may be about to develop/utilise.

 

We don't know what their 'plan' is, assuming there is one!

 

I for one would love to see that building/area expand into something more useful than it is at present. It cannot be any worse than it was before Big C moved in!

Just a few thoughts.

Yes even the jigalos are now less in number on the ground floor [emoji56]

On 04/02/2017 at 8:43 AM, scottiejohn said:

As I posted in January they are moving a large number of shops from their present location up one floor each and zoning them (there are notices outside Panthip explaining what each floor will have) to make way for some big name outlets like Macdonalds, starbucks etc.

 

The intention appears to be to create a mini tourist market zone. 

I am amazed that people do not read the whole Forum

As many times the same thing is asked over and over again

 

9 minutes ago, Lizard2010 said:

I am amazed that people do not read the whole Forum

As many times the same thing is asked over and over again

 

I'm amazed that people do read the whole forum.

23 hours ago, Chicog said:

I suppose you don't think they'd put two Adidas outlets within spitting distance on Nimman then?

You seem to forget how much unlaundered cash there is lurking around in Thailand.

True such as with 7-Elevens but McDonald's and Starbucks tend not to, at least in Thailand and certainly not <200m down the same street. Am looking forward to what ever goes in there though, having the Big C Market handy has been great, let alone they sell 4 packs of Chang for 117 baht vs 140 at 7-Eleven :)

50 minutes ago, Chiengmaijoe said:

I'm amazed that people do read the whole forum.

Thats what is there for to see what takes your fancy

plus to try to keep up to date with what is going on

IMHO

At Westfield mall in Manukau City, Auckland there is a McD located in the food court, there is also a stand alone McD located 300mtr on the same site.

Neither seem to detract from each other as they seem to attract different clientele.

The shoppers who use the complex and want a burger fix interlude when inside the complex as opposed to the other offerings of the food court can do so.

The stand alone is used by passing clientele with no interest in mall consumerism, and is adjacent to a main thoroughfare with hours extending beyond the operating hours of the mall.

Perhaps it is called an attempt at cornering the market, seems to be a business model that has been viable here for at least the past decade.

Of course Manukau City is not Chiang Mai and all is speculative.

6 hours ago, Paul Catton said:

At Westfield mall in Manukau City, Auckland there is a McD located in the food court, there is also a stand alone McD located 300mtr on the same site.

 

I think the same can be said about CM (Thailand in general). If I recall there is a 7-11 on one side of the street there in the Night Bazaar area and then another one almost directly across the street (below The Dukes). Both have been there for all the years I can remember.

On 2/4/2017 at 0:11 PM, lordblackader said:

I'll say what I said the last time this came up: there's no chance at all McDonald's and Starbucks will open in Pantip given they both have existing outlets less than 200m down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection. KFC is a possibility though. 

I've seen Starbuck in some cities having stores located directly across the street from each other.  History is littered with imbecilic corporations who eventually go bust due to corporate hubris.  So having a Starbuck 200m down the road really is inconsequential based on the business model I've seen them implement.  McDonald's seems to be a bit more conservative in the placement of their franchises. 

Let us for a moment stop bickering about who will/will not move into the Plaza.

As I have posted previously, the shopkeepers/stall holders do not know the full story, neither do any of us on this forum!

 

What about some thoughts and ideas of what companies and/or facilities we would like to see in there.

 

Lets be positive please.

On 2/5/2017 at 3:44 PM, dingdongrb said:

I think the same can be said about CM (Thailand in general). If I recall there is a 7-11 on one side of the street there in the Night Bazaar area and then another one almost directly across the street (below The Dukes). Both have been there for all the years I can remember.

And one two minutes up the road opposite the Duangtawan...

On 2/4/2017 at 0:11 PM, lordblackader said:

I'll say what I said the last time this came up: there's no chance at all McDonald's and Starbucks will open in Pantip given they both have existing outlets less than 200m down the road at the Loi Kroh intersection. KFC is a possibility though. 

200 meters? Haven't you noticed the recent trend of putting KFC and McDonald's about 100 meters from each other; usually across the street? There are several such locations throughout the city. Likewise for 7-ELeven.

Man who owns Panthip all over Thailand, sold the company. New owners are changing things.

They'd better find something new. These IT malls are dying slowly.

Lazada and other internet shops are killing them.

Went to Zeer recently and it really shows.

53 minutes ago, themerg said:

Man who owns Panthip all over Thailand, sold the company. New owners are changing things.

Chang Beer Company own it

They also own Big C Company