Went to Karon today and decided to look at Soi Taina on the way home.

I drove from the four way intersection to the traffic lights, a little before midday.

For the whole length of Taina, I didn't see a single pedestrian tourist. A sharp contrast to Karon and the southern end of Kata.

 

So sad to see, as Tainu used to be the centre of night-life and I believe it is the only "entertainment zone" in the area; allowing bars to legally open until 1:00 am.

It's looking run-down and is a veritable ghost town. I guess the lack of any sizable hotels on the road is responsible for the severe lack of foot traffic.

 

Will it ever pick up again? I doubt it.

Since the 'new' road opposite the big covered market began to attract businesses (took some years) that's when Tiana Rd began the steady decline.  Can't see it recovering. I remeber the days 10+ years ago when the place was humming, ever shop taken, all doing well.

 

I wonder how that resurant that relocated from Karon is fairing. Did you notice it ?  I think it's nearer the lights just before the little bars. Dreadful location. Surrounded by vacated shops. 

Sorry, no, I didn't notice it.

Plan to do an evening recce sometime during the next week, so, will get a better picture.

The Red Onion for years has been full no matter what the season. People queuing outside during peak season.

Will find out if they have a loyal following, or not.

Can't imagine Red Onion will be packed like before. Might have a chance if nearer the other end of Thaina Rd, but if where I think I saw the new Red Onion it's going to be a disaster.

 

For info - the old location is still closed, no for rent signs, yesterday I did see couple of guys digging a trench along the right side of the building.

Update - I passed the new Red Onion in Tania about 16.00 yesterday. Could not see any customers. At this time in the Karon location it would have very busy.

 

As for the old location in Karon these last 2 weeks there is quite major remodeling work going on.  Knocked out the side walls. Can't tell yet what it is going to be as no interior fittings as yet.

Dr Chusak was busy this morning. Standing room only when I went past at 8:30. Busiest business on Taina Road. Kwong's still does OK (just realised what I've written!) and I have yet to spot the new Red Onion.

2 hours ago, madmitch said:

Dr Chusak was busy this morning. Standing room only when I went past at 8:30. Busiest business on Taina Road. Kwong's still does OK (just realised what I've written!) and I have yet to spot the new Red Onion.

 

From Dr Chsak going towards the traffic lights/Makro it's about halfway on the right side. Very terrible business location.

Compared to the old location there are some +ses: Enough parking space, more room (which is not needed right now), better infrastructure (from toilets to internet). The staff is not as stressed as before. Will it pick up? Time will show.

Yes, the new location is definitely in a bad business location.  But I am not complaining.  Now it is within walking distance from where I live and I have no problem getting a table.  Been there twice already for dinner.  Each time there were tourists coming in with tuk tuks.  They seemed to be diehard fans.  Food and prices remained the same.  Lets see whether the coming high season will bring back the regular customers.

When you consider just how successful the Red Onion's business was and how many different customers they served over the years, there will be many people that will seek them out. They have a Facebook page, so, their fans can find out where their new location is.

 

The new place maybe a crap location for the owner, but, it's much better for the diners.......

20 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

Yes, the new location is definitely in a bad business location.  But I am not complaining.  Now it is within walking distance from where I live and I have no problem getting a table.  Been there twice already for dinner.  Each time there were tourists coming in with tuk tuks.  They seemed to be diehard fans.  Food and prices remained the same.  Lets see whether the coming high season will bring back the regular customers.

 

 

Clearly the new location gets zero passing trade. Given you eat there can you say they are busy ?

 

I agree that 'fans' will seek them out and a group taking a Tuk Tuk = small taxi money.. It will be interesting to see if they survive in desolated Taina Road. Diners can always make a night of it at the girlie bars opposite ...

On 03/09/2017 at 11:21 PM, hkt83100 said:

Compared to the old location there are some +ses: Enough parking space, more room (which is not needed right now), better infrastructure (from toilets to internet). The staff is not as stressed as before. Will it pick up? Time will show.

What was the reason Red Onion moved to it's current location? The rent of the location became unbearable? 

On 04/09/2017 at 9:12 PM, LivinginKata said:

I agree that 'fans' will seek them out and a group taking a Tuk Tuk = small taxi money.. It will be interesting to see if they survive in desolated Taina Road. Diners can always make a night of it at the girlie bars opposite ...

I used to laugh at Thais who were willing to drive long distances to get their stomach filled.

Until the day I rode my scooter 25km one way to get the best noodles Thailand offers. 

I'm not sure tourists will do the same, but I hope they will.. and at the same time make the Taina road active. 

On 9/4/2017 at 9:12 PM, LivinginKata said:

 

Clearly the new location gets zero passing trade. Given you eat there can you say they are busy ?

 

I agree that 'fans' will seek them out and a group taking a Tuk Tuk = small taxi money.. It will be interesting to see if they survive in desolated Taina Road. Diners can always make a night of it at the girlie bars opposite ...

The both times I had dinner there, there were 6 other tables of customers (place was half full).  But this is low season.  Only time will tell when the next high season comes and whether the "regulars" will return.  Even at the old location, many new customers came with GPS aid.  I hope they will not go the way of the dinosaurs.

2 hours ago, oilinki said:

What was the reason Red Onion moved to it's current location? The rent of the location became unbearable? 

 

Can't say but we all guess the rent was really  jacked up.  Or the owner just wanted them out. The amount of business they was likely lose  you would think a higher rent would have been acceptable. More to this than meets the eye.  

19 minutes ago, Kopitiam said:

The both times I had dinner there, there were 6 other tables of customers (place was half full).  But this is low season.  Only time will tell when the next high season comes and whether the "regulars" will return.  Even at the old location, many new customers came with GPS aid.  I hope they will not go the way of the dinosaurs.

 

Only half full .... even in low season Karon location was packed. High season they were queuing up on the pavement waiting for a table to come free..

4 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Only half full .... even in low season Karon location was packed. High season they were queuing up on the pavement waiting for a table to come free..

We are not living in the past.  This is a new location (bad business location and low season).  Lets wait and see how it will do when the high season is back.  I am not taking bets which way it will go.

As I have been told, the owner of the building (in Karon) did not extend the rental contract. What he plans to do now in the reconfigured house you can only guess. Maybe open a restaurant under the name "Red Onion"?

I went to the Red Onion for dinner tonight.  Lo and behold, the place is packed with dinners.  They even started the queue number system again.  Can't imagine what it would be like when the high season is here again.  Hopefully they can bring back some life back to Taina Road again.

Things are moving in Tania.

The Da Fabio Italian restaurant is to re-open on 1 nov, and apparently one of the resort/hotels behind it has been leased to Italian connections for five years.

More new businesses have opened or are planning to open for high season.

 

There is still talk of a footpath being built on the north side and the street becoming one way.

11 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

I went to the Red Onion for dinner tonight.  Lo and behold, the place is packed with dinners.  They even started the queue number system again.  Can't imagine what it would be like when the high season is here again.  Hopefully they can bring back some life back to Taina Road again.

Good for them!

They have built up a repeat clientele over the years and it seems that they are ultra-loyal.

Too many good businesses destroyed by greedy land-lords.

I also hope that Taina road will improve.

I see the old Red Onion location in Karon is going to be a restuarant (surprise surprise). Taking a very long time (at least 2 months now) to refit. Looks like November 1st open date.

I went to the Red Onion for dinner tonight.  Lo and behold, the place is packed with dinners.  They even started the queue number system again.  Can't imagine what it would be like when the high season is here again.  Hopefully they can bring back some life back to Taina Road again.

The food is not what it used to be which is a shame.
I used to love their Yum woonsen talay. Now it's really low quality.

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There is a new rumor: Opposite of Red Onion is a Japanese Restaurant going to open in the near future. Construction is going on... Will "Taina Road" turn into "Dining Road"?

2 hours ago, hkt83100 said:

There is a new rumor: Opposite of Red Onion is a Japanese Restaurant going to open in the near future. Construction is going on... Will "Taina Road" turn into "Dining Road"?

It looks like it.  There seems to be more eating places than bars.  The new Italian place "Fabio" seems to be folded after a couple of months in the low season.  There is another new Italian place just opposite Dr Chusak.  Hardly seen any customer in there.  At the beach end, construction is going on amongst the couple of seafood restaurants there.

4 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

There is another new Italian place just opposite Dr Chusak.  Hardly seen any customer in there.

Been there for a coffee break while waiting at Dr. Chusak's. The staff was not very amused about about getting order for two coffees at the late morning... so I went back to the waiting chairs.

On 12/12/2017 at 3:53 PM, hkt83100 said:

There is a new rumor: Opposite of Red Onion is a Japanese Restaurant going to open in the near future. Construction is going on... Will "Taina Road" turn into "Dining Road"?

 

I wonder it that is the old Blue Fin. Couple a days ago I though I would give the old place another try and buy some bean burritos. I rolled into quite a fancy set-up. Not a customer to be seen and a young waitress I've never seen before. Offered a Japanese menu, said I wanted Mexican menu. Ok - 2 bean burritos now 250 baht. No thanks - bi bi. 

Not quite on Taina Road but pretty close: what's the big development just north of Club Med? Huge plot of land has been cleared. Any ideas?

On 10/21/2017 at 9:57 PM, Kopitiam said:

I went to the Red Onion for dinner tonight.  Lo and behold, the place is packed with dinners.  They even started the queue number system again.  Can't imagine what it would be like when the high season is here again.  Hopefully they can bring back some life back to Taina Road again.

 

Really ... I passed there last night at about 18.00. At best 25% full. As in dead's ville. And this is peak high season.

On 1/10/2018 at 9:06 AM, madmitch said:

Not quite on Taina Road but pretty close: what's the big development just north of Club Med? Huge plot of land has been cleared. Any ideas?

 

Just noticed this last night. I assume Club Med has the (new) land lease ... I guess we will have to wait and see.