Central
World Plaza: The
"Asia Premier Shopping
Paradise"
Central World
Plaza was seriously damaged due to
the political unrest on May 19,
2010. The most damaged area (Zen
department store wing) is expected
to be rebuilt in about a year while
the less affected area (Isetan
department store wing) will reopen
in July 2010.
Once known as the World Trade
Center, Central
World Plaza belongs to Central
Pattana, the owner of the Central Department Store
chain.
Central
World Plaza is located in
Ratchaprasong, one of the most
dynamic spots in Bangkok.
During the 70's, Ratchaprasong was one of the two shopping arcades in Bangkok
along with Siam Square. Opposite
the arcade was Daimaru
Department Store, drawing shoppers with
the first escalators in
Thailand. This area was so
trendy that Bangkok people showed up
in the hottest fashion taken out from
the latest fashion
magazines. You could even see
people in hats and
boots! Yes, they dressed quite
wild in those days. However,
the area
lost attraction not long after Daimaru shut down
its business. The shopping
arcade was tear down
and turned into a huge shopping
complex known as, the World Trade
Center. The World Trade Center lasted
several years until taken over by
Central Pattana and renamed to
Central World Plaza. The new owner
plans to bring Ratchaprasong back
to its "good old Bangkok
days." With an investment
of
26,000 million Baht, Central
World Plaza boasts as the "Asia Premier Shopping
Paradise" targeting 70
million shoppers a year. It
houses a five star Centara Grand At
Central World Hotel Bangkok, a world
class conference
center, a lifestyle shopping mall, etc.
There is also Thailand's only
existing Japanese department store,
Isetan, accommodating the only
Japanese food court in Bangkok on
the 5th. floor. Central World
Plaza also stands out for its award
winning supermarket as Asia's best
food store, Central Food Hall.
With neighboring Siam
Paragon merely 10 minutes walk
from Central World Plaza, this area
is no doubt the hottest retail
battle field in Bangkok. And
they're both are worth a
visit! Rating
5/5
Review
Central World Plaza focuses more on
trendy casual labels like Giordano,
FCUK, Guess, Camper, MNG, etc.
If you're looking for classy
fashions like Salvatore Ferragamo,
Todd, Marc Jacobs, you better go to Siam
Paragon, just nearby.
Central World Plaza is very relaxing
and unpopulated compared to others
of the same class. This is the
only shopping mall to house the only
existing Japanese department store
in Thailand, Isetan. Isetan is
popular by many shoppers due to its simple and
friendly settings.
Finding your way in Central World Plaza
can be confusing. Some people have a
hard time finding the shops.
Some couldn't even find their way
back to the shops they plan to go later. Although each floor is
well categorized for cellular
phones, sportswear, furniture, and
so forth, finding your way between
different zones here required a good
sense of direction. The award
winning Central Food Hall
supermarket located on the 7th.
floor can be a bit uncomfortable
when you have to carry your things
down to the ground floor despite
using the
elevator.
Central World Plaza is ideal for
-Shoppers 5/5
-Japanese shoppers 5/5
-Eaters of Japanese food (5th. and
6th. floor, Isetan) 4/5
-Supermarket shoppers (7th. floor) 4/5
-Moviegoers (7th. floor) 4/5
Reviewer Chai
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