CentralWorld

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CentralWorld

CentralWorld (เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์) is the 2nd largest shopping mall complex in Southeast Asia. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by the Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, the expanded, 550,000 square metres of shopping mall and 1,024,000 square metres of complex was opened, topping its nearby rival Siam Paragon in terms of size. The mall is considered the largest shopping center in South East Asia and is larger than Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal.

History

World Trade Center

Originally called the World Trade Center, the eight-story mall was opened in 1990. The Central Group acquired the property in 2002 from the Wang Petchaboon group and soon thereafter renamed it Central World Plaza and in 2005 rechristened it CentralWorld. It is on Crown Property Bureau land. In its acquisition, the Central Group's property development arm, Central Pattana (SET: CPN), secured a new 30-year lease on the site.

Mall renovations

Anticipating the opening of the luxury Siam Paragon, CPN started massive renovations and expansion on the site in 2003. The original mall structure was 300,000 square meters. The expansion plans boosted that to 550,000 square meters. Though the work hadn't yet been completed, CPN held an official opening of the renovated complex on July 21, 2006, and it was expected to be fully operational by October 2006. As of May 2007 the mall has fully opened but some premises in parts of the upper floors remain yet vacant. Major exterior construction is ongoing on the hotel situated in the northwest corner of the mall and the extension floors to the ZEN department store in southeast corner.

The renovated complex aims to attract 150,000 customers per day, purchasing more than 7 billion baht annually. It markets itself as a middle class shopping center, opposed to the upper class-marketed Siam Paragon.

Further plans call for a convention center and hotel at the site.

The Offices at CentralWorld

The renovations included completing an unfinished office tower, on which work had been halted in 1999. Only 39 of the total 63 floors had been completed. Construction was resumed in early 2003 with a new only 45 floors, 204 metres design. The completed tower opened in 2005.

Location

CentralWorld is located in Pathum Wan district at the Ratchaprasong Intersection in one of Bangkok's busiest shopping and tourism districts.

Nearby Attractions

Nearby Shopping Centers and Attractions includes Gaysorn , BigC Ratchadamri, The Erawan Shrine, Amarin Plaza , Central Chidlom, Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery Center, MBK Center, Platinum Fashion Mall, Pantip Plaza and Chamchuri Square.

Transportation

Bangkok Skytrain - CentralWorld is located between Chit Lom and Siam Stations. An elevated walkway connects the two stations to facilitate foot traffic. CentralWorld also can be accessed from Gaysorn or Big C Ratchaprasong via pedestrian overpasses.
Khlong Saen Saeb - Pratu Nam pier is about a 5-minute walk.

Facilities

CentralWorld Square

The largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok covers an area of 8,000 square metres, which is ideal for large-scale activities such as The New Year's Countdown party. It has 400 dancing fountain heads incorporated into the plaza and can accommodate up to 100,000 people per day.

CentralWorld Avenue

CentralWorld Avenue is a six-lane road that circles the complex. It links Rama I Road and Ratchadamri road together.

Anchors

Main Anchors

Isetan - The branch of the Japanese department store chain has six stories. The merchandise ranges from apparel to domestic goods.
ZEN - Branded as Asia's first lifestyle trend megastore. It has 50,000 square metres and is seven stories high. It is managed by the Central Retail Corporation.
SF World Cinema - An upscale cinema complex located on the seventh floor. The cinema has a total of 15 screens, which includes the 800 seats of World Max Screen and luxury "first-class" theatres. The venue has played host to a number of Thai cinema premieres as well as the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival and the upcoming 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.

Key Tenants

PowerBuy - A large electronics store selling electrical appliances ranging from refrigerators to home theatre systems. It is located on the fourth floor of the complex.
SuperSports - A large sporting equipment shop.
B2S - The flagship branch of the Thailand-based bookstore chain, it is spreaded over three floors and offers international and local publications, books, stationery, office supplies and various forms of entertainment media.
Central Food Hall - A premium-level supermarket offering household products, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, butcheries and seafood. There is also a wine cellar, food court and a variety of restaurants and quick eateries within the store.
SB Design Square - The flagship store of S.B. Furniture, selling furnitures and home decorate products.
Toys R Us - The flagship location of the store in Thailand, offering more than 10,000 square meters of imported toys and attractive gadgets and gizmos for teenagers.

Centerpoint at CentralWorld - A complex of shops, restaurants, game zones and entertainment venues located on level 7. The complex is developed and operated by Pornpailin Development Co Ltd who has previously operated the Centerpoint at Siam Square. The complex is slated to be ready by the end of 2008.
TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park) - A complex that includes a library, Internet centers, a 4D movie theatre and other media facilities. Owned and operated by the government of Thailand.

Former Tenants

King Power - A local duty free store which used to operate on the sixth floor of Zone A. It eventually closed down in June 2006 to make way for the expansion of the ZEN Department Store.
Major Cineplex - A former cineplex boasting six screens and twenty four bowling lanes. The cineplex eventually closed down to poor business, after SF World Cinema has opened in January 2008. Centerpoint at Central World now occupy this space.

Retail tenants

Some of the stores include:

Apparel & Accessories

Cosmetics and Beauty

Gifts and Stationery

Services

True Fitness

Restaurant & Eateries

Hotel

The Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, a 5-star hotel is under construction and will complete in the first quarter of 2009; The 17,000 square metres area of convention hall and numerous function rooms, on level 22^nd of hotel, opened in July 2007.