CentralWorld

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CentralWorld (Thai: เซ็นทรัลเวิลด์, styled as centralwOrld) is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand.^[5] It is the ninth largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by the company Central Pattana. In 2006, after three years of design and renovation, CentralWorld was expanded to 550,000 m² (5,900,000 sq ft) of shopping mall and 830,000 m² (8,900,000 sq ft) of complex, topping nearby rival Siam Paragon in terms of size.

History

Original Name

The mall opened in 1989.

The renovated complex aimed to attract 150,000 customers per day, spending more than 7 billion baht annually. It marketed itself as a middle class shopping center, opposed to the upper class-market Siam Paragon.^[7][8]

CentralWorld did not achieve its goal in term of daily visitors because of several reasons, including political turmoil and an ongoing economic downturn. However, shopper numbers soon increased, though reliable figures are lacking. Bangkok's New Year countdown celebrations were held in front of CentralWorld, which quickly became a tradition, with the number of people increasing every year.

Offices at CentralWorld

Renovations included completing an unfinished office tower, work on which had been 2003 halted in with only 39 of the planned 63 floors completed. Construction resumed in 2003, expanding the tower to a 45-story, 204-meter, design, with the completed tower opening in December 2004.^[9]

2010 fire damage

CentralWorld was temporarily closed on 19 May 2010 due to severe arson damage, which occurred as troops dislodged protesters from the area during the

Renovations included Enhance circulation and simplified navigation, add escalator in Zone A, re-zone merchandise to suit current market, use open shop-front design to enhance customer experience, enhance linkage to BTS Skytrain, and building for second Apple Store in Thailand.

The renovations started in Autumn 2016 and were due to be completed in 2018.

2019 fire and ZEN renamed into Central

During the evening rush hour on 10 April 2019, a fire that apparently started elsewhere spread to the eighth floor via air vent pipes, and the mall was ordered evacuated. At least two people, both employees, were reported to have died after jumping from the building.^{[12][13][14][15]}

That December, after three decades, ZEN was renamed into Central, positioned as an experimental experience store. The whole Central Department Store's CentralWorld store will be revamped by hiring three famous designers from France, Italy, Germany, and Thailand. The revamp cost 1 billion baht.^[16]

Isetan closure and subsequent renovation

On 14 March 2020, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and CPN jointly announced the closure of Isetan Bangkok at CentralWorld per 31 August 2020 due to expiration of contract between two parties. After Isetan closes, CPN plans to renovate the area and the façade while negotiating with new department store anchor replacing Isetan. Renovation will be completed per 1Q 2022, with the Japanese feeling and ambience and its authentic Japanese restaurant zone will be kept intact.^[17][18]

• 
  Zone A new atrium
• 
  The atrium has been removed from Levels 1-2
• 
  open shop-front design in Level 2

Location

CentralWorld is located in

CentralWorld Square

The largest outdoor activity square in downtown Bangkok, this covered an area of 8 square kilometres, which was for large-scale activities such as The New Year's Eve Countdown party. There were 400 dancing fountain heads incorporated into the plaza. In 2020, Apple Store opened at this square.

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

• Central Retail Corporation
  , the branch will serve as prototype of Central's new concept nationwide.
• SF World Cinema – An upscale cinema complex located on the seventh floor, it has a total of 15 screens, which include the 800 seats of World Max Screen and luxury "first-class" theatres. The venue played host to a number of Thai cinema premieres as well as the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival and the 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.
• GROOVE @ centralWorld The New Zone with varieties of café, restaurants, hang-out space at the front of The Offices

Key tenants

• Apple Store – Apple's second Thailand store. Located at CentralWorld Square, right outside the Central Department Store. Recognized as the largest Apple Store in South East Asia.
• SuperSports
  – A large sporting equipment shop.
• B2S Think Space – The flagship
  and largest branch of the Thailand-based bookstore chain and electronics store chain, it spreads one floor and offers international and local publications, books, stationery, office supplies and various forms of entertainment media. Also, electrical appliances ranging from refrigerators to home theatre systems.
• Tops Food Hall – This premium-level supermarket offers household products, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, butcheries and seafood. There are also a wine cellar, a food court and a variety of restaurants and fast food outlets.
• 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, it offers more than 10,000 square meters of imported toys and attractive gadgets and gizmos for teenagers.

• 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.
• Genius Park – A newly added facility, replacing the Asian Senses, it consists of a children's playground, an arcade, and various learning centers for children and adults.
• Uniqlo – The first Uniqlo store in Thailand and currently the brand's largest branch in South-East Asia.
• H&M – The Largest H&M Store in Southeast Asia and 3rd Largest After Las Vegas' and NYC's.
• The Rink Iceskate – An indoor ice skating rink located at the 2nd floor Forum zone.
• The ZONE by Fitness First – The largest Fitness First fitness club in South-East Asia.
• Kinokuniya – The first Kinokuniya store and currently the largest bookstore in Thailand. The store split into two parts, the first are Manga store, featuring largest line of Tankōbon and light novel
  from Japan, Thailand and manga series around the world. And the second are bookstore, offers publications, books, and stationery from Japan, Thailand and around the world.
• Nitori – The first Nitori store in Thailand.

• 
  Apple Central World (2022)
• 
  Level 1 Jewels & Watches (2011)
• 
  Level 1 Zone E water feature (2011)
• 
  Level 3 (2011)
• 
  Level 4 Zone B (2011)
• 
  Level 5 Zone A (2011)
• 
  Level 6 Zone C Genius Planet (2011)
• 
  Level 7 Zone A Restaurant
• 
  Level 7 SF World Cinema
• 
  Level 7 Central Food Hall

Former tenants

• ZEN
  Department Store (now Central Department Store).
• Major Cineplex – A former cineplex boasting six screens and twenty-four bowling lanes. The cineplex eventually closed down due to poor business, after SF World Cinema opened in January 2008. This space has since changed into Zone I plaza of CentralWorld.
• Centerpoint at CentralWorld – A complex of shops, restaurants, game zones and entertainment venues located on level 7. The complex was developed and operated by Pornpailin Development Co Ltd, who has previously operated the Centerpoint at Siam Square. It closed down in August 2012 to make Edutainment Zone. As of December 2021, this space has converted to Zone I plaza of CentralWorld.
• Isetan – The only branch of the Japanese department store chain in Thailand. It has six stories, ranges from apparel to domestic goods. The fifth story of Isetan is dubbed Washoku Gallery, featuring food products imported from Japan. The sixth story features Thailand's first Books Kinokuniya branch. Managed directly by Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, it was permanently closed on 31 August 2020. All space of Isetan Bangkok store has since changed into Zone I plaza of CentralWorld.

Centara Grand at CentralWorld

Main article: Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre

Centara Grand is a chain hotel built on land leased from the Crown Properties Bureau. The flagship hotel, the Centara Grand at CentralWorld, is attached to both the CentralWorld mall and the Offices at CentralWorld.

Hotel

• The Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld is a 57-storey 5-star hotel. There are 17,000 square metres area of convention hall and numerous function rooms on level 22 of the hotel.

Floors

Mall& Office wing: B2-B1 parking 1-7 Retail 1-2 groove B2-7 i and Japan avenue B2,1-2 Apple store B2-27 Department Store Wing 8 tk park hall concerts 9-45 Office Hotel wing B1 G-3 3A 4-5 5A 6-7 7A 8 8A 9-10 carpark 22 sky lobby 23-26 28-55 guestrooms 56-57 bars (note 13 floors=12M Floors)(1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A 9A 10A is additional floors)

See also

• List of shopping malls in Bangkok
• List of shopping malls in Thailand
• List of largest shopping malls in Thailand
• List of the world's largest shopping malls
• Ratchaprasong

Further reading

• Taylor, Jim (March 2011), "Larger Than Life: 'Central World' and its Demise and Rebirth – Red Shirts and the Creation of an Urban Cultural Myth in Thailand" (PDF), Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series (150)

Notes

1. ^ Annual Report 2011, p. 253.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Annual Report 2011, p. 55.
3. ^ Annual Report 2011, p. 48.
4. ^ Form 56-1 2011, p. 20.
5. ^ Asia Web, CentralWorld
6. ^ Jitpleecheep, Sukanya. "Plenty of new offerings in store" Archived 12 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Bangkok Post Year-End 2002 Economic Review (retrieved 21 July 2006).
7. ^ Nguyen, Lan Anh (21 July 2006). "Unfinished CentralWorld to hold grand opening", ThaiDay (print edition).
8. ^ Thai News Agency (21 July 2006). Thailand's largest shopping complex CentralWorld opens July 21 Archived 12 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine, MCOT (retrieved 22 July 2003).
9. ^ Bangkok Highrises – Central World Tower
10. ^ Bangkok Post (19 May 2010). Several bodies were found in the damaged area, thought to have been looters trapped by the fire. [1] (retrieved 26 April 2011).
11. ^ Bangkok Post (21 May 2010). [2] (retrieved 26 April 2011).
12. ^ "CentralWorld: Deadly blaze at Bangkok shopping complex", BBC News, 10 April 2019.
13. ^ "Fire kills 2 at CentralWorld in Bangkok", Bangkok Post, 10 April 2019.
14. ^ "Fire at Bangkok shopping mall kills at least two, injures 16", Reuters, 10 April 2019.
15. ^ Jintamas Saksornchai, "2 Mall Staff Likely Jumped to Death While Aiding Fire Rescue: Official", Khaosod English, 11 April 2019.
16. ^ "Central earmarks B10bn for revamp". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
17. ^ https://www.prahchachat.net/marketing/news-432211
18. ^ "Isetan to exit Thailand after 28 years". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 16 March 2020.

References

• Central Pattana (21 March 2012). Annual Report 2011 (PDF). Retrieved 30 March 2012.
• Central Pattana (5 April 2012). Form 56-1 2011 (PDF) (in Thai). Retrieved 23 May 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to CentralWorld.

• Official website
• Central Pattana: company site
• Altoon + Porter Architects: company site
• ZEN lifestyle trend megastore
• Isetan Group
• Modulo Language School Homepage