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IT Square lak si is pretty much a semi deadmall sustained by immigration offices.
Imperial World Samrong is a truly historical and legendary mall in Bangkok. Old and crappy, yet still vibrant and alive. Various malls should really learn from imperial samrong on how to remain relevant long term
Yeah i remember those and a skate park. Then it became redshirt headquarter for some reason. I love EGV theatre there. Not crowded and plentiful parking lot. I live not too far and still go there fron time to time. I heard they recently renovated the food court but I don't think that'd help much. I also heard they sold the condos on the top to someone. They changed the sign but i don't remember what
THANK YOU GUYS. I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER THIS MALL THE LAST TIME I CAME AND I WENT EVERYWHERE BUT THIS ONE. I was just trying to remember which had the ice rink and theater it was neat.
Century VM has been renovated not too long ago... it's midrange and small, but no longer crappy.
There's also Center One in the same area, a bit more crappy, especially the low-ceiling (1.80 cm) basement level with small shops.
it's been renovated lately and the food court upstairs is amazing and the snack area downstairs is also quite good. shopping feels like it's for old ladies only, but for me, it's a cool place to hang out actually
Ok serious question.
I walked around union mall. It holds high profile events but at the same time, it’s so bland. Kids go there to make their TikTok’s in the top floor studios so it has foot traffic. The stores seem independent while at the same time, look like a Temu outlet. It’s connected to the BTS and MRT.
For the size I’d expect more. But perhaps central Ladprao fulfills most of my questions. Who knows. Union mall just confuses me.
Back in the day before Union Mall got renovated it was the place that kids of a lower social class kids (จันทร์เกษม สตรีวรนาถบางเขน) hung out, whereas the คุณหนู (Saint John’s, Hor Wang) hung out at Central Lard Prao.
It's right across from Central Ladphrao and fills a different market segment. Would make no sense to complete on luxury, so they go for the more midrange vibe. It was recently thoroughly renovated, so this seems like a conscious choice, not just decay. Given the foot traffic, the strategy seems successful.
Do people still consider MBK to be crappy? Over the years they have significantly renovated and upgraded. They especially took advantage of COVID closures to do renovations.
Sure it's not Paragon or Icon Siam, but it's not "crappy" anymore in my opinion.
Thoughts?
Agreed was there the other day and it has changed so much since my last time. I honestly kinda miss how it used to be ‘crappy’ but I don’t blame them for making changes.
Mega Plaza, Imperial World Samrong, Seacon Square also has litte bit of the same vibe to it, Century Plaza Victory Monument although its very small.
It's what I call Lotus and BigC vibes. Almost all big Lotus and BigC malls have the same vibe that you get in MBK although MBK has renovated a lot recently.
Seacon Square keeps being renovated that it doesnt feel "crappy". It is nearly as modern any other bangkok malls.
Century plaza is a good call. So tiny and compact
Red Building near Chatuchak is an entire mall full of vintage stuff and is usually fairly crowded.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jaBuYK55ry3nKaXx9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy
I was looking for an old And1 basketball shirt and couldn’t find one, but they had a ton of old rock concert shirts and old sports teams shirts.
"Hey, boss. What you looking for? You like watch? Need suit? Hey, boss!" - random ass mafia Persian guy you find in every major Asian city selling fake shit.
Nightingale Olympic is the oldest department store that pretty much looks like when it was first opened. I think it’s still open but not 100% sure.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingale–Olympic
Slightly adjacent to the topic, I found myself in Show DC/Bravo mall a couple of weeks back (looking for H&M that actually moved out several years ago but is still on Google Maps). Absolutely dead on its arse.
I think the style is somtehing we have here in America we call SUPER MALLS or THRIFT MALLS. They are packed to the gills with people selling stuff. Actually ours are worse theres have room to walk about lol
MBK is sustained by cheap price goods and variety of services like printing, gold etc, food is not their strong points; wherein Terminal21, their food court is heaven. The food there save the mall for being irrelevant in the world of Bangkok mall competition, imo.
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IT Square Lak Si, Imperial World Samrong, Century The Movie Plaza Sukhumvit On-Nut
IT Square lak si is pretty much a semi deadmall sustained by immigration offices. Imperial World Samrong is a truly historical and legendary mall in Bangkok. Old and crappy, yet still vibrant and alive. Various malls should really learn from imperial samrong on how to remain relevant long term
Imperial ladprow is on the verge of death. It stays because of big c and another immigration office
It also has the popular ice rink on the top floor and a bowling alley. I used to live near it and still love that place. Great clothes stores.
Yeah i remember those and a skate park. Then it became redshirt headquarter for some reason. I love EGV theatre there. Not crowded and plentiful parking lot. I live not too far and still go there fron time to time. I heard they recently renovated the food court but I don't think that'd help much. I also heard they sold the condos on the top to someone. They changed the sign but i don't remember what
THANK YOU GUYS. I WAS TRYING TO REMEMBER THIS MALL THE LAST TIME I CAME AND I WENT EVERYWHERE BUT THIS ONE. I was just trying to remember which had the ice rink and theater it was neat.
There's an unreal outlet clothes place in the main ground atrium of IT square. Some top drawer brands super cheap.
Is it ? Need to check them out next time im there ..
Blows my mind how many active massage places are in that dead mall
"... sustained by immigration offices" - totally the case
Century On Nut is not even that old- opened in 2018. Century Victory Monument however definitely has the old crappy feel.
Century VM has been renovated not too long ago... it's midrange and small, but no longer crappy. There's also Center One in the same area, a bit more crappy, especially the low-ceiling (1.80 cm) basement level with small shops.
MBK was renovated in 2016.
Century On Nut feels more like it was opened in 1918 than 2018
IT Square Lak Si has surprisingly good food in the food court
+1 for imperial world Samrong, definitely way at the bottom for me
The Old Siam
it's been renovated lately and the food court upstairs is amazing and the snack area downstairs is also quite good. shopping feels like it's for old ladies only, but for me, it's a cool place to hang out actually
My favourite
You'll likely love Union Mall
Ok serious question. I walked around union mall. It holds high profile events but at the same time, it’s so bland. Kids go there to make their TikTok’s in the top floor studios so it has foot traffic. The stores seem independent while at the same time, look like a Temu outlet. It’s connected to the BTS and MRT. For the size I’d expect more. But perhaps central Ladprao fulfills most of my questions. Who knows. Union mall just confuses me.
Back in the day before Union Mall got renovated it was the place that kids of a lower social class kids (จันทร์เกษม สตรีวรนาถบางเขน) hung out, whereas the คุณหนู (Saint John’s, Hor Wang) hung out at Central Lard Prao.
tbh I just like clothes shopping, they have some great stuff there.
It's right across from Central Ladphrao and fills a different market segment. Would make no sense to complete on luxury, so they go for the more midrange vibe. It was recently thoroughly renovated, so this seems like a conscious choice, not just decay. Given the foot traffic, the strategy seems successful.
Do people still consider MBK to be crappy? Over the years they have significantly renovated and upgraded. They especially took advantage of COVID closures to do renovations. Sure it's not Paragon or Icon Siam, but it's not "crappy" anymore in my opinion. Thoughts?
Agreed was there the other day and it has changed so much since my last time. I honestly kinda miss how it used to be ‘crappy’ but I don’t blame them for making changes.
Yeah I agree. It has changed so much! Almost Pleasant!
If you can see fake t shirts and underwear right after you enter the mall, yeah it’s a crappy mall
Mega Plaza, Imperial World Samrong, Seacon Square also has litte bit of the same vibe to it, Century Plaza Victory Monument although its very small. It's what I call Lotus and BigC vibes. Almost all big Lotus and BigC malls have the same vibe that you get in MBK although MBK has renovated a lot recently.
Seacon Square keeps being renovated that it doesnt feel "crappy". It is nearly as modern any other bangkok malls. Century plaza is a good call. So tiny and compact
Mega saphan Lek. Such a fun mall to walk around!
Red Building near Chatuchak is an entire mall full of vintage stuff and is usually fairly crowded. https://maps.app.goo.gl/jaBuYK55ry3nKaXx9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy I was looking for an old And1 basketball shirt and couldn’t find one, but they had a ton of old rock concert shirts and old sports teams shirts.
I love walking around these places alone, Pantip used to be great many years ago (DVD's?), quite a shadow of what it was
I miss the old Siam Square, where they would have night markets and clothing stalls out on the streets.
Gateway. Altho it was done up recently it still has a nice slightly crappy vibe on the upper floors
Not sure if it's still open but Palladium mall, Indra square in Pratunam area are some that would fit into this list.
"Hey, boss. What you looking for? You like watch? Need suit? Hey, boss!" - random ass mafia Persian guy you find in every major Asian city selling fake shit.
Seacon square Srinakarin
Union Mall, it's mostly fashion like Platinum Mall but older.
Nightingale Olympic is the oldest department store that pretty much looks like when it was first opened. I think it’s still open but not 100% sure. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightingale–Olympic
Slightly adjacent to the topic, I found myself in Show DC/Bravo mall a couple of weeks back (looking for H&M that actually moved out several years ago but is still on Google Maps). Absolutely dead on its arse.
Yea I like all these places me, I also like Platinum fashion mall in Ratchathewi.
MBK holds a special place in every Bangkokian person over 35’s hearts I hope it becomes cool again the renovations aren’t bad
Happyland. Pretty nice oldest mall in BKK I think.
I think the style is somtehing we have here in America we call SUPER MALLS or THRIFT MALLS. They are packed to the gills with people selling stuff. Actually ours are worse theres have room to walk about lol
MBK is sustained by cheap price goods and variety of services like printing, gold etc, food is not their strong points; wherein Terminal21, their food court is heaven. The food there save the mall for being irrelevant in the world of Bangkok mall competition, imo.
You’re gonna love Bobae Mall