Villa Market to Open in Pattaya September 28

[Gaybutton]

Pattaya has long anticipated the opening of a branch of Bangkok's famous Villa Market grocery store. Many of you are familiar with it in Bangkok and now Villa Market will open in Pattaya, according to my information, on Friday, September 28.

 

The location is the new Cineplex shopping Center on Second Road, very near the Lek Hotel.

 

What's so special about Villa Market? They carry a large number of imported goods and products quite difficult, often virtually impossible, to find anywhere else in Thailand. Many people, especially those who are now expats living in Pattaya, have many items they miss from 'back home.' Villa Market will solve much of that problem.

 

I have heard, but have never checked, if there is something in particular you want, but they don't carry it, they can special order it for you. I don't know if that's true, but we'll soon find out.

 

In any case, now Pattaya is going to have its own Villa Market and there will be plenty of items that you can't find elsewhere. Some products may be pricey because they're imported, but they will be a lot less expensive than having items shipped from other countries.

 

I intend to have a look soon after they open. If there are items you have been looking for, let me know before September 28. I'll be glad to check to see if they can be found at Villa Market and how much they cost.

[Guest wowpow]

At Last!!

 

http://www.villamarket.com/index.html

 

[Guest wowpow]

Friends report that it is very nice and open 24/7 Stock includes crumpets, After eight mints, new potatoes and lots of goodies!

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I was at Villa Market this morning. I was very impressed. There is a counter type restaurant which is open 24 hours and among other things has an American breakfast served all day and night for 50 baht.

The fresh produce looks very good with a nice selection of imported fruits. There is also a fresh sushi station. The meats look wonderful. The wine shop has an impressive selection. There is a magazine section and bakery.

The whole place has the look and feel of a European supermarket, more than American.

I found several products I have been looking for everywhere in Pattaya.

At least for the opening, there are 1-2 staff in each of the aisles to assist with finding what you may be looking for.

As mentioned in previous postings, it is on the expensive side, but for quality and selection, for me, it is worth the price.

One of the managers told me they are having a Grand Opening next Saturday with "more foods".

All in all, I think it is worth a look.

[Gaybutton]

I went to the Villa Market today too. As Wowpow says, "At last!" Villa Market is now open and I stopped by today. My first impression as I walked in was 'magnificent.' This is quite a grocery store.

 

First, if you are not familiar with the location, it's on the ground floor of the new Cineplex. Getting there from Pattayaland, or just about anywhere else in south Pattaya or Jomtien, if you don't have a car just take a baht bus north on Second Road. Shortly after you pass the Royal Garden shopping mall, start looking for Soi 13. That's where it is. Those of you familiar with the Lek Hotel, it's about half a block before you get there. If you drive, then I suggest going up Soi Starboys (That's what I call it. I don't know the actual name of the soi, but it's the one where the Star Boys bar is). The entrance to the parking lot is on that soi.

 

What a grocery store! As you enter, they have a very nice luncheonette, similar to the one at Foodland if you're familar with it. Prices are quite inexpensive, ranging from 50 baht for soups up to 250 baht if you want a steak dinner. As soon as you enter the grocery store itself, the first thing you'll encounter is their bakery. There is a fabulous selection of fresh baked breads, including breads from the Continental Bakery. They even have several different varieties of bagels. As a matter of fact, in their frozen food section they also have Lender's Bagels, if you are a fan of those. I haven't seen that brand anywhere else in Thailand. After the bakery section comes the produce section, filled with the highest quality fruits and vegetables.

 

Free samples are given out at the produce section. In fact, free samples are given out all throughout the store, including their deli section, the bakery, and even in their liquor area. There is one of the best selections of liquors and wines that I've encountered anywhere in Thailand and they were giving out free samples of several different wines and beers.

 

Their deli section is excellent. They carry many brands that you won't find elsewhere. I did not, however, see any corned beef. I was a little disappointed in that, but I don't have to be. I was talking with one of the store managers and asked about special orders. I was told that you can special order just about anything they don't normally carry. They'll be happy to special order it for you and call you once whatever it is arrives.

 

Speaking of store staff, there are plenty of English speaking staff members, all of whom were very friendly and helpful. If you're looking for something, but can't find it, just ask. They're delighted to help. They won't just point and say "over there." They'll take you right to it.

 

I was also impressed with their meats section. They carry many cuts of beef, for example, that I haven't seen elsewhere. They even have brisket. I haven't seen a brisket since leaving the USA.

 

Some of the items I noticed, items I haven't seen elsewhere, included things like English muffins, frozen Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine dinners, real maple syrup, many different kinds of coffees including Maxwell House and Taster's Choice, Wishbone salad dressings, Birds Eye frozen vegetables, a full selection of various Sara Lee products, Jello, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (that's for you, Jomtien), and the list goes on and on. You'll just have to see for yourself.

 

Within the Cineplex shopping center many of the stores have already opened and many are still not ready. Of course, both the movie theater and bowling alley are already open. There are some good restaurants there too, such as Shenanigan's, Au Bon Pain, BKK Grill, and an international food court is under construction and coming soon.

 

I think most of you will enjoy a visit to the Cineplex and I know the "farang" living here are going to be greatly pleased with the Villa Market.

[PattayaMale]

I bought 2 strip loin beef steaks at Villa Market today. They looked fresh and well marbled. Since I have not found very good steak in Thailand even at Foodland and Friendship I was not expecting too much. WRONG!! They were fantastic! I paid about 270 baht for 300 grams each. I simply heated my BBQ put some black pepper on the steaks and cooked them until medium (pink inside). The steaks were the most tender and juiciest I have had in Thailand...as good as any I have eaten in the USA too!

 

Villa Market is great

[Guest jomtien]

of various Sara Lee products, Jello, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (that's for you, Jomtien), and the list goes on and on. You'll just have to see for yourself.

 

 

 

 

Jomtien gets his Reese's Peanut Butter Cups at Foodmart, but he wouldn't mind checking out the Bird's Eye Frozen stuff and the Landers Bagles.

 

 

 

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I had the pleasure to visit the new market this morning, and it is very nice. I especially liked the looks of the meats and the produce. The frozen food section is nicely stocked also. Found many items I haven't found elsewhere, including fresh artichokes and brussel sprouts.

 

Only letdown was that there were no hambuger buns in their bakery. Guess i still have to visit Foodland for those.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I had the pleasure to visit the new market this morning, and it is very nice. I especially liked the looks of the meats and the produce. The frozen food section is nicely stocked also. Found many items I haven't found elsewhere, including fresh artichokes and brussel sprouts.

 

Only letdown was that there were no hambuger buns in their bakery. Guess i still have to visit Foodland for those.

 

 

When I was there in the morning they had some nice looking buns that I thought looked good for hamburger buns. I think they were called German buns.

[Gaybutton]

Only letdown was that there were no hambuger buns in their bakery. Guess i still have to visit Foodland for those.

 

Yes, while I think Villa Market is excellent, that still doesn't mean that it might not be necessary to shop around for specific items elsewhere. Before Villa Market opened, my priorities were to start at Carrefour, and if Carrefour didn't have what I want, I would then try Foodland, Tops, Friendship, Best, Food Mart, Lotus, and Big-C, usually in that order. Most of the time I would eventually find what I was looking for unless it was an item that just isn't carried in Thailand at all. Now that Villa Market has opened, I think from now on that's going to be my first stop.

[Gaybutton]

Only letdown was that there were no hambuger buns in their bakery.

 

I was back in Villa Market today. Good news. Now they do have hamburger buns. As a matter of fact they have two brands of them, one of which is the same brand they have at Foodland. They are a little hard to spot. I spotted them by sheer accident. When you enter the store, go to the opposite end of the bread counter and look on the lower shelves. That's where they are.

 

Also, Villa Market is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Excellent! The only other 24-hour grocery store, besides the 7-Elevens, that I know of in Pattaya is Foodland.

[Guest painai]

I just came from Villa Market, very busy with customers throughout the store, and quite a few at check-out as well. I then ran over to Friendship Market for something I had forgotten. I felt a little bad for Friendship as there were much fewer customers than usual for a Sunday afternoon. Usually the aisles are jam packed. I guess they're all over at Villa Market.

[2lz2p]

I went to the Villa Market this morning (Monday about 10am) - I had no problem finding a parking space in the front lot (2nd Road entrance) and they were not too busy. Yes, they do have things that have been unavailable in other Pattaya markets. A a couple of months ago, I friend was in Bangkok and managed to find some corn meal for me (I do miss my cornbread). I didn't see any cornmeal at Villa today, but they did have corn bread mix (a brand I used in USA). The bf was rushing me a bit, so I didn't have the time to browse to my hearts content -- however, we did find most items we wanted, although several items that are also available at the other food stores in Pattaya were slightly higher in price.

 

I think that I will continue to do most of my grocery shopping at Carrefour, Foodland, and Friendship because for the "regular" items, they are bit cheaper. For alcoholic beverages, I think Friendship has the best prices (for example, I like Coopers Stout, which is 79 baht at Friendship, 85 baht at Carrefour, 100 baht at Jomtien Food Mart and 106 baht at Villa). However, I'm not putting Villa down - I will definitely shop there for those items I can't get elsewhere- but, instead of a replacement store, I now have an added one to visit when shopping.

 

Although not major, I think for a business that caters to the Expat community, the restaurant should include more English explanation of the choices, e.g., the menu shows American and other breakfast names in English, but does not tell you what you get or choices - this is all in Thai writing. The same with the main western dishes - the main item is shown in English, but you don't know what comes with it (potato, veggie, salad, etc.) as that is written only in Thai.

 

 

[Guest wowpow]

Sneak Preview of the new Pattaya branch of Villa Market.

Pattaya City News

 

On Tuesday Afternoon we went to the new Villa Market located at the Avenue Complex on Pattaya Second Road to get a sneak preview of the products and services offered by the Pattaya Branch of Villa Market which will have its grand opening this coming Saturday 6th October. The Supermarket, which is targeted at the ex-pat market features many imported products not seen here in Pattaya before and from what we saw, the quality of products and customer service was of a very high standard. There are food tasting booths around the store and staff are on-hand to assist you with your shopping if required. The concept for Villa Market is to provide superior local and imported food items and with over 30 years experience serving ex-pats in Thailand, it is a concept they are able to achieve. If you would like more information on Villa Market you can call 038 416 888 or log on to www.villamarket.com

 

So-so photos at http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_02_10_50_2.htm

[Guest MRSBUCKET]

Second visit to Villa today. After having chatted with the owner last week, who was a very nice Thai guy and was very proud of his venture, I thought I’d get some more tasty Farang food for the rainy nights. He obviously recognizes quality when he sees it !!

 

Last time I tried the Restaurant / Food Bar out and I had a very nice ‘Original Hamburger with chips’. So I tried it again with a Coke Zero (for the diet) and found it was just as good.

 

The ‘Western Food Company’ Steak & Potato Pie that I purchased last week was wonderful so I am trying the Steak & Kidney tonight.

 

Only thing that I was not happy with was that I purchased 4 Oranges at 20 Bt each. At the veg weighing station they put on a price ticket of 108 Bt. I soon drew their attention to the error and it was rectified straight away. Something to watch out for.

 

I notice also that Villa is open 24 hours and that they are selling wines, spirits, beers etc all day. All other supermarkets will not sell these between certain hours, I think midday til 5 pm and after midnight. How do they do it ??

 

It is a pity that they have the California Gym right outside their door playing rough music at the top of the noise level. However I will take ear muffs next time.

 

On the whole, Villa has a better selection than the other Supermarkets but at a price.