Guest fountainhall Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Terminal 21 at Sukhumvit Asoke (there is a bridge link from Asoke BTS station) opened its doors four months ago and attracted some positive comments from pong and snapshot on a thread about the closure of Silom Complex. Having now visited it twice in a week, I do think it deserves a short thread of its own. This is no luxury mall along the lines of (yet another) Paragon and Emporium. Rather, it is a bit like a cross between Siam Centre, parts of MBK and Chatuchak Market, but with lots more open space and a much more contemporary feel – as well as a twist. It is intended to give younger Thais the ‘feel’ of air travel – not so much of a terminal itself, but a terminal as a means of getting you from one exciting city to another. So escalators lead you to "departure gates" for Paris, London, Tokyo, Rome, Istanbul and San Francisco. Each floor is laid out around a central atrium with a maze of narrow streets boasting a vast array of tiny general and speciality shops, many with intriguing names. One I liked was “Happy Closet” with its very cute young salesman! Indeed, on a Saturday afternoon there was a wonderful array of eye candy! Inevitably there is a food court and various other eateries and snackeries, as well as a Fitness Centre (Fitness First) and the obligatory cinema complex. At the 5th floor food court, you can eat almost as though you are sitting at a roadside stall, with prices between around Bt. 25 – 40. The cash card you have to buy in advance can be topped up and used for 30 days – you don’t have to cash out after each meal as at many similar food courts. The overall décor and the general theme may be a little tacky but it is obviously attracting a big young crowd. I enjoyed my visit – and will be back. Quote
Rogie Posted February 19, 2012 Posted February 19, 2012 Many thanks for that - you make it sound very interesting. I wonder if they got the idea for the airport theme from shopping malls in other cities in other countries - anyhow, whether it be a first or a copy hardly matters, I shall put it on my list of places to visit, especially if they are showing a film I'd like to watch and so can combine shopping and cinema. Quote
pong Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Inevitably there is a food court and various other eateries and snackeries, as well as a Fitness Centre (Fitness First) and the obligatory cinema complex. At the 5th floor food court, you can eat almost as though you are sitting at a roadside stall, with prices between around Bt. 25 – 40. The cash card you have to buy in advance can be topped up and used for 30 days – you don’t have to cash out after each meal as at many similar food courts. TESCO cards are valid for 1 year and can be used in ANY of their shops throughout TH now. Plus you gain points for coupons on their clabcard. Sometimes they do promosyens-then its only 30 days and no money back (like pay 100-get 110 or 120 value). BigC is ONLY in that shop-valid 45 days. Central is way too expensive and snobbish for me anyway-then I go outside and eat at half the price from a vendor. The last 3-4 yrs I note a serious decline in the availability of fooditems on courts and the quality-and it seems there are now in BKK just too many-empty places seem the rule in the lesser visited shops, f.e. where BigC and old Carrefr were close together-just wait for the 1st one to fold down. In fact some old Carrefr s have closed-disguised as ''renovation'' but they wont come back after thats done. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Carrefour actually sold out to Big C in late 2010. Where there were two stores more or less side by side, it's surely unlikely Big C will sell/lease the vacant lot to a competitor. Quote
Bob Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Carrefour actually sold out to Big C in late 2010. Where there were two stores more or less side by side, it's surely unlikely Big C will sell/lease the vacant lot to a competitor. Probably a good guess. Here in Chiangmai, Big C turned the old Carrefour place into something called the "Big C Extra" whereas the regular (and slightly bigger) regular Big C store remains open about a 1/2 mile down the same road (super highway). I don't see much difference between the stores - other than size, maybe - and it looks like Big C has effectively locked out similar-store competition in that area unless/until another outfit chooses to start from scratch and build a new mega-mall or mini-mall. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 After spending an hour at Starbucks in Terminal 21 this afternoon, I had to avail myself of the toilets. Amazingly, they are fitted with Japanese style loos - heated seats, extending pipes for water cleaning and warm air, etc. I was very impressed! Quote
Guest ReneThai Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Here are some pictures I took at Terminal21 last month https://picasaweb.google.com/112285924945558032097/Terminal21SiamParagon Quote
Rogie Posted February 24, 2012 Posted February 24, 2012 Here are some pictures I took at Terminal21 last month They're good. Thanks for posting the link. I don't understand the significance of the sculpture in black with the camera and sound technicians? Later: I just twigged, it's in the cinema! Silly me. . . To make amends At the Oscars on Sunday there will be a high-profile battle for Hollywood's most coveted awards but what about the people lower down the credits? BBC News went to meet some of these unsung heroes - a gaffer, a key grip, a property master and a digital compositor - to find out what they do and how they contributed to some of the films nominated this year. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17138754 Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted February 25, 2012 Posted February 25, 2012 Later: I just twigged, it's in the cinema! Silly me. . . On the cinema floor near the ticket office, Rogie. Not sure I'd like to sit next to that lot when watching a movie ReneThai's photos give a good 'flavour' of the complex. Quote
pong Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 was there longer yesterday. Tehre was some show or whatever going on-maybe due to that, but my impression was that its THE gathering place for lesbo's/dee+tom-type couples. VERY popular among visiting Malays etc-they can never have enough of pix with all he symbols-even a London red Routemaster DoubleDecker. But in KUL they have a shop-centre disguised as a pyramid+cheops/lion-but thats only outside. Inside it is as dull as any chain. Wonder if those small shops are going to survive-enough people, but noone buying. And that foodcourt-though not over large-is indeed cheap as chips-even cheaper for same items as Tesco ro BigC. As its Central-group-hiso and overpriced-expect it to go up by 10 bt in a few weeks and by another 5/10 bt pretty soon afters. Ate at Jeffers-the cheap steak chain and at 18.00 it was half full and at 18.15 all seats taken-and staff overwhelmed by the nr of clients-as if they were there day 2 and not 6 monthes after opening. Could not cope at all. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 Wonder if those small shops are going to survive-enough people, but noone buying. A good friend of mine has a small clothing shop there. He says business is very good. He also tells me that all the shop spaces are let and there is quite a lengthy waiting list. I guess initial tenants got a sweet rental deal. So the key test will be when all leases are up for renewal at higher rates. Quote
