CentralWorld opens as vendors cheer

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CentralWorld opens as vendors cheer 
Bangkok Post: 28 Sep 2010
Vendors cheer reopening

Street vendors and shoppers will have smiles on their faces again after CentralWorld, which was damaged by fires during the May 19 riots, reopens today.

Central Pattana Plc, the mall's developer, has spent more than three months renovating the majority of the plaza zone.

Boonlue: No more rallies, please

Boonlue Youngleak, 54, a street vendor who sells coffee and tea, is quite pleased with the reopening. "We faced difficulties when CentralWorld closed for renovation. Although it is not completely reopening, I hope people will start shopping there again," he said.

More than 100 street vendors have gradually returned to sell their products near CentralWorld since the reopening was announced.

Rent for a small space on the footpath is 40 baht per day per shift, and there are day and night shifts.

Mr Boonlue's average sales before CentralWorld closed were 7,000 to 8,000 baht per day. Sales dropped to 1,500 baht per day after the closure.

"We had to use our savings to make home loan and car payments. We hope business will pick up, particularly when CentralWorld fully reopens. We don't want to see any rallies as it really hurts the country and Thai people. If they want to stage a rally, they should gather at other places," said Mr Boonlue.

Pornpan Sawangnate, a socks and sunglasses vendor, echoed Boonlue's sentiments. "I hope there are more shoppers here even though they won't equal the numbers before the fire. I strongly believe when it fully reopens, CentralWorld will return to being the landmark of Ratchaprasong," she said.

Her average sales per day are 2,000 to 2,500 baht, down from 5,000 before the fire.

Although construction is continuing on many parts of the site, tenants at CentralWorld are still upbeat about the reopening today. CPN along with many tenants will offer discounts of up to 50% to shoppers. About 150 million baht has already been spent to install security equipment.

CPN expects 80% of the space in the plaza zone will be opened today and the rest in December. Zen department store will be renovated by next August.

The developer expects 100,000 visitors per day during the reopening period, rising to 150,000 to 200,000 per day by year-end.

For some students, the reopening will be like reminiscing with an old friend.

"We're all waiting anxiously for CentralWorld to fully reopen. I made an appointment with friends to celebrate by watching a movie the first day of its reopening," said Arisa Sathachiva, a student at Sri Ayudhya School.

"Previously, we hung out there three to four times a week. We miss it so much. It was like something was missing in our life during its closure."

Her friends added they weren't concerned about security because they believe CPN has checked its integrity.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/retail/198511/vendors-cheer-reopening