I recently hear a rumor (and a vicious one, at that!) that Suan Luam Night Bazaar is going to close!! That's one of my favourite places in Bangkok! Tell me it's not true!!

well ... the worst, if the plan will going on is the the entire area around will be flat down... One of the nicest neighbourhoods of inner Bangkok...

Business rules. Regardless who is the owner of that land.

It has been an ongoing rumor for years. Sadly, I actually think that this time its true.

We'll see.

I heard it for ages but it still open till now.. However, thing cant be changed suddenly... If it's going to happen there might be written announcement or any formal notification to any related parties already. It's a good place compare to any other night markets.. I kinda like it even I hardly go there.

I believe there are something going on in that area tho'

i got a good deal on my bags there, oh well

The plan is to build another shopping centre there, I guess it will happen, eventually.

The big wheel went to Singapore about a year ago.

Like bkk needs another shopping centre........when lumphini offered a different night out with some good shops also

Yes... sadly, it's true... :(

Yup...heard from a few sources

you know who owns it? Crown Property Bureau. And it is being sold or leased for long term development. They are going to build a huge mall. I think Central won the bid but I could be wrong.

I hate Suan Lum, in a lot of ways. The outdoor food court is disgustingly dirty, with spoiled food and the outdoor performance arena has terrible sound and is hotter than hell. That said, building another mall is probably not what the town really needs.

I wonder if the Crown Property Bureau will help all those poor people living (squatting) to relocate to another place where they can find work.

Ye one truth I am still getting over is after you find paradize and fall in love with it ,someone buys it and builds condos

It's true, as far as I know it

It is true, and Central won the bid.

I cant profess to be able to understand such complex ideas cause I am not to bright, but.... maybe the Suan Lum sell off plan and development project has something to do with Sufficiency Economy. They were both announced within months of each other. Literally within monhts of each other the hundreds of people who have squatted and worked in Suan Lum for years were told they had to get out, and soon.

"...maybe the Suan Lum sell off plan and development project has something to do with Sufficiency Economy."

Not so.

Its sad, good safe place for tourists to go and buy their **** and for me to drink German Ales and watch the football.

Sad, HOW MANY MORE CENTRAL CARBON COPY MALLS DO WE NEED?

"...maybe the Suan Lum sell off plan and development project has something to do with Sufficiency Economy."

Not so.

Of course it is not so.

Are you really playing this straight?

Are you being obtuse?

The point was: why couldnt the Crown Property Bureau be more selective in how it sells / uses its land. The same year this bid was contracted the CPB also sold the land when the British Embassy scaled down and Central bought that too.

Of course the ones running the CPB are not the Royal Family, but hired professionals. Yet, surely the Royal Family has a say in how it is going to be managed, no? Why couldnt they have 1) handled the sale with more grace to those who were displaced, and 2) set aside more land for public use. ANOTHER SHOPPING MALL? There will be a condo of course so that means housing for some. Then again those who need affordable housing can always find a shack on the railroad tracks.

BTW, did you read that academic's paper on the CPB where he lists its holdings where he estimates the value of the assets? I havent yet but would be interested to read it.

Being obtuse is your specialty, not mine.

Yes, I've read the paper. Work I've done is cited as one of its sources.

Personally, I'd rather see Lumpini Park expanded to encompass the Suan Lum plot and that portion of Wireless Road put underground as a tunnel.

Before trashing the CPB as a heartless graceless corporate ogre, it should be noted that its vast land holdings contain many poor and low-income communities, and that rents weren't raised on most of its properties for decades.

Rents were only increased after the 1997 crisis when the CPB, like most other Thai conglomerates, was in trouble. The increases were steep and there were lots of protests, even though after the rents were raised they were still way below fair market prices.

Have you noticed that almost no Thais have commented here? Most Bangkokians probably prefer a shopping mall.

Unfortunately, it's not a rumor. Yeah, it's kinda sad as it is also one of my favorite places where I can shop without having to bear the heat and sweat myself to death like in JJ market.

ammm.... let me add a bit... PJack and Loburt

impressive you know a lot about this issue...

For Suan Lum Night Bazaar, there are problems about contract between CPB and broker (i'm not sure about whether i should use this word) who won the bid. The broker has to pay for the monthly rent (very cheap rate comparing to the income they got from vendors) and within contract, they assigned exactly when the contract and business would end...

later.. they ignored the contract... yet they still collect the payment from vendors and finding more vendors... which never noticed vendors they have already lost the contract....

CPB sued them in the court.... but nothing changed.... as i remember CPB sued them a few times.... while court processing...they still finding more vendors, collectting payment but no payment for CPB anymore.

unfortunately, it's about speculation, some investors released the spaces... and because the space is so tempting.... many people jumped in... moreover, for the vendors who already knows what happening... they sold the spaces to the innocent comers... and for vendors who can do nothing... just do business there..till they cant do...

moreover, when CPB wanted to reveal the truth at the place (suan lum)... they were against by local mofia who were under that broker.

meantime i heard Central won the bid.... i guess it would be strategic reasons.... well, at the point of time, i heard Central has a right for the land of British Embassy and Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

it is what i heard since a few years ago.... i didnt catch up then....

PS. for myself, i prefer Suan Lum Night Bazaar than shopping mall..... i just want somewhere i can be out of aircon.... even it's hot...