Bangkok Post, Sukanya Jitpleecheep, 1st December 2005

Thailand's first gay shopping zone will open next year as part of the one-billion-baht Tawana Center Park in Bangkok's Lat Phrao district.

The "Gay Avenue" will comprise 2,400 square metres of retail space dedicated solely to shops owned by gays. The complex is reportedly owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, who also owns the nearby Computer City complex. Bangkok Center Development Co will operate the new retail project, located on a 47-rai plot next to a Makro Cash & Carry.

Anusorn Jaruwattananukool, the company's managing director said the construction of Tawanna Center Park would be divided into two phases. The first phase, located on a 32-rai plot, will be opened in March next year. It will have 8,000 square metres of retail space and house 1,500 shops, with 30% of the space set aside for the Gay Avenue Zone.

The second phase will be built on a 15-rai plot with 3,000 square metres of retail space housing 500 shops. The company plans to open the second phase in the second half of 2006, and is now accepting bookings for the project.

Apart from Gay Avenue Zone, the project will offer products and services similar to what is available at Bangkok's famous Chatuchak weekend market and the Suan Lum Night Baazar.

Products expected to be sold at the new mall include electronics, mobile phones, designer clothes and second-hand brand name products. About 50% of the products available at the project will be exclusive.

Mr Anusorn said the Gay Avenue would serve as the magnet to attract customers to the project because products created by gays tend to be chic and unique.

"I don't think there will be any backlash on the project from the conservative sector of society because the products and services on offer will be furniture, fashion items, home decoration items, restaurants and coffeeshops. None of the shops will deal with sex," he said.

Mr Anusorn said the Gay Avenue would make the project absolutely different from other retailer centres in Bangkok in terms of shop decoration and product design. "Some of the designer fashion products have won prices in contests in Paris. That way our customers will also benefit," said Mr Anusorn

There are over 3,000 tenants on the waiting list to open shops in the project, exclusive of the 300 to 400 gay merchandisers who have already placed a down payment to open shops. The company expects to attract 15,000 visitors daily and break even within the next 6-7 years, aiming for annual sales of 120 million baht.