It’s no secret that shopping and strolling around in an air-conditioned space is a Thai national pastime, so it makes sense that giant corporations continue to acquire land and build more malls in Bangkok.
Dinosaur Planet, an amusement park in Phrom Phong, made headlines this week when they announced that the family destination will close to make way for EmSphere, the last mall in the Em District project. People immediately began their inevitable moaning about more malls and and fewer recreational spaces.
Whether you’d like to jump on the I-hate-malls bandwagon or are excited to take a stroll in a shiny new retail paradise, here are the shopping malls scheduled to open in the near future.
EmSphere
Slated to open: 2020
While The Mall Group boasts that EmSphere will provide a vibe that “Bangkok has never experienced before,” the only thing we know so far about the third mall in the Em District project is that it will be a mixed-use building for retail and office — something we’ve definitely seen a hundred times before.
Icon Siam
Slated to open: October 2018
Icon Siam, the mega retail and apartment complex on the Chao Phraya River, will have not one but two malls in its two skyscrapers. Besides the retail space, the project will consist of two different condominium projects: Mandarin Oriental Residences and Magnolias Waterfront Residences.
As far as we know, one of the malls will hold Thailand’s first Takashimaya, a department store from Japan. The project boasts a THB54 billion investment and aims to be an “iconic landmark of Thailand’s prosperity.” It’s supposed to host a multimedia light show as a feature to draw buyers in.
One Bangkok
Slated to open: 2021
Another estate that will compete with Icon Siam for status as a Thailand landmark is One Bangkok, a project by TCC Group, which was founded by the Sirivadhanabhakdi clan. You might not have heard about the Thai-Chinese family, but we’re sure you’ve tried their Chang Beer.
The piece of land on Wireless Road that used to house Suanlum Night Bazaar is being constructed into a mixed-use complex. The 41-acre project will serve not only as a mall, but it will host offices, hotels, “ultra luxury” condominiums and recreational spaces.
Gateway Bangsue
Slated to open: November 2018
To serve residents in the Bangkok outskirts will be the 10-story community mall “Gateway Bangsue,” because believe or not, there aren’t enough malls in the residential area.
Located near the terminal station of the MRT Purple Line, Gateway Bangsue will house retail spaces, a cinema, and a play area for children. It’s being built by the same company that owns the Japanese-themed mall Gateway Ekkamai.
Bangkok Mall
Slated to open: 2023
The Mall Group caused a buzz in the retail industry in 2014 when they vowed to build Bangkok Mall, which was announced to be the “largest mall in Thailand and Southeast Asia.”
Located in Bang Na, Bangkok Mall will be built on 39 acres of land — that’s three times the size of Siam Paragon. However, after all these years, the project is still a construction site, leaving people to question whether they’re really going to get another mall in Bangna to compete with Mega Bangna and Central Bangna.
DONKI Mall Thonglor
Slated to open: Unconfirmed
Although the opening date has not been confirmed, we’d like to include the much-anticipated Don Quijote in the list.
This popular discounted store is a must-visit site for Thais when they travel to Japan. The store expanded to Singapore last year and had Thai netizens excited when a sign with the store’s iconic penguin mascot was posted at a construction site in Thonglor.
A source from the Thai government confirmed in November of last year that the rumors that spread online are legit. Bangkok will welcome the second Don Quijote store in Southeast Asia, which now unofficially goes by the name “Donki Mall Thonglor.”
