CentralWorld

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The mall opened in 1989 as the World Trade Center. Central Group acquired the property in 2002 from the Wang Phetchabun group and changed the name to Central World Plaza. In 2007, it was renamed CentralWorld. It is on leased Crown Property Bureau land. In its acquisition, the Central Group's property development arm, Central Pattana ({{SET|CPN}}), secured a new 30-year lease on the site.Jitpleecheep, Sukanya. [http://www.bangkokpost.net/yearend2002/retailing.html "Plenty of new offerings in store"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012162949/http://www.bangkokpost.net/yearend2002/retailing.html |date=12 October 2006 }}, Bangkok Post Year-End 2002 Economic Review (retrieved 21 July 2006).

Anticipating the opening of the luxury Siam Paragon, CPN started massive renovations and expansion on the site in 2002. The original mall structure was {{Convert|300000|m2}}, and the expansion plans boosted that to {{Convert|430000|m2}}. Though work was not yet complete, CPN held an official opening of the renovated complex on 21 July 2006; it was expected to be fully operational by October 2006. By May 2007, the mall was fully opened, but some parts of the upper floors remained vacant. Major exterior construction was ongoing on the hotel in the northwest corner of the mall and the extension floors to the ZEN department store in the southeast corner.

The renovated complex aimed to attract 150,000 customers per day, spending more than 7 billion baht annually. It marketed itself as a middle-class shopping center, as opposed to the upper-class Siam Paragon.Nguyen, Lan Anh (21 July 2006). "Unfinished CentralWorld to hold grand opening", ThaiDay (print edition).Thai News Agency (21 July 2006). [http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=23493 Thailand's largest shopping complex CentralWorld opens July 21] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312142603/http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=23493 |date=12 March 2007 }}, MCOT (retrieved 22 July 2003).

Renovations included completing an unfinished office tower, work on which had been halted in 2003, with only 39 of the planned 63 floors completed. Construction resumed in 2003, expanding the tower to a 45-story, {{Convert|204|m|adj=on}} design, with the completed tower opening in December 2004.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091027060803/http://geocities.com/topsyturvy_6051/cwt.html Bangkok Highrises – Central World Tower]

===2010 fire damage===

CentralWorld was temporarily closed on 19 May 2010 due to severe arson damage, which occurred as troops dislodged protesters from the area during the 2010 political protests. The adjoining Zen section suffered massive damage from rioters.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2010 |title=CentralWorld on verge of collapse |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178462/centralworld-to-collapse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521143720/http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178462/centralworld-to-collapse |archive-date=21 May 2010 |website=Bangkok Post}}{{Cite web |date=21 May 2010 |title=CentralWorld costs Zen fire at B1.3bn |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178720/centralworld-repair-to-take-over-6-months |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524144313/http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178720/centralworld-repair-to-take-over-6-months |archive-date=24 May 2010}}

The Isetan portion was reopened soon after. Following repairs, a large part of CentralWorld was reopened on 28 September that year, with the Zen section reopening on 6 January 2012.

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Renovations included enhanced circulation and simplified navigation, the addition of an escalator in zone A, enhanced linkage to the BTS Skytrain, and opening of the second Apple Store in Thailand.

During the evening rush hour on 10 April 2019, a fire that apparently started elsewhere spread to the eighth floor via air vent pipes, and the mall was ordered evacuated. At least two people, both employees, were reported to have died after jumping from the building.[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47883708 "CentralWorld: Deadly blaze at Bangkok shopping complex"], BBC News, 10 April 2019.[https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1659704/fire-kills-3-at-centralworld-in-bangkok "Fire kills 2 at CentralWorld in Bangkok"], Bangkok Post, 10 April 2019.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-fire/fire-at-bangkok-shopping-mall-kills-at-least-two-injures-16-idUSKCN1RM1JL "Fire at Bangkok shopping mall kills at least two, injures 16"], Reuters, 10 April 2019.Jintamas Saksornchai, [http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/calamity/2019/04/11/2-mall-staff-likely-jumped-to-death-while-aiding-fire-rescue-official/ "2 Mall Staff Likely Jumped to Death While Aiding Fire Rescue: Official"], Khaosod English, 11 April 2019.

That December, after three decades, ZEN was renamed to Central after a major revamp costing 1 billion baht.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1804479/central-earmarks-b10bn-for-revamp|title=Central earmarks B10bn for revamp|website=Bangkok Post|date=29 November 2019 |access-date=4 December 2019 |last1=Jitpleecheep |first1=Pitsinee }}

On 14 March 2020, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings and CPN jointly announced the closure of Isetan Bangkok at CentralWorld as of 31 August 2020, due to the contract expiration.https://www.prahchachat.net/marketing/news-432211{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1878800/isetan-to-exit-thailand-after-28-years|title=Isetan to exit Thailand after 28 years|website=Bangkok Post|date=14 March 2020 |access-date=16 March 2020}}

CentralWorld Zone A New Atrium 201801.jpg|Zone A new atrium

CentralWorld Atrium in Level 1-2 201801.jpg|The atrium was removed from levels 1–2

CentralWorld Level 2 new shops 201801.jpg|Open shop-front design on level 2

CentralWorld is located in the Pathum Wan District, at the Ratchaprasong intersection, in one of Bangkok's busiest shopping and tourism districts.

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Image:CWZEN2015.jpg

File:CentralWorld Atrium view 201801.jpg

File:CentralWorld Zone F The Rink 2011.jpg

Image:Christmas Tree outside CentralWorld.jpg

Outdoor activity square covering an area of {{Convert|8|km2}}. In 2020, the Apple Store opened here.

Six-lane road that circles the complex, linking Rama I Road and Ratchadamri Road.

{{Main|Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre}}

File:Cds-cw-2020.jpg

• Central Department Store – previously known as Zen, it is the largest branch of the eponymous chain, at 50,000 square metres and seven stories.
• SF World Cinema – upscale cinema complex located on the seventh floor, it has a total of 15 screens and 800 seats. The venue hosted the 2007 and 2008 Bangkok International Film Festival.

Image:Groove.jpg

• Apple Store – Apple's second store in Thailand
• SuperSports – large sporting equipment store
• PowerBuy x B2S Think Space – flagship branch of the Thailand-based bookstore and electronics store chain
• Tops Food Hall – premium-level supermarket
• SB Design Square – flagship store of S.B. Furniture
• Toys R Us – Thai flagship location of the American toy store

Image:UNIQLOTH.JPG

• TK Park (Thailand Knowledge Park) – complex that includes a library, internet centres, a 4D movie theatre, and other media facilities. It is owned and operated by the government of Thailand.
• Genius Planet – children's playground, arcade, and various learning centres
• Uniqlo – first Uniqlo store in Thailand
• H&M – clothing store
• The Rink Iceskate – indoor ice skating rink located in the Forum zone on the second floor
• The ZONE by Fitness First – fitness centre
• Kinokuniya – first Kinokuniya store in Thailand
• Nitori – first Nitori store in Thailand

Apple Central World (January 2022) - img 01.jpg|Apple Central World (2022)

CentralWorld Level 1 Jewels & Watches 2011.jpg|Level 1 jewellery & watches (2011)

CentralWorld Level 1 Zone E water feature Void 2011.jpg|Level 1 Zone E water feature (2011)

CentralWorld Level 3 2011.jpg|Level 3 (2011)

CentralWorld Level 4 Zone B 2011.jpg|Level 4 Zone B (2011)

CentralWorld Level 5 Zone A 2011.jpg|Level 5 Zone A (2011)

CentralWorld Level 6 Zone C Genius Planet 2011.jpg|Level 6 Zone C Genius Planet (2011)

CentralWorld Level Level 7 Zone A Restaurant 201801.jpg|Level 7 Zone A restaurants

SF World Cinema View 2011.jpg|Level 7 SF World Cinema

CentralWorld Level 7 Central Food Hall 2011.jpg|Level 7 Central Food Hall

File:Centerpoint at CentralWorld 2011.jpg

• King Power – Thai duty-free store that used to operate on the sixth floor of Zone A. It closed in June 2006 to make way for the expansion of the ZEN department store (now Central Department Store).
• Major Cineplex – former cineplex boasting six screens and 24 bowling lanes. It closed after SF World Cinema opened, in January 2008.
• Centerpoint at CentralWorld – complex of shops, restaurants, game zones, and entertainment venues on level 7. It closed in August 2012 to make way for the Edutainment Zone.
• Isetan – only branch of the Japanese department store chain in Thailand. It has six stories, with items ranging from apparel to domestic goods. It closed in August 2020.

• List of shopping malls in Bangkok
• List of shopping malls in Thailand
• List of largest shopping malls in Thailand
• List of the world's largest shopping malls

• {{Citation|first=Jim |last=Taylor |title=Larger Than Life: 'Central World' and its Demise and Rebirth – Red Shirts and the Creation of an Urban Cultural Myth in Thailand |journal=Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series |number=150 |date=March 2011 |url=http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/wps/wps11_150.pdf }}

{{reflist|33em}}

• {{cite book|ref = {{harvid|Annual Report 2011}}|url=http://cpn.listedcompany.com/misc/ar/20120321-CPN-AR2011-EN.pdf|title=Annual Report 2011|date=21 March 2012|author=Central Pattana|access-date=30 March 2012}}
• {{cite book|ref = {{harvid|Form 56-1 2011}}|url=http://cpn-th.listedcompany.com/misc/FORM561/2011/20120405-CPN-FORM561-2011-TH.pdf|title=Form 56-1 2011|language=th|date=5 April 2012|author=Central Pattana|access-date=23 May 2012}}

{{commons category|CentralWorld}}

• {{official website|centralworld.co.th/en/home}}

{{Bangkok Malls}}

{{Shopping malls in Thailand}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:CentralWorld}}

Category:Shopping malls in Bangkok

Category:Central Pattana

Category:Pathum Wan district

Category:Shopping malls established in 1990

Category:1990 establishments in Thailand