The Demise of Nana Plaza ~ LB-69

I don't know if anyone has noticed that the farang owned Big Mango recently closed its doors at Nana plaza.

They explain their reasons here:
http://www.2thebigmango.com/main/2007/11/02/only-steps-away-from-the-buddhist-shrine/

They also mention that they believe Nana plaza will die a slow death and within 3 years it could be flattened for a hotel.

Now I wonder what will happen to the ladyboy bars we frequent there, if Nana does vanish?

Incidently the only GG bars I go to there are the Rainbows, just to look usually nowadays.

Another view can be found here in regards to where next after Nana?:
http://www.bangkokbadboy.com/now-where.html

Moderator Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 2485

It's about time Soi Cowboy had a Nana style LB bar, I don't know if there's some force against having a LB bar in cowboy, but with it currently growing in popularity surely it's only a matter of time before one opens(?).

I think a bigger concrern about Nana is the safety issues, it's been noted several times before, Nana is an incredible fire hazard, it just wouldn't be allowed in most other countries..

I think if Nana does finally go the action will just move elsewhere. And as suggest in the article, if the action dies down in BKK, tourism would start to drop dramatically and surely it wouldn't be long before the government were pushing for a new Nana(?)

Ladyboy Hunter Joined: 16 Dec 2005 Posts: 442 Points: 764

Some interesting views but I dont believe NEP will go anytime soon - the issues however are complex and very political. NEP is not in a Thai Entertainment zone as undertaken by TRT when they were in Govt under Purachai's crackdown. Funny enough the only entertainment zones are in Chinese Thai owned areas. NEP is owned by Indian Thai's. Infact most of lower Sukhumvit is owned by Indian Thai's these days. Remove NEP and the hotels that are mostly owned by the same or related families, suddenly lose the the customer - after all, no NEP, why stay around Nana???? - by the way, the Landmark debate is a red herring - the landmark is owned by a Chinese Thai family - they would not turn it into a car park - 50% of their business travellers stay there because of that nightlife venue.

Sukhumvit Plaza (current home of Guess Bar) has been bought by Indian Thai's from a Chinese Thai owner for a substantial sum of money -slowly but surely the ownership of the main farang nightlife area is changing.

As I say, I dont believe the Plaza will go anytime soon for the reasons above. however its does not take a rocket scientist to see the decline in the complex - however the landlord would argue, he just provides the leases - the upkeep and desirability of the bars is up to their operators. personally I suspect that the owners of the bars had been way to short sighted in upgrading their own surroundings. new leases have just been agreed in nana for another 3 years - almost everyone has signed them.

The issue of NEP versus Cowboy is also complicated - as they sit in 2 different police districts. Tonglor (Soi Cowboy) is renowned as an easier police district than Lumpini (who cover Nana) - thats why within 1km of each other you have 2 distinctly different offerings when you walk into a bar. There is also a strong anti LB feeling within Cowboy - anyone who opened a LB bar would face a lot of problems. It was easy for the Crwon group in Nana (owner of Obsession and cascade) as athey are the dominant tenant of the entire complex (with some 10 bars and gogo's).

Cheers
Mardhi