Soi Eric- Stickmans View

[Hope Has A Headache]

Hi

I was just reading his weekely update;

There've been ongoing rumours about Nana Plaza's future for longer than I have been writing this column and no doubt they will continue until the end of 2012 at least, when the master lease for the plaza comes up. Down in Phuket similar rumours have been flying about for almost as long over the future of Soi Eric, arguably the best bar area in Patong. Bar owners in Soi Eric are wondering whether their new leases will be available when the master lease comes up down there. Sources who claim to know the owners of the land say the leases won't be renewed because the owners want to redevelop the site - which sounds plausible enough given its location on Bangla but with that said, I have no idea what is true and what isn't. These are, as I say, rumours. The similarities between Nana Plaza and Soi Eric are uncanny. Years ago the departure of either would have been a genuine loss, but given what has happened to Nana Plaza in Bangkok, and with the over supply of bars in Phuket, the disappearance of either would be no great loss.
:arf::arf:

The Coconut Bar, Pattaya

That's a bit Harsh and not something I think anyone on this site would agree with.

Best wishes

Drew

 

[ben a]

Over the years I have heard many rumors about the future of Bangla and its bars....What I have heard is that the ultimate plan is to move most all of the bars, gogo's, discos, and present "girlie" nightlife back into the back area of Jungceylon and Carrefour since those in charge feel they want to "Clean Up" bangla and make it more family friendly....It appears to me that this is slowly happening...Seadragon is gone and its reopenning will be nothing like we knew of it before...Soi Lion is supposed to be closed in another few months and of course there is this lease question about Soi Eric...I see a pattern developing....all I can say is that I'm just glad I got to live and experience it when it was what it was.

 

[dreamingenigma777]

DrFG but if it did happen how do you know it might not be even better if it was moved?? not everything from the past is best.

I've too heard this rumour for years, I too felt it was slowly happening and it made sense, but recently I've reversed my thoughts and feel Bangla will there for a long time yet, metamorphing, changing, hopefully for the better, but do not think its going anywhere soon..

 

[Nic]

Heard the Bangla is moving rumor for years as well.

I find it hard to believe the Thais would have a long range plan for anything. Outside of possibly eating.

 

[Beci]

That is so true...but I do think there is a small select group of people here that may have some sense and planning capabilities

 

[simple]

The rumours are long on the street. Question is where those stories came from...
Is it from those people who develop the area behind Jungceylon? Do they have a motive in it that bars are moving towards that area?
Did the rumours stated that Tiger Disco was going to close? And did the rumours say that the same group was going to reopen the Tiger at the boxing stadium site? Did all the bars move to an area leased by that same group..?
Bangla is not moving and no plans are there by all land owners, just by several lease holders who would like it to move for their own benefits. What individual land owners might do is a total other question...

 

[big red bon bon]

i don't know any of the rumors
but you can see the gradual change already with the chain stores going in and bigger hotels being build in proximity
again, i don't know anything about the l;ease holders and owners, but you can certainly see a shift in businesses going in there

as Dodger said, really won't make a difference if it all moved back to JC though

 

[hookah.]

Don't know if it's so much of a concerted effort to move the area. I think it's just inevitable that big money will eventually take over that area. It's a prime location, close to the beach, close to shopping and dining. Quite attractive for some hotel or resort chains to make substantial offers. Probably more money and stability in the long run for landowners than a bunch of beer bars.

But like everything else here, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Jackie]

Could it be acutally happening though? Thinking - there were the bars down the middle of Soi Seadragon now gone - and in it's place, it isn't going to be more bars........or is it.
Then Soi Lion is shutting at the end of August.

In my local town, there was a street of specialist fish shops. People came from all over to shop there. One lease ran out though, and there's no money in fish presumably - someone selling cheap toilet rolls (I'm not making this up) moved in. There was uproar, but it never recovered. Now there's only three fish shops left, and a lot of shops of tat.

Dilute something, and it loses that special character. I dunno.

 

[Karo]

So with Seadragon closed and Lion closing also, are there plans for both these Soi's to be re-opened any time soon???

 

[its a girls world :)]

Yeah same near where my mum is.. They had a open market in a huge brick building, not stalls like thailand so much as semi open shops... Fish, meats, cheeses, bakery all specialty and great stuff. Last time I went back it was just tat, cheap clothing, usual car boot merchandise and the food side had almost gone. Sure the super store has better parking, and I guess it must be cheaper.. But that personal touch was missing.

 

[eukusera]

this is a bit of an aside
but people, and especially us Americans ourselves, tend to overlook the smaller big cities in the US
i was just in Minneapolis for my 2nd time and what a vibrant city
just as you are explaining. one street, Nicolette Mall, every bar/restaurant with outdoor seating, farmers market right out on the street everyday
now Minny is insanely cold in the winter, just making a point that we overlook some of these great cities that are very vibrant that still have a lot of this going on

funny enough, the conference party was at a place called Brits with a huge, gorgeous lawn bowling yard!! 5555 great place

 

[hallowtim]

Hey guys
Sea Dragon is not closing and bangla is not moving.
Just an example; Kangaroo bar is 30 m2 9.000.000 bath for 3 years lease.The land is private owned.what kind of hotel can you build on 30 m2??

Pics and info on sea dragon
http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/general/48635-soi-seadragon.html

 

[Pompal 09.]

I really think that the loss of Soi Eric would not be detrimental to my trips as Im a non drinker.. but hope that the Soi stays open for the sake of Bangla Road and those who make their living off of their bars...I was surprised to see how vacant and empty many of the bars were during my month long trip in May/June and think the bar business must be a difficult one... I would also be saddened to see the loss of Nana Plaza as well.. it would definitely make me rethink my whole hotel scheme when visiting Bangkok

 

[been there done that]

Actually not privatly owned.
It is government land with a 30 years lease and the bars are sub leasing.....

 

[dee k]

Oh I agree...anything can happen...maybe better, maybe not...all I was referring to is the fact of how much I really enjoyed how it had once been..just personal feelings...regardless...we all seem to find our little niche' of fun as time rolls on

 

[Pompal 09.]

it would be a good thing if a soi or two closed.Theres way 2 many bars.Too many 2nd rate bars with 2nd rate services.Its because they can't make any money due to outrageous rents compared to revenues.
Its inevitable that the bars get "moved out the back" eventually.The land near the beach is incredibly underutilized by world standards.The only thing that will slow it down is trying to amalgamated the sites.
Sooner or later bar owners will realise that 30 sq m is not big enough to make a living except for the top 5 % of locations.Less bars of a bigger size will allow profits to be made and hence quality will be better.Bring it on.

 

[Dr Know-It-All]

Sorry, this whole post just contradicts itself.

Less bars = less competition = less choice for customer = better service??? On what planet?

And what kind of service are you looking for that you can't find on Bangla? You go in bar - Lady brings you drink - you take lady home for boom-boom! You can't get better service than that can you?

 

[Larkin]

Sorry, this whole post just contradicts itself.

Less bars = less competition = less choice for customer = better service??? On what planet?

And what kind of service are you looking for that you can't find on Bangla? You go in bar - Lady brings you drink - you take lady home for boom-boom! You can't get better service than that can you?


sorry but your reply indicates your a very easy pleased customer.A bit of an airhead to perhaps? Never run a business obviously.
Competition up to a point improves things, past the point of total saturation things go into a decline as no money can be made capital is depleted and once gone it attract other owners with low capital.If you doubt this 20 years ago soi croc look virtually identical to how it does today, no improvement, soi eric ditto. Back in those days profits could be made from bars s it wa maybe 20% of the bars there are today.Now its always hustle the customer for as much as possible, the relaxation factor has diminished.Little crappy beer bars abound and apart from high season theres no profits.This reflects on the customer experience .Unless your spending $$$ every moment your in the bar your ingnored.Not like that years ago.
Move the bars and make them bigger and restrict the numbers.Business will boom because the owners and girls will be able to make a buck and re invest it in the business.The way it is now its a revolving door of undercapitlaized owners and desolate looking girls.Of course there exceptions that what keeps it going.

 

[Liquid Gold]

you are forgetting its the soi owners that set the agenda...and they couldn't give a feck about anything other than maximising the rent they get on their square fooeforum.xxxe..they work on the theory of "if one bar idiot owner fails another idiot will come along in their place"