THAILAND - Dec 4, 2005
A new shopping mall scheduled to open in Bangkok in 2006 will feature a "gay shopping zone" as part of a billion-baht retail shopping project.Tawana Center Park, in Bangkok's Lat Phrao district, hopes to attract shoppers to its 2,400 square meter space dubbed Gay Avenue. Anusorn Jaruwattananukool, Managing Director of project, hopes that Gay Avenue will make the Tawana Centre Park "absolutely different" from the myriad other shopping malls in Bangkok. "None of the shops will deal with sex," promised Anusorn, who claimed that the products created by gay people tend to be chic and unique. "I don't think there will be any backlash from the conservative sector of society because the products and services on offer will be furniture, fashion items, home decoration items, restaurants and coffee shops." Gay Avenue's retail space will be dedicated solely to shops owned by gays. The complex is reportedly owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi who also owns the nearby Computer City complex. |
