The Emporium shopping complex in Bangkok will fully open in March after a major renovation.
The Emporium shopping complex on Sukhumvit Road has reopened after a renovation lasting more than seven months. Retail space has been expanded by 20% to 25,000 square metres.
Voralak Tulaphorn, senior vice-president for merchandising of The Mall Group, operator of the upscale shopping venue, said 95% of total space at the shopping centre had been reopened to customers since Monday. Only the cinema zone remains closed.
The company spent 3 billion baht to make over The Emporium over the past seven to eight months in anticipation of fiercer retail competition in the Pathumwan, Ratchaprasong and Sukhumvit areas next year.
After the renovation, The Emporium boasts a more modern look and new layout.
All departments will provide full service in March next year simultaneously with the opening of The EmQuartier shopping complex on the opposite side of Sukhumvit Road to The Emporium.
The image of The Emporium has been changed and total retail space has been expanded by 20% to 25,000 square metres, with more exclusive fashion brands to be provided to customers.
Brands available at The Emporium will be different from other retail complexes in nearby areas to make it distinct and create regular customers, Ms Voralak said.
The Emporium's renovation is part of The Mall Group's strategy to create "Em District", a new shopping district in Bangkok along with other existing retail districts including Ratchaprasong intersection.
Em District will comprise three shopping complexes — The Emporium, The EmQuartier and The Emsphere, which will open by the end of 2016 or early 2017.
Ms Voralak expects the number of visitors to The Emporium will increase by 50% and spending per bill will rise by 30% after the makeover.
Sales are expected to reach 2.4 billion baht. Of the total, about 700 million baht will come from cosmetics, 800 million baht from women's fashions and accessories, 500 million baht from menswear and the remainder from kitchen, lifestyle and other departments.