MBK Center

infobox shopping mall
shopping_mall_name = MBK Center (Formerly Mahboonkrong Center)

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image_width = 250
caption = MBK Center
location = Pathum Wan, Bangkok, Thailand
opening_date = 1985
developer = Chokchai Bulakul
manager = MBK Plc.
owner = Dusit Thani Group
number_of_stores = 2,500
number_of_anchors = 3
floor_area = 89,000 m²
parking =
floors = 8
website = [http://www.mbk-center.co.th/en/ www.mbk-centre.co.th/en]

MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong or Mabunkrong ( _th. มาบุญครอง), is an enormous marble shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. At eight stories high and 330 metres long, with 2,500 shops using a total selling area of 89,000 square metres, this shopping mall used to be one of the biggest malls in Asia when it was first founded in 1985. It is particularly well known for its many vendors of mobile phones and other electronics, as well as furniture stores.

History

Built in 1985 by Chokchai Bulakul, the mall was originally named the Mahboonkruong Center, combining the names "Mah" and "Boonkhrong", Chokchai's mother and father. Mahboonkrong ran into financial difficulty in its early years and was sold to the Dusit Thani Group. The mall is now known by the shorter name of "MBK Center" and is managed by MBK Plc. The busts of Chokchai's parents are still displayed on the ground floor of MBK Center facing the front doors.

MBK Center has an average of 105,000 customers daily, and is considered to be the most visited mall in the country.

The mall was renovated in 2003-2004 and has become one of the most recognizable buildings in Bangkok.

Location

Located in Pathum Wan district, the mall is situated on one end of a shopping thoroughfare that eventually becomes Sukhumvit Road. Other shopping centers are nearby:
* Siam Square can be accessed from the second floor by a covered, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road to Bonansa Mall.
* Via Siam Discovery Center and Siam Center, Siam Paragon, can be accessed by a pedestrian overpass linked to the Bangkok Skytrain National Stadium station. Access to the walkway is through the Tokyu department store on the second floor or from the third floor of the shopping center.

Transportation

* Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) - National Stadium station; also within walking distance of the BTS Siam station.
* Khlong Saen Saeb - Hua Chang pier is within walking distance.

hops

Anchor

*The four-story Tokyu department store is located at the northern end of MBK Center.

Hotel

*The Dusit Thani Group's Pathumwan Princess Hotel is found at the southern end of the mall.

Other features

*SF Group's SF Cinema City multiplex, karaoke rooms and bowling alley
*Internet cafes and gaming parlors.
*Food courts as well as numerous restaurants and fast-food outlets.
*Shops selling clothes, cosmetics and leather items.
*Jewellers and gold dealers.
*Information technology accessories and electronics, particularly mobile phones, are a specialty.
*Furniture stores. ref|1

References

* [http://www.mbk-center.com/en/Profile/Pro.asp MBK Center Official Profile]

External links

* [http://www.mbk-center.com/en/ MBK Center Official Website]