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In 1957, Tiang s son, Samrit Chirathivat, opened the first Central Department Store in Wangburapha, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. The company s property development arm, Central Pattana was founded in 1980, and opened its first shopping center, Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak district, Bangkok in 1982. The retail property development and management arm of the Central Group, Central Pattana was founded on June 17, 1980 with a registered capital of 300 million baht.Expansion plans in 2010-2011 such as CentralPlaza Udon Thani renovation from formerly Charoensri Complex, CentralFestival Chiang Mai, CentralPlaza Chiang Rai, CentralPlaza Rama IX, and Rama IV Project (Lumpini Park) Central Retail Corporation is the largest retailer in Thailand, owning the Central Department Store chain, as well as its former rival, Robinson, and has an interest in the BigC Carrefour chain of hypermarkets. Central stores are positioned as an upper-market chain. The company plans to open two more hotels, Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld in Bangkok, and the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Pattaya in 2008. Tesco Lotus · Carrefour · Big C · Tops Supermarket .
It compares to such US retailers as Macy s. The Robinson department store chain (SET: ROBINS) was established in 1979 and was merged with Central in 1995. Its chief rival is The Mall Group, which owns Siam Paragon and The Emporium and several suburban shopping centers. Tiang Chirathivat started a general merchandise store in 1947 in Samphanthawong district, Bangkok s Chinatown.
It has 12 stores in Bangkok and branches in Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Pattaya and Phuket. Among its subsidiaries is Central Pattana (SET: CPN), which is the largest developer and operator of shopping centers in Thailand and the Central Retail Corporation, Thailand s biggest retail conglomerate.
The Central Group of Companies is a family-owned conglomerate holding company in Thailand that is involved in retailing, real estate, hotels and restaurants. The company became registered as a public limited company in 1994 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in 1995.
The company has branches in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Patong Beach, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ayutthaya, Ratchaburi, Sri Racha, Chanthaburi, Udonthani, Ubon Ratchathani, Chonburi, Khon Kaen, Chiang Rai (2011) and the second of Ubon Ratchathani (planned).It is positioned as a mid-market retailer, similar to such US chains as Sears. Central Hotels and Resorts, renamed Centara Hotels and Resorts in 2007, owns 11 resort hotels in Thailand, including the Sofitel Centara Grand at Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak district and the Sofitel Centara Grand Hua Hin Resort, which was Thailand s first resort-style hotel, built in 1923 by the State Railway of Thailand. Other hotels are located in Krabi, Ko Samui, Phuket, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai and Mae Sot.
The company operates eight shopping malls in Bangkok, including CentralWorld, as well as shopping centers in Chiang Mai and Chonburi.
