The makeover of Bangkok's main shopping district is nearly completed, now that Central World - formerly the World Trade Center - officially reopened last week.  Since work began on Siam Paragon nearly three years ago, most of the shopping centers in the Siam Square area of Bangkok undertook major rennovations to compete with the new luxury shopping center, which officially opened in December 2005.  Most centers managed to remain open during their rennovations, but Central World effectively closed in March 2006 while major work was done on its facade.  Only the Isetan department store and the duty free shop remained open.

The reworking of Central World was quite a bit more radical than that of other shopping centers in the area, since it was combined with new additions that in all have nearly doubled the floor space inside the mall.  As a result of all the changes, the shopping mall finally has a main entrance, which is off of Rama I Road and connects to the elevated walkway which runs under the Skytrain.  This means that Central World is now just a short walk away from Siam Paragon and the other Siam Square malls.

The new entry definitely makes a statement.  Where the "old" Central World really had no main entry, and was rather dim inside with no natural light, the new entry is quite grand, as is the light filled shopping street ot open onto.  Inside the new entrance, which sits between the old part of the shopping center and the newer office building completed last year, you find yourself in a long atrium space that soars four stories up to a glass roof.  Either side is lined with shops, many of which are appearing in Bangkok for the first time.

While Central World officially re-opened on 21 July, many of the shops inside have not completed their own rennovations.  Only about 50% were ready as of this date, and the Zen department store at the south end of the old mall is not scheduled to re-open until December 2006.