MBK Center, also known as Mahboonkrong , is a large shopping mall

Shopping mall

A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...

 in Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...

, Thailand

Thailand

Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...

. At eight stories high, the center hosts around 2,000 stores and services, including the 4-story Tokyu department store, restaurants and entertainment.

The MBK Center management reports daily visitor numbers of more than 100,000, half of whom are young Thai people and a third foreign visitors.

The MBK Center is very popular amongst tourists, particularly Western tourists. It is also very popular with Thai residents with the majority of shoppers being native Bangkok residents. Knockoff items can be found in abundance at this shopping complex, but prices are much higher than one would expect. Many stores selling authentic merchandise are also available. MBK Center is connected to the Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon shopping center by elevated walkways, both of which are more upscale and have only authentic goods. MBK Center is worth a visit for any tourist, it is a well known landmark in Bangkok.

History

MBK Center, opened in 1985, is one of the oldest shopping malls in Asia, and was the largest when it was inaugurated. It is located on land leased from the adjacent Chulalongkorn University. This lease was renewed in 2002. The center was named after the parents of the developer Sirichai Bulakul, Mah & Boonkrong, whose statues grace the ground floor.

Location

MBK Center is located in Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan

Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...

 district, on the southwest corner of the intersection of Rama I Road and Phaya Thai Road

Phaya Thai

Phaya Thai is a district in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is also the name of a major road, as well as a BTS Skytrain station, both of which are in the nearby Ratchathewi district....

. It is close to Siam Square

Siam Square

Siam Square is a shopping and entertainment area in the Siam District of Bangkok, Thailand. The area connects to other shopping centres and links to the other shopping districts by sky bridge, such as Siam Center/Siam Discovery Center, MBK Center, Siam Paragon, Ratchaprasong shopping district and...

, which can be reached from the second floor via a covered pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road, and Siam Center

Siam Center

Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center are twin shopping malls in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. Located at the BTS Skytrain's Siam Station, the malls are part of a large shopping district being opposite Siam Square, next to Siam Paragon and adjacent to MBK Center. Both are owned by Siam...

 and Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon

Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...

, which are across Rama I Road from Siam Square.

Transportation

• Bangkok Skytrain
  Bangkok Skytrain
  The Bangkok Mass Transit System, commonly known as the BTS Skytrain , is an elevated rapid transit system in Bangkok, Thailand. It is operated by Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited under a concession granted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration...
  
   (BTS) - National Stadium Station
  National Stadium Station
  National Stadium station is a BTS skytrain station, on the Silom Line in Pathum Wan District, Bangkok, Thailand. The station is located on Rama I Road to the west of Pathum Wan intersection, where the National Stadium, MBK Center, Siam Discovery Center, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and Siam...
  
  ; also within walking distance of Siam station.
• Khlong Saen Saeb
  Khlong Saen Saeb
  Khlong Saen Saeb is a canal in central Thailand, connecting the Chao Phraya River to Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao. A portion of the canal is used for public transport by an express boat service in Bangkok...
  
   - Hua Chang pier is within walking distance.

Department store

• The four-storey Tokyu
  Tokyu Group
  The of companies centers on the Tokyu Corporation railway company, which links Tokyo and its suburbs. Many companies in the group are designed to enhance the value of the Tokyu rail network. In addition to the railroad system, the group includes other companies in transportation, real-estate,...
  
  department store is located at the northern end of MBK Center.

Shops and services

• Floors 1-3: Clothing and shoes, leather goods, cosmetics and hairstyling, toys, gold and jewelry
• Floor 4: Electronics, mobile phones, CD and MP3
• Floor 5: International food hall, restaurants, furniture, photography, computing
• Floor 6: Food center, souvenir shops
• Floor 7: Movie theaters, bowling, karaoke
• Floor 8: Movie theater

Outdoors

• Located in 3 locations surrounding the MBK Center, there is the MBK Green Wall, which is the largest green wall of this kind in all of Thailand. Hosting Elle ads, this wall was installed as part of MBK's ongoing commitment to the environment.

External links

• MBK Center Official Website