Phuket gets ready for the Banana Walk

PHUKET: Patong Beach Hotel Ltd – owners of the Patong Beach Hotel and Banana Disco – today announced the opening of a “new-lifestyle” shopping center in Patong, on Phuket’s west coast.

The news follows the developer breaking ground last week for the Banana Walk shopping mall, scheduled to open in May next year.

The complex will be located along Thaweewong Road (the beach road) next to the Banana Disco – about 100 meters south of Soi Bangla.

“With Banana Walk, we have designed architecture to create a shopping experience that’s a complete departure from the typical Thai neighborhood or community malls,” said Smith Obayawat, founder of the Office of Bangkok Architects, who designed the mall.

The three-level beach-view shopping complex will host 30 boutiques, five restaurants and rooftop nightclubs.

The goal is to create low-density shopping and dining areas, the company said.

Nick Anthony, managing director of Indigo Real Estate, the leasing agent for Banana Walk, seeks to attract “quality, international retailers” along with a variety of music and entertainment options for planned rooftop lounge areas, the press release said.

The developers say that the shopping mall will be following “sustainable retail practices”, banning plastic bags and all Styrofoam products, and will be supported by a recycling program and an efficient energy usage system.

Banana Walk will comprise 50 per cent retail space and 50 per cent food and beverage outlets, with Baitong Seafood – owned by the Banana Walk developers – as the “anchor” food and beverage outlet, the developers said.