WWD has an piece on the latest luxury shopping mecca, the
Siam Paragon in Bangkok. The $365 million mall has a giant saltwater aquarium, marble floors, gourmet food and 250
stores to chose from. There is an 860,000 square foot Paragon department store and high-end retail like Armani,
Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Chloé, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo and Bulgari. An entire floor of the Siam is the
"World of Luxury" where high-end jewelers can be found and there is also a floor devoted to exotic car and
yacht dealers. The shopping center is aimed at both rich Thai shoppers and tourists. Tourism is Thailand's top business
and although most tourists are from Asia, the number of European and American tourists is rising. Other shopping
destinations in the area include the Central Department Stores which spent $20 million adding to its Chidlom flagship
to compete with the Siam Paragon and is planning to expand its Zen store; Gaysorn Plaza which also spent spent
$60 million on a face-lift; the 215,000-square-foot Siam Discovery Center which is aimed at customers aged 25 and up,
and the 430,000-square-foot Siam Centre complex next to Siam Paragon which is designed to lure preteens and teens.
Pictures of the mall and the aquarium can be found on this
website. 
