Market value

A unique open air complex, Bon Marche is probably Bangkok's most welcoming shopping venue

KANOKPORN CHANASONGKRAM

Sunday is a happy family day for Siriwan Darakorn Nayuttaya, who meets up with her daughter and granddaughters at their favourite spot, Bon Marche. As Bangkok's megamalls and colossal shopping centres compete intensely to attract crowds of shoppers, Siriwan prefers to stay away from the bustling hordes and spend a whole afternoon at what she calls talard haeng maitreejitr (the market of friendship).

"I don't like going to shopping malls," said the 70-something grandma. "They are not safe places and in such a closed environment they are places where children can easily catch germs. Bon Marche, on the other hand, has good security measures and the open-air environment is healthier as well as relaxing for me and my family."

So while grandma Siriwan explores its shopping plaza for beautiful Thai textiles, her daughter shops for tasty food at the market and the two granddaughters take lessons in Thai musical instruments at Nat Karn Dontree on the third floor of the plaza. Bon Marche, according to Siriwan, has almost everything for the whole family.

An executive at a state enterprise, Napat Ketphan has been a loyal customer of Bon Marche for seven years. Living in the Prachanukool neighbourhood, she first came here for flower-making lessons. Today, it's a stop to pick up food, medicine, fashion and perhaps an elegant necklace or ring to add to her jewellery collection. "Compared to busy malls, it's a relaxing place to walk around. It's also Bangkok's cleanest market with a great food court," Napat noted.

Located in the Wat Samian Nari area, Bon Marche opened its doors in 1999. Formerly the 17-rai plot of land was a driving range for golfers, then it became a garden for planting chemical-free vegetables. The economic crash of 1997, however, changed its future. Because of lay-offs in the private sector, the landowner wanted to help those out of work by opening a market for them to start a new life. In addition, the market was an opportunity for early-retirees and the underprivileged to make a living by selling foodstuffs.

An ex-financier with a master's degree, Pathraporn Kaewkhem was one of the first entrepreneurs who started selling pla raa (fermented fish) at Bon Marche. "Bad as it was, the financial crisis was a good thing for me. I saw no future in being an employee, a financier, and I had this burning passion for promoting my mum's award-winning pla raa," says Pathraporn. "I came to present my project to the management team and they gave me this great opportunity to open a business and now I have four stalls here. I'm glad to be a part of Bon Marche and with its relaxing ambiance, it makes customers happy."

Her Pla Raa Mahabundit stall is located in the Bon Market zone, along with other stalls selling all kinds of food, fresh fruits and vegetables from around the country. Imported food, groceries and toiletries are also available at the market. Bon Beef, for example, offers Australian sirloin, rib eye and T-bone for steak lovers. Two rows of the market are dedicated to a variety of ready-to-eat foods - from hor mok (minced fish steamed in banana leaf) and khao yum samoonprai (herbal rice salad) to tuna pies and spaghetti carbonara - to take home for a delightful meal.

While Pathraporn found a bright future in selling pla raa, there were people who were not so keen on starting a food business, and wanted to sell clothing. Bon Marche's management responded to this need by building a shopping plaza. Opened in 2000, the four-storied Bon Plaza is now home to a variety of shops, a learning centre, plus health and beauty services including a fitness club occupying the fourth floor.

Another aspiration was to make Bon Marche a jewellery centre and the Bon Jewelry zone houses arond 40 jewellers specialising in gold, gems, diamonds or pearls. "Ladies can come here all day to look for quality jewellery" said Pripana Peththieng, jeweller of the Red Door. "There are many designs for all ages and you can find a piece to match your personality. Buying jewellery, however, needs time and educating customers is important to me so that they can buy beautiful jewellery with artistic value." He adds that he's working in the right environment as this location gives him the energy to make better designs, which will create a competitive spirit among jewellers at Bon Marche and give it a good reputation as Bangkok's outstanding jewellery centre.

The versatile Bon Marche is divided into seven zones: Bon Market, Bon Food Court, Bon Plaza, Bon Service, Bon Jewelry, Bon Parking and Bon Restaurant. In the middle of the complex is a large pond with fountains. The construction of the buildings and the pond was based on good feng shui. Since adjusting its feng shui, business at Bon Marche has been much better, with the busiest time from 10am to 2pm when people flock for lunch at the food court. To draw people in for dinner, the Bon Restaurant zone opened a new outlet, Ja Ja Kitchen, last month and the seafood restaurant will be followed by an Italian eatery soon.

Customers give thumbs up to the variety, facilities, cleanliness and security at Bon Marche. Ample parking makes it convenient, they say, but it would be better if you didn't have to pay a fee. Overall, it may not be the best place in town for a shopping spree, it may not be a chic place to be seen or a trendy hangout for hi-sos, but once you have visited this unique open-air complex you may want to come back for the khao hor bai bua (rice in lotus leaf), for a tarot reading or just to absorb the relaxing and friendly atmosphere.

Every Saturday afternoon, Bon Marche features a jazz concert from 4-6pm. For more information, please call 02-953-8980 or visit http://www.bonmarche.co.th.

Choices, choices _ dining at Bon Marche

At lunchtime, it's like playing musical chairs at Bon Food Court. But once you're there with a tray full of mouthwatering food in your hands, you have to play the game and quickly find a spot to start eating the kuay jub, khao kha moo and khao hor bai bua. After lunch, burn some calories by walking around Bon Marche. Otherwise, feel free to just put on weight.

With so many options at the food court, you want to sample them all. Can you? Not in one visit, but worth trying is Nongnuch's khao kha moo (rice with braised pork leg), with its hot and spicy sauce. Likewise, the tasty khao hor bai bua Ob Oon (rice in lotus leaf) with either pork, chicken, seafood or mushroom is eaten with a flavoursome, spicy sauce. Khun Toy's kuay jub (rolled rice noodles in broth with pig organs) is also a best-selling item, while khanom jeen at Praewa offers a variety of curries and sauces as a topping for Thai-style rice noodles.

Besides the food court, one eatery in Bon Market, selling kuay tiew moo boraan (traditional noodles with pork), is said to be a must-visit for a bowl or two of tasty fare. Bon Restaurant zone now has two outlets: Cafe au Luc for a light sandwich with a cup of cappuccino, and Ja Ja Kitchen for a seafood feast _ their somtam poo ma is not to be missed.

Wherever, at Bon Marche you are guaranteed a bon appetit.

More than meets the eyes

The first time I visited Bon Plaza, I wasn't impressed. Why? Because I was more into hi-so shopping in luxurious lifestyle malls. The second time I visited Bon Plaza, I found that there was more than the eyes can see. The shops are small and you have to explore to realise that there is an interesting range of clothing, accessories and home decorative items. The third time I visited Bon Plaza, I went with a bigger shopping bag.

Some shops are closed on Monday. So for the full Bon Plaza experience go on other days. The first and second floors of the plaza are for apparel-hunting. For cool summer clothing, check out Orn-in and Boraan, both boast garments made from colourful Nepalese fabric. Anne, on the other hand, has the latest fashionable designs with large sizes available. For a silk sensation, stop at Uncharn Thai Silk. This fabric-cum-tailor shop really does a good job in turning Thai silk from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai into stunning designs for daywear and eveningwear. Elegant undies and nighties at the Pannee shop on the second floor near the car park may make you give up wearing cotton knickers.

For home decorative items, find your way to Merry Life which specialises in ceramic vases, lamps and tableware with unique designs. Thai-Baan Jam appeals with quality Otop products from Kalasin, from colourful napkins and place mats to duvets and carpets in its cotton collection. For string art, Silpa Lai Sen offers lessons on making your own masterpiece to hang on the wall.

On the first floor, Pamorn Rungroj uniquely retails Thai musical instruments _ ranard, sor duang, jakae _ as well as CDs. Want to be like Kun In in Hom Rong? Start by taking ranard classes at Nat Karn Dontree on the third floor of Bon Plaza.

More shops, as well as a fortune-telling centre for a palm reading or a tarot reading, are located behind the carpark. The Bon Service Zone also has some outlets for shopping including the Phufa shop for products by villagers under Occupation Promotion Projects initiated by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. A new attraction, The Ivory Room may inspire you to revamp your home with its Oriental-style bedding, furniture and antiques. Its beautiful hand-made duvet is an Elle Decor award-wining design.

With a small budget of less than 100 baht, you can enjoy shopping at Neo, a shop based on the Japanese 100 yen concept. The Thai version offers products at 50, 60 and 70 baht.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007