What's all this about "The Arab"?

[farangman]

But what you probably don't realise is that there is only one bar on soi cowboy that actually owns the lease of the property it is located in. The rest of the bars are leased from Chinese Thai families that were originally living there carrying on their own businesses for generations and generations before. There are still two or three private businesses run by the Thai Chinese families on Cowboy, plus one private residence.

 

Therefore exerted pressure by early closing, piss testing etc would have no affect whatsoever on land ownership.

 

There is a reason why these Chinese Thai families have maintained ownership - they would rather leave the land do absolutely nothing rather than sell. Just look at the plots of land either side of Sukhumvit Soi 6, which have been empty and delapitated for 15 years or so. Look at the Rajah hotel wing which was empty for a decade before it was recently done up. Look at Patpong which is still owned by the same Chinese Thai family right in the heart of Bangkok's CBD.

 

It would be at the very last resort they would sell up no matter what the offer is. Now multiply that difficulty by 40 to 50 leases on Cowboy and it is highly unlikely that anyone could exert any power to force owners to sell.

[kamui]

Thanks for the information. This should prolong the existence of Soi Cowboy for a few years.

 

If the land in the hands of old families for a long time, short term gains (like selling their plot) might not be of interest for them. It's a prime location next to the subway and the skytrain and the price can only go up over the years.