Siam Arun Group, an expert in the serviced apartment business in Sukhumvit, has announced its first retail project named @EKKAMAI, a 5-rai lifestyle mall located next to Ekkamai Soi 9, which is set to open fully on March 27, 2022.

Mr. Jirapat Hetanurak, Managing Director of Siam Arun Group Co., Ltd., revealed that "The company has over 30 years of experience in the serviced apartment business, currently operating 6 projects with more than 1,300 rooms. These include projects opened since 1996, such as Citi Resort Sukhumvit 39, Citi Resort Sukhumvit 49, and Citi Resort Sukhumvit 39 Annex. The Citi Resort Sukhumvit 39 New Wing opened in 2007, followed by Living @ Citi Resort in 2013, and the latest, Citi Resort @ Sea Sriracha in Chonburi, opened in 2018. Each project primarily targets Japanese residents working in Thailand, aligning with the company's vision to be 'The First Choice of Japanese Expats.' Therefore, we have designed the rooms and facilities to cater specifically to the tastes and lifestyles of Japanese people."

“Since 2015, the company has consistently seen annual revenue growth, although we faced some impact in the last two years due to COVID-19, which led to many Japanese tenants being called back to their home country. The number of Japanese residents in Thailand decreased from nearly 35,000 to 28,000, with two-thirds residing in Bangkok's CBD, primarily in Sukhumvit. However, as soon as the country reopened, we received positive signals from corporate clients and agencies, and we believe that our performance will grow again by at least 15% next year.”

Mr. Jirapat discussed the @EKKAMAI project, stating, “The @EKKAMAI lifestyle mall is our first full-scale retail project, and given our long experience in managing indoor plaza businesses, we decided to launch this pilot project. It will enhance land value and open new business opportunities for the company in the future, while also benefiting the Ekkamai area by creating a leisure and shopping destination that adds convenience and aligns with the lifestyles of both residents and tourists.”

The @EKKAMAI project is located on Ekkamai Soi 9, covering a total area of 5 rai, with approximately 3,200 square meters of commercial space, featuring 16 shops and a large parking area accommodating up to 130 vehicles, including EV parking. The target customer demographic for the project will be B to B+ groups, comprising both residents and regular tourists in the Ekkamai area, with a composition of 70% Thai and 30% foreign customers. As for the construction progress, the building structure is about 75% complete, architectural work is around 15%, and various systems are approximately 40% complete. The company expects to start handing over spaces to tenants by January next year, with a full launch scheduled for March 27, 2022.

Like all projects by Siam Arun Group, @EKKAMAI is built on land owned by the company, resulting in lower costs with a construction budget of around 65 million baht. The project is expected to break even within three years. Currently, 90% of the space has been sold, with KFC already in operation since early this year, featuring a flagship store with the 2022 model theme, which looks modern and luxurious compared to other branches. Additionally, well-known brands such as Swensen's, Wine Connection, Watsons, San Kyu Yakiniku, and Shizen Shabu are set to open, along with a 1,300-square-meter supermarket offering a comprehensive range of premium products.

In terms of building design, @EKKAMAI aims to provide visitors with an escape from the hustle and bustle of Ekkamai, featuring three key values that customers will experience upon entering the project: Fill Up, which showcases a unique shape contrasting with the surrounding context on Ekkamai, with clean white buildings set against green spaces; Pure & Fresh, emphasizing lines that evoke a sense of relaxation, fluidity, and nature; and Well, which conveys comfort, friendliness, openness, and accessibility.

“For future plans, Siam Arun Group will continue to develop its land bank in Thonglor, Ekkamai, and other areas along Sukhumvit, as well as in provinces, all of which are high-potential lands. We will not be limited to the serviced apartment business but will depend on the feasibility studies of each area, including a 4-rai plot near @EKKAMAI, where we are currently exploring the feasibility of developing new project types, which will be integrated into a larger mixed-use project,” Mr. Jirapat concluded.