WORD ON PHUKET SHOPPING: Farangs living in Cherng Talay on Phuket’s west coast were thrilled on Friday (20 Dec) to finally have a new place nearby to forage for fine food and wines from around the world with the opening of Boat Avenue Shopping Street and a brand new Phuket Villa Market.

Boat Avenue and Villa Market executives

The much-anticipated opening of the mixed-use community mall and international supermarket plus boutique clothing stores, restaurants, cafes and other trendy outlets built from stacks of colurful shipping containers was a hit with Phuket’s ex-pat community, many of whom were thrilled to have a convenient place to shop for imported comfort food.

Punk-rock band Legends of Siam entertained with
some heavy Christmas numbers
and their latest releases

Boat Lagoon Development Co., Ltd Managing Director, Mr Boon Yonsakul, said Boat Avenue was conceived to serve the growing cosmopolitan community in Cherng Talay with a fun and vibrant place shop and to hang out. “We are very pleased there has been such a positive response to the opening of Boat Avenue and Villa Market, the plans for which took shape after listening to the opinions and needs of local residents,” said Mr Yongsakul. The 2,000-square-metre shopping street was designed by Able Architects with the aim of being an environmentally friendly development by using recycled shipping containers for part of the complex, which comprises 60 office/retail units in total. Bringing urban living concepts to the Boat Avenue development are Tri Property’s concept condos Zcape Condominium and Zcape X2 – both of which will give residents direct access to the shopping street.

Martin Smetsers and crew at the Pura
Organic corner in the new Villa Market

Tri Property Director of Sales, Lisa Keenan, said Zcape Condominium and Zcape X2′s location near Boat Avenue had proved very popular with ex-pat executives and couples seeking stylish and convenient living space with business resort-style facilities that are close to Bangtao Beach and within easy reach of the area’s numerous luxury hotels with international sports and leisure facilities, as well as being within easy reach of Phuket International Airport. Construction of Zcape Condominium’s 198 single-bedroom and studio units is on schedule for completion within the first quarter of 2014, promising healthy returns for investors in the prime residential area. Construction of Zcape X2 is scheduled to begin in 2014, offering another 191 units with freehold ownership options for foreign buyers. Inside the new Villa Market, there are delicacies and creature comforts from all over the world, including Italian deli delights, Norwegian Salmon, Cider from Somerset and ADHD-inducing cereals from the USA, as well as fine local produce such as organic fruit, veg and poultry from Pura Organic. Boat Lagoon Development’s Boon Yonsakul said many more restaurants and stores would be opening at Boat Avenue over the next few months.

GALLERY