More shopping opportunities just around the corner

For the past month or so, thousands of truckloads of soil have been dumped on the property immediately next to the new Sampheng wholesale store and just up the road from the new Ngeesoon grocery store. Most people I asked (Thai/falang) guessed it'd be the first big subdivision to hit that stretch of Udon-Nongbualamphu Hwy. Today's article in the link below sheds some light:

http://www.udon108.com/board/index.php? ... ic=92069.0

"The same family that gave Udon the Sampaeng wholesale store is investing a cool 600million baht in the "Wholesale 168 Center" (their name), which will be the largest in the Northeast. The Center will be located on 45 rai (immediately next to the existing Sampaeng wholesale store).
Market studies have indicated that Udon province offers enough potential for additional store space.
The province offers plenty of customers in the lower to middle buying range. The center will consist of 5 large buildings (40,000 square meters) with 1680 booths (each measuring 4x3 meters). About 60% of the retail space is expected to be clothing. There will also be IT products and a food court. The store is slated to open in February 2012 (2555). A company spokesman said that he is confident that the new center will not take away customers from the local department stores (Big C, Tesco, Ngeesun) because the new center will offer different products than those stores. "

I've no business smarts.......but I've been to department stores/grocery stores in the US and I see what is and what isn't successful. And I've been to the Outlet Mall, Index Furniture, Homepro, Sampaeng, the new Udon Shopping Center (near the fountain circle), Bo-Ba, and UD town in the daytime. Just when you think Udon couldn't possibly absorb more vacant store space, we're about to get 40,000 square meters more! Woopee!