February

SUKHUMVIT SQUARE DESTROYED
- IN MIDNIGHT MAFIA BLITZKREIG

An aerial view of the horrific destruction at Sukhumvit Square that greeted shop owners and bar owners and passers-by on the morning of 26 January 2003. Photo by Stickman

         This month we will be leading off our 'Historically Speaking' column with the Sukhumvit Square Night Entertainment Area story, which 10 years ago made international news when the then Massage Parlor-Brothel King, Chuwit 'Hot-Tub' Kamolwisit and Military Mafia leader, Col. Himalai conspired to destroy, by bulldozing, the entire Sukhumvit Square area, to include sixty bars and dozens of other shops such as laundries, restaurants and tourist shops.   All of which took place right under the noses of the local Men In Too-Tight Uniforms.   Both have been convicted in the courts, and neither is likely to serve any prison time or receive any punishment whatsoever - they are both free on bail.   Lest we forget - this land is still very much a land without rule-of-law.

A file photo of Chuwit taken at a local hospital (in an unrelated imbroglio).   That time around, he had accused Bangkok's Finest of taking bribes to the tune of "trays of Rolexes" in order to allow him to keep his massage parlor-brothels open.   The gendarmerie (from an undisclosed precinct) proceeded to kidnap him and eventually throw him out of their vehicle alongside the highway in a Bangkok suburb -- once again making outrageous headlines in all the local papers.   He was eventually picked up by a kindly passing motorist and taken to the hospital in a stupor. (Source: Bangkok Post)

Co-conspirator Col. Himalai behind bars. He wasn't there for long, and he's not likely to return there any time soon. (Source: Bangkok Post)

For the full story see our February 2003 issue - <link>

Below is a listing of the 60 bars in Sukhumvit Square that were bulldozed, then ransacked in the dead of night by the minions of Bangkok's most influential and powerful underworld figures:

In Happy Today 8-Pak Chemo Bar Ying's Corner Rose Garden Tu's Bar G-Sport Wan's California Bar Lovely Bar Fronting on Soi 10 Titano Soi 10 Bar Star Bar Titano Bar (other one) U 2 Place T-Time Bar & Rest 77 Sunset Area Ninety Nine Bar 99 Made In Heaven The Loaded Dice Lucky Milk Bar Check Inn 99

In the Rear At 10 Bar & Pool Brownie Casablanca Country Road Beer Bar Tippler's Tavern The Retreat Bar Kat Beer Bar Lemon Tree Bar Sanuk Infinity Bar & Karaoke Friends Bar Jasmine & Kittingoen Bar Bonanza Pub The Winner The House's Bar Superior Bar Pool Princess Bar In the Center Studio 54 A Go-Go Remember Pub Speto Caligula Pool & Pub Green House Counter 7 Little Shinjuku (A to-be-named bar beer) Welcome Bar

Facing Sukhumvit Lighthouse Bar Chemo 02 Hot Shots After Work Sweet Home Bar Montika Bar Gemini West Side Gwynnes Lucky Cat Bar Hello Bar Walker Bar Pool & Darts Suzie Tikki Bar Say Hi Colorando Pool Bar Relax Bar

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In other news that month -

      The Dome Juniority Club on the 2nd re-closed up on The Ramp.   They would reopen under another name.   The World bar now occupies those premises.

PATPONG   2 -  February 2003

      The Three Ladys Cocktail Lounge bar on The Ramp reopened after a brief closure.   They are still there today.

PATPONG   2 -  February 2003

      An unnamed pub located in what was part of the Thai Room re-opened after a brief closure.   The Tavern 3 is now at that location.

PATPONG   2 -  February 2003

      Tony's re-closed after only a month.   It would reopen again in the near future.

SOI   COWBOY -  February 2003

      The seminal Nana Plaza bar, the Three Roses Bar on the second floor closed it's doors for good.   It would become Spankys the following month.

NANA   Plaza -  February 2003

      The Tochu Chakaba Japanese bar opened it's doors for the first time.   No bar is at that location today - the Square is being demolished for redevelopment.

WASHINGTON   SQUARE -  February 2003

      The Crystal Bar bar re-opened it's doors after a one-month hiatus.   No bar is at that location today - the Square is being demolished for redevelopment.

WASHINGTON   SQUARE -  February 2003

      The Chelsea lounge closed for good.   It became The Cave S&M show bar, and is now the Demonia S&M show bar.

SOI   DEAD  ARTISTS -  February 2003

      The Kosu Mosu Japanese lounge closed for good.   There is currently no Nitespot at that location. .

SOI   DEAD  ARTISTS -  February 2003

      The As Found lounge, deep in the Soi, closed for good.   There is currently no Nitespot at that location. .

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      The following bars transitioned in QUEEN'S   PARK  PLAZA that month:

            *  One More Bar bar beer -  REOPENED
            *  O.B. 1 Bar bar beer - REOPENED
            *  Divas bar beer - REOPENED

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ASOKE  PLAZA  /  ASOKE  CORNER - (previously Cowboy Annex) - 2003 Asoke Corner / Asoke Plaza Night Entertainment Area : -CLOSED DOWN- ( March 2000 - February 2005 ) Ten years ago this month, the following bars transitioned in Asoke Plaza / Asoke Corner (formerly Cowboy Annex).             *  Siamese Twins (in the 8-Pak  - Ex: Unit Bar) - OPENED             *  Fantasy Thailand (- in the 4-Pak) - REOPENED             *  Lady Bar (- in the 4-Pak) - OPENED             *  (A bar beer - no sign) (- in the 4-Pak) - CLOSED ASOKE  PLAZA  /  ASOKE  CORNER  PLAZA   - February 2003