Phuket’s Central Patong shopping shopping centre is on a recruitment drive as it prepares to reopen after more than a year of closure due to the Thai government’s reactions to the Covid pandemic, including lockdowns and enforced closures of retail around the country.
The other big shopping centre in Patong, Jungceylon shopping centre, has also been closed since February last year due government closures. It remains closed at this time although there are plans to reopen it also sometime in Q4 this year.
The Central Department Store Group have informed shops in the Central Patong shopping mall, about 100 metres south of Bangla Road along Rat Tu Thit Road, of the temporary closure on February 1 last year. But on Saturday Thailand’s largest department store chain announced on theirs Facebook page Central Patong – เซ็นทรัล ป่าตอง – saying “Central Patong in Phuket To Come Bank Soon”
An exact reopening date has not yet been announced, but a drive to find new staff, retrain old staff and start reopening PR starts from July 6-8. The shopping centre is looking to fill a number of places including salespersons, store staff, cashiers, customer service staff, maintenance and financial officers.
Several businesses, especially hotels, had to close because the pandemic stopped tourists from visiting the city. As a consequence, according to the information from Phuket Boutique Accommodation Association, more than 200 local hotels were sued by banks due to their massive debt after they stopped operating.
