Central Department Store'is a Thai department store chain, owned by Central Group.

History

Started in 1927, a 22 year old immigrant from mainland China setteld down in then Siam and started a store in Bangkok named "Keng Seng Lee" or (baskets for sale) was the start of an emporium.

Later that year, the store moved to Charoen Krung Road, in Bangkok's Si Phraya district. The store sold a large variety of local and international newspapers and magazines and carried the name "Central Trading Store". This was the first chapter of Central Department Stores' history.

In the 50's the company grew with more and more stores selling diffirent items. It was one few stores in Bangkok that had the courage to order imported goods for sale and was the first to set up merchandising displays.

In 1973 the Chidlom store opened under the new "one stop shopping" concept, customers could come to Central and buy everything they needed under one roof.

In 1981 the Central Lad Ya Branch opened it doors and was the largest of its kind then. Later in 1983 CentralPlaza Lardprao opend it doors and was the largest shopping mall in Thailand at that time. At the present Central operates 15 branches all over Thailand and planning to open even more stores in the near future.

Central currently operates branches in: