What: a tiny shophouse opened on the site of the original.

Why is it important: the converted space pays homage to The roots of the Chirathivat family, owners of Central Group, offering a glimpse of Bangkok’s past

Last October, Central Group opened the doors to a converted five-storey shophouse on the site of the original Charoen Krung shop. Dubbed Central: The Original Store, the building houses a concept store that sells vintage magazines and memorabilia, as well as a live-music venue and a cafe. The top-floor restaurant highlights forgotten recipes from mid-20th-century Bangkok, delving into cookery books of the 1940s and 1950s.

Learn more about the Chirathivat family and the origins of Central group below:

Thai-Chinese family’s rise from shophouse to conglomerate is a slice of Bangkok history