Central Department Store (尚泰; Pinyin: Shàngtài) is a Thai department store chain, owned by Central Group. It has branches in Thailand and Indonesia, and is also a Royal Warrant holder of the Thai Royal Family.
History
In 1927, 22-year-old Tiang Chirathivat, an immigrant from mainland China, started a store in Bangkok named "Keng Seng Lee" or "baskets for sale", which was the start of an emporium.[1]
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.[1]
In the 1950s, the company grew with more and more stores selling different 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.[2]