No Tops in Terminal 21 now?

[Alfie]

I went to Terminal 21 the other day and before leaving headed for Tops supermarket only to be disappointed. Unless they've moved it somewhere and I didn't see it, it's gone!  When did it go and why?

[caller]

I went to Terminal 21 the other day and before leaving headed for Tops supermarket only to be disappointed. Unless they've moved it somewhere and I didn't see it, it's gone!  When did it go and why?

Not been there for a while, but did it ever have a TOPS? I thought they only had a Foodland and TOPS was at Central. 

[Hector]

Yes its Foodland.  After the shooting in Terminal 21, Tops was closed for "forensic purposes" for a while and a temporary store was set up outside the store just beside the coffee shop.  In March I went there to be told the main store was still under renovation (hey its a new store!)  would open in 2 or 3 weeks.  The other week - right, still not open and no-one can tell you why.  Alfie, was the temporary store still there?

[Anton]

Up to now, Foodland in Terminal 21 Korat isn't showing any intention of reopening anytime soon. Seems they are satisfied with their "Buy 1 get 1" and "Buy 2 get 1" business now permanently set up in the external hall, now with also some refrigerated goods. From what I can peep through when passing by there, the shop inside is currently being used as a big storeroom. My personal impression is that they jumped on the occasion offered by the tragic February event to close down a store that wasn't profitable enough.

As to the steady sale in the hall, nothing really worthy to be found there IMHO. Personally, all I ever bought there is:
- Tschibo Gold instant coffee imported from Germany, 150 g (2 bags of 75 g) for 105 THB; available only from time to time; knowing that the same offer is now found also at Gourmet Market from time to time.
- New Choice pitted dates imported from the UAE, 1 kg (2 boxes of 500 g) for 115 THB; available only from time to time; knowing that Klang Supermarket is offering pitted red dates from Thailand at about the same price, currently out of stock in the new Klang but still found in the old Klang.

[Alfie]

Yes its Foodland.
Alfie, was the temporary store still there?

Yes, Foodland, sorry about that. There was a temporary looking store there but as Anton noted, not much of note there although they had my favourite jam there at a good price and a buy one get one free offer on top of that - so 2 jars of good jam for 114 baht instead of a more usual approx 120 baht per jar.

[Anton]

they had my favourite jam there at a good price and a buy one get one free offer on top of that - so 2 jars of good jam for 114 baht instead of a more usual approx 120 baht per jar.

Good choice Alfie. It's called Streamline, a low-sugar product manufactured in Poland. It's the first time I see it there at the Foodland sale, I'll keep it in mind for next time I need to replenish my jam stock. Net weight per jar is 340 g which makes it a bit more expensive than the Vietnamese Golden Farm I just mentioned in another topic, but given that it is low-sugar (around 10% sugar content) and imported from the EU, that's a good price. I refer to the "buy 1 get 1" price of course: 16.8 THB per 100 g. The Golden Farm comes in jars of 450 g and it is also quite good as a product, with sugar content below 30%. Klang Supermarket is charging a regular price for the Golden Farm right now: 1`4.4 THB per 100 g, plain price without having to buy 2 pieces or resorting to other bogus promotions. It is true that at Gourmet Market they have a greater choice of different tastes for both products, but the price is a robbery there:
- Your Streamline: 35.9 THB per 100 g (instead of 16.8 as mentioned)
- My Golden Farm: 28.7 THB per 100 g (instead of 14.4 as mentioned)

[Anton]

It is true that at Gourmet Market they have a greater choice of different tastes for both products, but the price is a robbery there:
- Your Streamline: 35.9 THB per 100 g (instead of 16.8 as mentioned)

Streamline strawberry and black currant jam now on discount at Tesco Lotus, 1 jar for 99 THB, meaning 29.1 THB per 100 g. Thanks but no, thanks. Both varieties available at Foodland "buy 1 get 1" sale at the price mentioned above (16.8 THB per 100 g). Photo taken yesterday in the main Tesco Lotus on Mitthapap downtown.

[Anton]

Yes, Foodland, sorry about that. There was a temporary looking store there but as Anton noted, not much of note there

Update: the temporary Foodland set up outside the store has now been minimized, while new activity seems to be going on inisde. I asked the information counter (Foodland's own information counter) if the shop is going to reopen and they answered "yes, within two months"...

[Alfie]

I asked the information counter (Foodland's own information counter) if the shop is going to reopen and they answered "yes, within two months"...

The former Foodland shop space is now a Took Lae Dee restaurant (ร้านอาหารถูกและดี).

Foodland is selling stuff outside but there is very little there. Not even half the size or quantity of goods of a small 7-11. 

[jivvy]

The former Foodland shop space is now a Took Lae Dee restaurant (ร้านอาหารถูกและดี).

Foodland is selling stuff outside but there is very little there. Not even half the size or quantity of goods of a small 7-11.

That restaurant has been there ever since Terminal 21 opened

[Alfie]

That restaurant has been there ever since Terminal 21 opened

Really? Was I looking in the wrong place then? Or was the restaurant somewhere else before?

[jivvy]

Same place as it is now

[nookiebear]

Store reopening 1st October

[Anton]

Store reopening 1st October

Thank you. Did they announce it officially?

[jivvy]

I asked last week and was also told October, but no specific date.
Although a  while back I was told September so seeing is believing, don't hold your breath

[Anton]

Foodland supermarket at Terminal 21 Korat re-opened on 1 October as announced. It had been closed for nearly 8 months since the sad shooting event that took place there back in February. They changed it completely inside, it looks like a different supermarket now, personally I like it better now than before, the change was much needed in my opinion.