Sunee Plaza
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| Location | Pattaya, Thailand |
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| Coordinates | 12°55′22″N 100°52′22″E / 12.9226545°N 100.87291°E |
Sunee Plaza is an area in Pattaya known for gay nightlife.[1] It is just off Soi V.C., which intersects Second Road in south Pattaya. It is built around two parallel streets, with a cross-linking street. All the buildings in the plaza are owned by Madame Sunee,[2] a Thai national, and are leased to the various businesses.[3] In the past, Sunee Plaza had been referred to as "the heart of the extreme city.";[3] however in recent years, the Plaza hosts only a few bars. As of 2019, Most of the gay life in Pattaya has now relocated to Jomtien Complex.
Businesses
[edit]The first gay bar at Sunee Plaza was open in 1996 and carried the name Crazy Pub.[4] Soon behind it Sunee Plaza Bar opened, as did Topman Nightclub, the first gogo bar.[note 1] In 2010 in Sunee Plaza more than 50 institutions focused on LGBT including beer bars, go-go bars, host bars cafes, restaurants and budget hotels. Sunee Plaza at that time boasted the largest collection of gay venues in one location in Thailand.[5] As of 2019, the quantity of gay establishments in Sunee Plaza has decreased significantly. Now there are fewer than a dozen beer bars, a few restaurants, and only one hotel. Additional services includes small shops, hairdressing salons, taxi services, travel agencies, and a few restaurants. The main reasons for closing gay institutions in Pattaya:
- toughening of business rules in Thailand in general after the military junta came to power in 2014;
- city administration desire to improve the image of Pattaya as a family destination;
- competition from online dating mobile apps;
- Recent influx of Arab-owned businesses on Soi 17 and in the Sunee Plaza area;
- rental increases by the owner of Sunee Plaza, Madame Sunee.[6]
Police raids
[edit]The police for conducting expeditious checks regularly Sunee Plaza institutions. In July, 2008,[7] July, 2010[8] and March, 2013[9] during raids underage males involved in gogo bars as dancers were found. During raid in July, 2008 one of the caught minors was only 8 years old.[7] By results of conducting raids in July, 2008, October, 2009,[10] January, 2011[11] forbidden narcotic substances are found in blood of bar's staff.
Notes
[edit]- ^ As of 2019 this building hosts the Irish pub and Jazz hotel.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ "Purple Roofs Travel Newsletter: October 2009 - Sunee Plaza, Pattaya, Thailand". www.purpleroofs.com. Purple Roofs. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Gay Pattaya – Gay Pattaya Guide". earthgayguide.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ a b Somsak, Khun (10 April 2013). "Sunee Plaza in Pattaya: Ein beliebter Treffpunkt für Gays › Thailand Aktuell". www.thailandaktuell.com (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Beer bars in Sunee Plaza". Sunee Plaza Official website.[dead link]
- ^ "Sunee Plaza – the BIG secret". Thai-Spice magazine. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011.
- ^ "Sunee Plaza - gay district in Pattaya". GayRove.com. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Underage Bar Workers As Toung As 8 Years Old". forum.thaivisa.com. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Underage Boys found in Police raid of South Pattaya Gay Bar". www.thailandnews.co. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Police find 17 underage boys in raid of Sunee Plaza gay bar". www.pattayamail.com. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Underage Employees And Drug Users Found In Sunee Plaza Boy Bar Police Raid". forum.thaivisa.com. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "46 arrested as 100 police sweep Sunee Plaza for drugs". www.pattayamail.com. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
External links
[edit]- Sunee Plaza, Gay Pattaya, Gay Thailand Official archived website
- Sunee Plaza Official Facebook site