Nana Plaza (formerly Nana Entertainment Plaza) is an entertainment complex and red-light district in Bangkok, Thailand. Originally built as a shopping center, Nana Plaza occupies a three-story commercial building in the Khlong Toei District of Bangkok about 300 metres (330 yd) from the BTS Skytrain's Nana Station.[2][3] It describes itself as the "worlds largest adult playground".[4][5][6] Its name originates from the influential, property-holding Nana family, Lek Nana being the most prominent member.
Along with Soi Cowboy and Patpong, Nana Plaza is one of Bangkok's three most concentrated red-light districts. All attract primarily tourists.[2]
History
The plaza's U-shaped building is roughly square-shaped, with a single opening on the west side, and consists of a ground floor and two additional floors arranged around a courtyard.[2] It started as a restaurant and shopping center in the late-1970s. During the early-1980s, a few go-go bars appeared and gradually replaced the shops and restaurants.[citation needed] By the mid-1980s around twenty go-go bars had opened in the three-level court, taking advantage of the expansion of tourist hotels in the area.[6]
In 2012 Nana Plaza was sold to a Thai JVC company Nana Partners Co Ltd., co-owned by Fico corporation and Panthera Group (formally known as Eclipse group) – one of Thailand's largest bar and nightclub operators[7] – for a rumored US$25,000,000 after the land was inherited by seven sisters who wanted nothing to do with a red-light area.[citation needed] Panthera Group renovated the complex, becoming the landlord and providing the management and security services.[7]
Facilities
Three short-time hotels, one of which has been renovated, operate on the top floor.[8] Short-time hotels rent out rooms by the hour or more to patrons to take a bargirl for sex. Most bar girls in Nana Plaza will leave with customers upon payment of a bar fine. Smoking is banned indoors.[3] There are two elevators, one on the north side of the building and one on the south.[citation needed] The building closes at 03:00 and lies dormant until the following evening.[3] In 2016 two waitresses in the plaza's Bangkok Bunnies go-go bar said that they received monthly wages equivalent to £130 (US$165) and daily tips equivalent to £11–16 (US$14–20).[9] This compares with a 2016 average monthly wage in Thailand of around 13,800 baht (US$388).[10]
As of July 2019, Nana Plaza housed 30 bars and three "hotels".[8]
As of July 2019, there were seven kathoey ("ladyboy") bars in Nana Plaza;[11][12] Several other bars have a few ladyboys in their line-ups mixed with their regular go-go dancers.
Gallery
Entrance to Nana Plaza when it was a shopping center
Entrance to Nana Entertainment Plaza showing the old overhead signage
