Central Group Invests THB 730 Million: New POP Phuket in Cherng Talay and Tops Wongamat in Pattaya. What It Means for Investors
News about shopping malls rarely makes it into investment reviews. This one is an exception: Central Group has committed THB 730 million to two projects, and one of them is being built in Cherng Talay, a couple of minutes from Bang Tao Beach. When Thailand's largest retailer doubles down exactly where we help clients choose apartments, it deserves a closer look.
What was announced
On 14 May 2026, Central Group, through its unit Central Land and Development, announced two community mall projects totalling more than THB 730 million:
- POP Phuket — over THB 300 million invested, GBA of 5,490 sqm, in Cherng Talay, Thalang District;
- Tops Wongamat — over THB 430 million, GBA of 4,711 sqm, in the Wong Amat area of Pattaya.
Both projects are scheduled to open within 2026.
Why Cherng Talay
The numbers behind the decision are convincing: Cherng Talay has more than 20,000 luxury residences under continuous development, the district is growing 18.8% annually, and up to 80% of residents are expatriates. Pong Skuntanaga, President of Central Land and Development, calls Phuket a strategic market for the group.
POP Phuket will be the company's second community mall in the area: the first, Porto de Phuket, opened in 2019 and has kept growing steadily. The group has also announced Porto de Phuket Phase 2, adding an indoor playground, family restaurants, Pet Paradise and a premium fitness facility.
The location is telling: POP Phuket is being built inside The Standard Residences Phuket Bangtao, five minutes from Porto de Phuket and three minutes from Boat Lagoon, with parking for more than 146 cars. The project expects over 1 million visitors a year, roughly 80% of them international.
The P-O-P concept: design, openness, people
The project is built around three strategies:
- Playful design — POP Art-inspired styling: vibrant lines and colours;
- Open — an accessible, flexible layout with comfortable walkable spaces;
- People — community at the core: a space designed for meetings and shared moments.
More than 60% of the space goes to food and beverage: restaurants, cafés and a Tops supermarket in its Fine Food format, plus brands like Aquila, Campus Coffee Roasters and Spice House. The remaining 40% is premium retail, spa and beauty services. The ratio is deliberate: food is the magnet that brings people back and extends dwell time.
Tops Wongamat: the same logic in Pattaya
The second project, Tops Wongamat, rises in Wong Amat, an area surrounded by four- and five-star hotels and luxury condominiums. Chonburi welcomes 19 to 22 million tourists a year. Central Group is developing it together with Centara Hotels & Resorts: nearby are Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort (555 rooms, fully renovated in 2025) and COSI Pattaya Wong Amat Beach (282 rooms).
It is a single-storey open-air mall with 80% of space dedicated to restaurants and supermarkets: Baan Pu Kai Dong, SOL Coffee, Ah Ma Shou Zuo and more.
What it means for investors
I work with clients buying apartments on Bang Tao, and here is how I read this news:
- Infrastructure is catching up with development. 20,000 new residences mean thousands of households that need food retail, cafés and services nearby. Central Group is moving in first; other retailers usually follow.
- Walkability is getting more valuable. A five-minute walk to a good supermarket and coffee is what tenants pay extra for, and it shortens vacancy periods.
- A confirmation of the district's liquidity. A retailer of this scale bets on decades. For the resale market, this is good news: apartment liquidity in Cherng Talay is supported by the district's 18.8% annual growth.
It is worth remembering the other side too: infrastructure growth is already priced into the district's new projects, which makes choosing the right complex and layout even more important — I cover this in detail in my consultations.
Want to look at apartments near the future POP Phuket? Browse current listings in Bang Tao and Cherng Talay in our Phuket property catalogue — or message me on Telegram and I will shortlist options for your scenario.
The takeaway
Central Group is investing THB 730 million in Cherng Talay and Pattaya, with both projects opening in 2026. For anyone buying property on Bang Tao, this is more than mall news: it is an independent confirmation that the district is entering a mature phase and that its living infrastructure will keep growing.
Want to discuss investments?
Write to us and we'll find properties to match your budget with an honest return calculation.
