Toys for the boys - and girls

A NEW community mall located right in the park, Chatuchak Green aims to double its trade at weekends with the launch of a night market that stays open until midnight.

The mall, which is surrounded by trees and home to shops, stalls, bistros and cafes, is a relaxing place to shop and eat and a cool hang out for those who don’t fancy spending Saturday nights in the city’s nightspots.

Many of the vendors sport familiar faces, having moved to Chatuchak Green from the now defunct Ratchada and Rod Fai night markets. They include collector Surin Luednamchon and his girlfriend, whose funky shop I Love Khonglen stocks a fascinating mix of vintage action figures, miniature cars, toys and collectible items shipped from Japan. 

 The pair have been in the second-hand business for more than a decade and used to run a small, used-clothes boutique in Chatuchak Weekend Market. Both adore old toys and over the years have amassed an interesting collection of vintage car models, toys and manga-related products from the ’80s and ’90s.

In 2011, they opened I Love Khonglen store at Rod Fai Night Market and quickly drew a following of toy collectors. They took up residence at Chatuchak Green just two weeks ago and have made their home in a renovated old container decorated with graffiti. 

 

 

“When I was a child, I was a major fan of the ModerNine cartoons and loved all the cute Japanese cartoon characters like Arale and Astro Boy. I started collecting clas

 sic car models later simply because I liked the way they looked,” Surin says. “My shop is a friendly space and everyone with a passion for playthings is welcome.”

Many of the goodies on sale started life in Mandarake, Japan’s most popular vintage toy store which has branches all over the country.

 Surin has divided the store into four categories: games, cars, action figures and manga-related item.

Girls will love the models of Peko Chan, Arale and Hello Kitty, as well as 

 telephones inspired by Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty electric fans, Coke’s Mickey Mouse-like cooler, a Mickey Mouse television and a Hello Kitty sewing machine. 

For the boys, there are action figures of Gundam and Astro Boy, Wonda Coffee truck-shaped refrigerators, a Tomi ice cream-shaped lantern, Nintendo family games, remote-controlled F1 cars classic car models and Tomy Tomic Electric Rescue Centre models.

 

PLAYTHINGS OF THE PAST

>>> I Love Khonglen is located in Chatuchak Green Market, Kamphaengphet 3 Road. It’s open from 5pm to midnight on Friday to Sunday. |Call (081) 408 3896 and (081) 557 1780, or visit “IloveKhonglen” at Facebook.