Take a walk, grab a bargain

THE HUMBLE garage sale known as the Classic Car Market in the parking lot at the Walk community mall on Kaset-Nawamin road has blossomed into something extraordinary, with crowds packing into the area every Tuesday and Thursday for a colourful night market.

The diversity of merchandise is immense, everything from clothes to collectibles to irresistible street food.

The market used to be just old togs from people’s wardrobes looking for new homes, but now there are hundreds of stalls selling just about everything imaginable. We trained our beagle eyes and hound nose on the scene and discovered several “rising stars” of retail offering compelling items.

Near the entrance is parked a van that collector Teerapong Poonsawat dubs Amata Tamnan Phan Lens, which is stocked with second-hand eyewear from well-known manufacturers in Italy, Japan and the US, along with “vintage-style” reproductions.

If you’re into the retro look, check out Teerapong’s classic frames from the 1950s, bearing such names as Bausch & Lomb, Ray-Ban, American Optical, Willson Goggles and – shades of the rebel without a cause – James Dean Eyewear. The prices range from Bt200 all the way up to Bt15,000.

Folks who enjoy standing out in a crowd will appreciate what Kamolrat Kunakulpakdee is selling in her corner of the “street”. How about a case for your iPhone or Samsung phone that’s made out of teakwood – and with your own picture engraved on it? Kamolrat will take any eye-catching design (self-portrait, animal sketch, whatever) and carve it into the wood in minutes using a hi-tech laser. You’ll pay Bt400 to Bt750, depending on the size of the case.

Second-hand brand-name bags are piled high at a big booth run by Greang “Holl” Malaithong and his friends. These come from the States, Japan and Pakistan and the proprietors swear they’re all genuine, not copies. 

Well, the old-fashioned Japanese student’s bag in leather looked authentic enough to us, as did the clutches, shoulder bags, handbags, wallets and assorted luggage on offer. And you’ve certainly heard of the brands – Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Samsonite, Burberry, North Face, Adidas, etc. 

Kanokwan Pattanapatom and a pal run the Idea Toys shop, another vast array gathered from around the world, including many models of famous landmarks in stainless steel and even silver and gold. There’s the US Capitol and White House, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Osaka Castle and Germany’s made-for-a-princess Neuschwanstein Castle. Robot characters like R2-D2, the fictional Millennium galactic explorer and the real-life Space Shuttle are also available for Bt250 to Bt750, and you can find some interesting multipurpose tools that might, for example, open a letter or a bottle, measure a shoe and hold your smartphone, whatever you need for just Bt180. 

And, at the “pop-up” salon Chic Ko Chic Kee, Phurithai Klomjaikhao will give you a vintage haircut, based on the style you choose from pictures displayed on an iPad. You can have a whole new look within 30 minutes. It’s Bt100 for a setting, Bt200 for blokes to get a trim and Bt300 for the ladies.

 

SHOPPERS ON PARADE

The Classic Car Market is at the Walk community mall on Kaset-Nawamin Road. It’s open every Tuesday and Thursday from 5.30pm to midnight. 

Check out the latest designs in teakwood phone cases at “Thai.Wood_Case” on Instgram.

Idea Toy has a page on Facebook, as does Amata Tamnan Phan Lens (in Thai).