A year after Joi and Freddy had completed the Number 1 Pub, Fred's attention drifted towards the building opposite. Back then it was the Angel Massage and cigarette shop. He saw the potential of the location and of the building itself. Despite the minor inconvenience of the property no being for sale, the idea of how it could be converted into a luxury bar/bistro began to take shape in Fred's mind.

 

In 2007, the owners of the Angel unexpectedly converted the ground floor into a new bar, relocating the massage service upstairs. They made a good job of the conversion, providing nice seating and agreeable decor. Unfortunately, whatever that magical 'X' factor which puts bums on seats was missing and the bar never drew the crowds. It closed its doors midway through 2007 and the property placed on the market.

 

For Fred it was time to gamble. Despite the failure of Angel Bar, Fred had courage in his belief the location could work, if the design was right. Joi and Fred successfully acquired the property and on the 5th August 2007, building work began in earnest. A 20 man team of specialists arrived from Chonburi and set about the major building conversion.

The back wall was removed and a new rear extension added, the area which was to house the pool tables and toilet facilities. This removed the only stair access to the upper floor. A new staircase had to be constructed, relocated to a more convenient position near the front of the bar area

 

The gutting of the building's interior of all the previous layout required new wiring, plumbing and the rerouting of existing air conditioning units and satellite feeds. New security screens and roller shutters were also required. The floor needed to be re-leveled and re-tiled: The work seemed unending.

 

The ground floor bar was to feature a large u-shaped counter with a central island of optics and television monitors.

For the construction crew, it was the largest bar surface they had ever constructed anywhere in Thailand. The blueprints required the best timbers and trim, and a high degree of finishing skills and craftsmanship.

 

The counter also had to be fully wired, not just on the inside of the bar for the usual bar equipment, but also on the outside counter sides - power socket were to be positioned at every customer place, so laptops and other equipment could be plugged in: It was part of Freddy's bigger picture, attention to the smallest customer-friendly detail.

 

On the 15th October, 2007, after ten weeks of 7 day working, the job was finally completed. The bar was stocked and the small interior details prepared. On the 30th October, Halloween, the bar informally opened its doors to guests.

 

A special Buddhist ceremony was held on 29th November to formally bless the bar, its staff and the customers from around the world who would come visit. It was a special moment for all concerned with the project. a time for reflection and celebration. The event was finished with a feast for the monks and buffet for the guests. It paved the way for the formal official opening on December 12th.

The Grand Opening was in the form of a free buffet, accompanied by dancers, music and the largest gathering of expats in one place the city had seen in many a long year: The final tally of guests easily surpassed the 500 mark.

 

The building was designed to create a unique space which allowed the Bistro to cater to many different customer demands at the same time. That concept has been highly successful: The upper floor has become a popular place for local businessmen to meet during the day. The same space has been used for private parties and other functions.

For Joi and Freddy, the successful opening was the culminating of considerable planning, paperwork and red tape. It couldn't have been achieved with out the assistance and expertise of a great many people. The many technical and logistical headaches which everyone had encountered over the previous three months had paid off. The bar opened on time to great the Christmas/New year high season.

 

Fred's intuition and faith in this location as a bar was fully justified: The December 07/January 08 high season was one of the quietest on record for Chiang Mai, with many establishments seeing little or no customers some evenings. Not at Number 1 Bistro and Cafe - the bar and its staff continues to play welcome a steady stream of new and old friends alike.

 

Joi, Fred and all the staff at Number 1 Bistro & Café look forward to welcoming you.