{{Short description|Area of Pattaya, Thailand}} {{Infobox venue | name = | nickname = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | fullname = | former_names = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = 300px | image_alt = Map of businesses in Sunee Plaza June 2010 | caption = Map of businesses in Sunee Plaza June 2010 | pushpin_map = | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_relief = | address = | location = [[Pattaya]], [[Thailand]] | coordinates = {{Coord|12.9226545|100.87291|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | type = | event = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} --> | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = | operator = | surface = | scoreboard = | production = | cost = | architect = | builder = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | seating_type = | capacity = | suites = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | field_shape = | acreage = | volume = | tenants = | embedded = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | public_transit = }} '''Sunee Plaza''' is an area in [[Pattaya]] known for [[gay]] [[nightlife]].<ref name="Purple Roofs">{{cite web |title=Purple Roofs Travel Newsletter: October 2009 - Sunee Plaza, Pattaya, Thailand |url=https://www.purpleroofs.com/newsletters2009/091006-sunee-plaza-thailand.html |website=www.purpleroofs.com |publisher=Purple Roofs |accessdate=13 January 2019 |archive-date=18 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218165347/http://www.purpleroofs.com/newsletters2009/091006-sunee-plaza-thailand.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is just off Soi V.C., which intersects Second Road in south Pattaya. It is built around two parallel streets, with a cross-linking street. All the buildings in the plaza are owned by Madame Sunee,<ref name="earthgayguide.com/">{{cite web |title=Gay Pattaya – Gay Pattaya Guide |url=https://earthgayguide.com/pattaya/ |website=earthgayguide.com |accessdate=13 January 2019}}</ref> a Thai national, and are leased to the various businesses.<ref name="www.thailandaktuell.com">{{cite web |last1=Somsak |first1=Khun |title=Sunee Plaza in Pattaya: Ein beliebter Treffpunkt für Gays › Thailand Aktuell |url=http://www.thailandaktuell.com/7333/sunee-plaza-pattaya/ |website=www.thailandaktuell.com |accessdate=13 January 2019 |language=de |date=10 April 2013}}</ref> In the past, Sunee Plaza had been referred to as "the heart of the extreme city.";<ref name="www.thailandaktuell.com" /> however in recent years, the Plaza hosts only a few bars. As of 2019, Most of the gay life in Pattaya has now relocated to [[Jomtien Beach|Jomtien Complex]].
==Businesses== The first gay bar at Sunee Plaza was open in 1996 and carried the name Crazy Pub.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.suneeplaza.info/cgi-bin/page.pl?p=Crazy%20Pub/ |publisher=Sunee Plaza Official website |title=Beer bars in Sunee Plaza }}{{dead link|date=June 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Soon behind it Sunee Plaza Bar opened, as did Topman Nightclub, the first gogo bar.{{notetag|As of 2019 this building hosts the Irish pub and Jazz hotel.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}}} In 2010 in Sunee Plaza more than 50 institutions focused on LGBT including beer bars, [[go-go bar]]s, [[Host and hostess clubs|host bars]] cafes, restaurants and budget hotels. Sunee Plaza at that time boasted the largest collection of gay venues in one location in Thailand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thai-spice-magazine.com/2010/09/sunee-plaza-the-big-secret/ |publisher=Thai-Spice magazine |title=Sunee Plaza – the BIG secret |date=September 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417090937/http://www.thai-spice-magazine.com/2010/09/sunee-plaza-the-big-secret/ |archive-date=April 17, 2011 }}</ref> As of 2019, the quantity of gay establishments in Sunee Plaza has decreased significantly. Now there are fewer than a dozen beer bars, a few restaurants, and only one hotel. Additional services includes small shops, hairdressing salons, taxi services, travel agencies, and a few restaurants. The main reasons for closing gay institutions in Pattaya: * toughening of business rules in Thailand in general after the [[2014 Thai coup d'état|military junta came to power]] in 2014; * city administration desire to improve the image of Pattaya as a family destination; * competition from online dating mobile apps; * Recent influx of Arab-owned businesses on Soi 17 and in the Sunee Plaza area; * rental increases by the owner of Sunee Plaza, Madame Sunee.<ref name="GayRove.com">{{cite web |title=Sunee Plaza - gay district in Pattaya |url=https://gayrove.com/asia/thailand/pattaya/sunee-plaza/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041853/https://gayrove.com/asia/thailand/pattaya/sunee-plaza/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |website=GayRove.com |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=21 February 2019}}</ref>
==Police raids== The police for conducting expeditious checks regularly Sunee Plaza institutions. In July, 2008,<ref name="Thaivisa">{{cite web |title=Underage Bar Workers As Toung As 8 Years Old |url=https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/202423-underage-bar-workers-as-toung-as-8-years-old/ |website=forum.thaivisa.com |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=26 July 2008}}</ref> July, 2010<ref name="Thailand News ">{{cite web |title=Underage Boys found in Police raid of South Pattaya Gay Bar |url=https://www.thailandnews.co/2010/07/underage-boys-found-in-police-raid-of-south-pattaya-gay-bar/ |website=www.thailandnews.co |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=25 July 2010}}</ref> and March, 2013<ref name="Pattaya Mail">{{cite web |title=Police find 17 underage boys in raid of Sunee Plaza gay bar |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/news/police-find-17-underage-boys-in-raid-of-sunee-plaza-gay-bar-23319/ |website=www.pattayamail.com |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=13 March 2013}}</ref> during raids underage males involved in gogo bars as dancers were found. During raid in July, 2008 one of the caught minors was only 8 years old.<ref name="Thaivisa"/> By results of conducting raids in July, 2008, October, 2009,<ref name="Thaivisa3">{{cite web |title=Underage Employees And Drug Users Found In Sunee Plaza Boy Bar Police Raid |url=https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/307219-underage-employees-and-drug-users-found-in-sunee-plaza-boy-bar-police-raid/ |website=forum.thaivisa.com |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=17 October 2009}}</ref> January, 2011<ref name="Pattaya Mail2">{{cite web |title=46 arrested as 100 police sweep Sunee Plaza for drugs |url=https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/46-arrested-as-100-police-sweep-sunee-plaza-for-drugs-1177/ |website=www.pattayamail.com |accessdate=21 February 2019 |date=24 January 2011}}</ref> forbidden narcotic substances are found in blood of bar's staff.
==Notes== {{Notefoot}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100927074910/http://www.suneeplaza.info/gay-pattaya/ Sunee Plaza, Gay Pattaya, Gay Thailand] Official archived website *[https://www.facebook.com/p/Sunee-plaza-100089811910128/ Sunee Plaza] Official Facebook site
{{Prostitution in Thailand}}
[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Pattaya]] [[Category:Sex industry in Thailand]] [[Category:LGBTQ nightclubs]] [[Category:Red-light districts in Thailand]]