A RASH of city-style retail outlets has erupted in Siem Reap. The trend, mainly targeting Siem Reap’s bourgeoning Khmer middle class, began earlier this year when the four-storey Angkor Trade Centre opened, hosting Swensen’s and The Pizza Company and adding a cosmopolitan feel to the riverside precinct.

Sivatha Boulevard is also emerging as an urban promenade, and this will be enhanced by the opening of Lucky Seven’s multi-level glass-façade shopping mall on August 28. This mall will be home to some well-known Siem Reap businesses such as the Blue Pumpkin, and to new outlets like the Red Apron wine store.

Sivatha Boulevard also now has a garish Lucky Seven takeaway food store complete with fried chicken similar to KFC, slated to open a Siem Reap outlet soon.

Hi-tech modernity has been added by iOne, an Apple Mac authorised reseller, featuring iPods and notebooks.

Another large arcade, The Angkor Shopping Arcade, is under construction on hotel row on National Road 6, financed by Canadia Bank PLC.

Also just opened on National Road 6 is the I Kea (Siem Reap) Spongy Furniture House – no connection to the Swedish franchise, except for the cunningly-adapted title.

A smattering of 101 Fruit & Toot stores have also opened across the city, and a Phnom Penh company, Bong Karem, will introduce ice cream carts flogging Italian gelato.