The cuddly mascots are gone, but Walking Street’s Identi go-go bar returns from the dead on July 25 in Pattaya.
The single-shophouse go-go run from October through March by a Russian couple will reopen under the ownership of the Australian man who earlier this year bought Le Pub from Pattaya’s Mr. Egg and open the Matrix beer bar on Soi 7.
The Australian, who goes by Joey, has been plans in Pattaya, earlier posting on Le Pub’s Facebook page that he wanted to expand that brand all around Thailand.
A go-go bar is a big step up from beer bars, but Joey is undaunted and said he is eyeing two other go-gos on Walking Street.
Identi a ‘Unicorn’
Writing about Identi shortly after it opened in October, Stickman Bangkok called the bar a “unicorn” in that its owners were Russian.
“It should be noted that Russians have largely been involved with Russian-dancer bars,” Stickman wrote. “Single-shophouse go-go bars are often cramped and cheaply appointed. Not so Identi, which the owners – who have been in Thailand for 15 years – said they opened because they were tired of partying in everyone else’s go-go bar.”
Identi often had 20+ ladies, in various states of undress, who were easy on the eye and good fun.
“The seating is comfy, the sound is just right and the lighting effective. And they have a cool mascot outside!” Stickman wrote.
Bar for Fun, Not Profit
It’s an axiom in the bar business that you don’t open bars for your own enjoyment, at least if you want to make money. That, combined with Identi’s small size, turned out to be the case as it closed at the end of March and was immediately put up for sale at rock-bottom prices.
Identi’s owners actually contacted Dave the Rave to help sell the bar in exchange for a commission. But the sale price quoted was so low, we assumed it was a mistake, so nothing ever came of it.
As it turns out, Identi sold for a shockingly low price: 2 million baht, an unheard-of price for Walking Street.
Grand Re-Opening This Month
The former Russian owners are still involved in the project as advisors, along with others.
Joey plans to reopen Identi on July 25 with a big party to show off improvements to the bar, which, previously, featured a center stage that was so narrow girls had to balance themselves in a long line stretching the length of the go-go.
