Shoppers converged on Silom Road yesterday to help thousands of small business vendors hit hard by the recent redshirt rally.
Trade was brisk, with many vendors rushing back to their stores to restock their makeshift stalls several times.
"I've come here with the intention of helping the vendors," one shopper said.
She was among the first people to descend on Silom Road, which is serving as a walking and shopping street this weekend.
The authorities have closed it and a portion of Narathiwat Road to traffic, in order to accommodate the stalls of vendors whose business plunged drastically during the period of the red shirts' rally.
Many vendors were unable to run their stalls during the marathon protest, because the presence of redshirt demonstrators scared customers away.
Others lost their stall space and much of their stock when hardcore red shirts went on the rampage in Bangkok on May 19, torching several shopping centres, including CentralWorld and Centre One.
"I've been unable to open my stall in Soi Rajdamri 2, near Big C Rajdamri, since April 2," Thanapat Sasiang said as he offered perfume to customers on Silom.
Soi Rajdamri 2 is close to the Rajprasong intersection, which the redshirt demonstrators occupied for more than a month. Big C Rajdamri was also set ablaze last week.
Thanapat is still unable to return to his old location.
Bag seller Wantana Boonyingwan said she had sold her wares at a big discount yesterday, because she was running short of cash.
"Sales have dropped drastically since the redshirt rally began," she said. "I badly need cash for my daily expenses."
Admitting she had cried several times during the past month, Wantana was buoyed by the huge number of customers on Silom Road yesterday.
Commerce Minister Porntiva Nakasai, who copresided over the "Together We Can Grande Sale", expected 300,000 shoppers to visit the walking and shopping event over three days.
"Sales should be well over Bt100 million," she said.
On sale are a variety of goods, from clothing and accessories to commodities.
Metropolitan Police Division 5 commander MajGeneral Anuchai Lekbamrung said more than 100 policemen, both in uniform and in plain clothes, were deployed to ensure security along Silom.
"There are also about 100 soldiers deployed on highrise buildings and in Skytrain stations," he said.
In a related development, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesman Thanom Onketpol said many shopping malls had offered to help vendors previously located inside fireravaged Centre One by offering free space for up to six months.
"Interested vendors can register for the benefits at the Ratchathewi district office from 1pm this Sunday," Thanom said.
Mass Rapid Transit Authority governor Chukiat Photayanuvat said Metromall in Chatuchak subway station would also offer free space for up to six months for vendors affected by the recent unrest.
Those interested can register at Metromall from 10am to 5pm until Tuesday.