The insights are based on observation, not on any official figures.
ภาพประกอบจาก FB เพจ : Tiger Eye Martial Arts ในซอยพหล 11
Why do most expats in Ari, Bangkok prefer small gyms instead of well-known chains?
This simple behavior says a lot about how neighborhoods shape business models.
A foreigner once asked in the I Love Ari Facebook group,
“What’s the best gym in the Ari neighborhood these days?”
At first, I thought of well-known chain gyms in the area or boutique studios with nice decoration, good facilities, and amenities.
But surprisingly, those weren’t the answers he was looking for.
Most expats in Ari may don’t need luxury gyms.
They want something simple.
Maybe just free weights, proper powerlifting zones, reasonable prices with flexible packages, and English-speaking coaches and staff.
Some people want a place that feels like a community, not a franchise gym.
Gyms like DD Fitness (a small gym in an old building but practical), Ari Fit (a semi-outdoor gym with CrossFit classes and a strong community vibe), Tiger Eye Martial Arts by Coach Bashir Ahmad (MMA classes for all ages), Pickleball & Beach Tennis by Kru Aek, or Yellow Lane (for yoga and swing dance, including ice baths and onsen) all share one thing in common.
They’re social spaces or simply good enough for what they need at the right price.
It’s one example that shows how urban lifestyle and consumer behavior are slowly shifting from branded experiences to community belonging in the same way we see fashion trend like quiet luxury or even the newer idea of anti-luxury.
Maybe the future of retail and wellness isn’t about scaling up.
It’s about designing spaces that already feel like they belong to the people.
Note: Insights are based on local observation, not from any official data and can’t apply to every case.