There are roughly around 200 hundred precious gemstones in the world the most popular of those are the Emerald, Diamond, Sapphire and the Ruby. Most of those stones or rocks would be indistinguishable and unrecognizable if they were placed before you and you tried to name them.
If someone were to ask you about stones or rocks what comes to mind other than they come in different sizes, weights, shapes and colors. Most people call them rocks and think they don’t serve much purpose other than being kicked but let’s not forget the ground from which we stand upon is what our planet Earth is made of.
To the average person those 200 common rocks are mostly identical except for those 4 rocks that have found a way to differentiate and stand apart from the rest. Those are incredible odds to overcome. To be able to set yourself apart from the competition takes hard work and so does, occasionally being at the right place at the right time. Some will call it luck but to the savvy business person luck is made through hard work, proper planning and creativity which are also priority ingredients when it comes to the right branding formula.
To those who are reading this post know of Pattaya and soi 6 and yes it’s a very unique place. Obviously, gone for now are the Soi 6 days where you could hear the shouts of handsome man, sexy man, while being grabbed and pulled every half dozen steps by hot girls yearning and pouting right before your eyes to get you to come into their bar.
All that fun can make it quite the daunting place for a person who has never experienced it. How about those who frequent the soi amongst the cluster of cookie cutter shops we gotta ask, have you found your gem in the 6? Amongst all those speakers blasting loud music, horns and bells sounding off, people cheering and yelling in celebration how does one decide where to park it? Sure everyone’s answer will vary from: fun girls, great atmosphere, good music, best spot to sit and drink, watch sports, the manager, the place is different, well maintained etc.
Now what would you say if I told you there is a gemstone of a bar with all those qualities and it’s been open for 20 years in Soi 6? The current ownership just celebrated its 9 year anniversary. They’re one of if not the most well known bars in the soi and anyone who lives in Pattaya will tell you that Ruby Club is the gem of the soi.
If you were to start your night out as a first timer in the soi you’d probably think the middle of the strip is the best spot to get your introduction. Well guess what, that’s where Ruby Club is located right in the heart of the 6, it is the best place to be around what’s going on and to take in people watching. No better place than to enjoy a cold Chang than right there or if you prefer your privacy take a seat inside, no problem.
Since Covid hit over a year ago it’s been hard hitting times for the Soi. So what’s been happening down there? Are bars surviving, are they innovating, are they changing? Any smart well experienced business man knows one must adapt and roll with the times. Surely these Live Web Cams are not the solution nor are they the future customer base. When they first hit all the owners slammed it only because they did not seize the opportunity, yet look at them now, they’re all doing it. The live feeds are great to help girls and cover some bills but do they think anyone who donates or watches these Live feeds is the new target market?
The ones who wanted to be the innovators of the soi took the lockdown as an opportunity, an inevitable change thrown upon the Six to do something about it and stay in the fight. There’s an altered vibe now, some new sights. Mind you not all had to do much as the formula was already working but many may be left trailing at the end of the line when borders open.
Ruby Club took the down time to remodel and they did it right. They too had a winning formula before lockdown. Ruby’s reno included all new tiling to the flooring and walls, fresh paint with modest bar & counter alterations in the indoor area. Ruby Club kept it brand recognizable, a very wise choice as the place almost feels like a heritage site for the soi. This way the regulars stay happy and new patrons will certainly feel welcomed. Ruby didn’t submit and convert to cater to a certain demo, Ruby is for everyone and no matter who you are you’re all invited.
Songkran 2021- Not So Fast
As Songkran is going to be a subdued affair this year from the latest spike in C19 variants. The City Municipality and officials are trying to accommodate specific Thai New Year celebrations with no water play and if there is it will be with severe restrictions. Songkran in Soi 6 was always a full on party each day from the first squirt before noon to the last soak as night fell. But the 6 never needed a reason to party, only motivation to get up earlier and start sooner. Ruby is known as the Songkran hot spot for the party where people also come to get the annual Ruby Club Songkran shirts.
As you can see in many of the photos Ruby Club has a long history of memorable parties with both expats and tourists over the years. You kind of know why everyone goes to Ruby now, the staff are friendly, a laid back drink policy, prices are fair, indoor and outdoor seating areas with a/c, you can watch live sports, be part of the customer controlled music and enjoy reliable fiber backed Wifi. Ruby also has 9 modern en-suite rooms with flatscreen TVs. More info about the rooms can be found on their website – Rubyclubpattaya.com. Want to stay up to date on what’s going on? They’re on top of their social media game so if you want to stay in the know and see the latest party pics, scroll through their memory lane, see how the girls are doing, find them where they post almost daily – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter with staff names on photos.
As we know Covid has taken its toll especially on the Six, it seems like many nights the soi is nearly empty. There simply aren’t enough holiday seekers in the country to keep biz rolling on a consistent nightly basis. You also have customers who don’t want to be anywhere near the live feeds. Many of the live feeds have been relocated from customer areas into private rooms to accommodate their concerns. The foot traffic will return one day and they’ll be the target market and priority, it is all dependent on when the borders reopen. Reopening isn’t just needed for Pattaya and Thailand but the rest of the world. We have to get back to a sense of normal where we went to movies, concerts, events and socialized without fear. Fear it seems is all they push nowadays but when people reconnect with the resurgence of that holiday celebration spirit the world is going spin on axis and Pattaya like the Six will be serving up the drinks and parties.
