Yes, places open then they just sit and wait. I heard from a Thai the government promotes everyone have a business. Many of the roadside businesses are lent the property for free to promote business growth. They still have to build out and pay utilities, etc.
I’m a retired businessman so I know who and where you spend your money promotes the growth in that direction.
Best advice I got was from a Thai Driving school. If you have any kind of documented address or live with a friend or girlfriend or boyfriend, take someone thai with you to get residency certificate. My Thai person did all the talking and it went right through.
Most of the other Falang with their girlfriends did not seem to say much either. I’m coming up with lists of stuff to take and my girlfriend says, “We don’t need any of that”. I brought it anyway and she was right.