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The
well-heeled urbanite willing to pay the price for
premium retail items and one-of-a-kind shopping and
dining experiences has found a new retail and dining hub
at the center of
Bonifacio
Global City.
With
over 100 outlets—many of which are already open—Bonifacio
High Street is already a haven for shoppers who delight
in good finds and “foodies” alike.
Bonifacio High Street’s vibrance does not come merely
from its mix of stores but also from a string of other
experiences. To wit: a park that is almost a kilometer
long and as wide as Ayala Avenue, bordered by shops on
either side; engaging artwork amid the greenery, as well
as the unique synergy offered by offices on top of the
shops.
On
Friday and Saturday nights, only those with reservations
can get into many of the restaurants on Bonifacio High
Street. The restaurants, which opened last year, are
found at the ground floor of the Serendra multistory
residential complex. The Serendra retail area adjoins
the 40-meter wide boulevard of brand-name anchor stores
and corporate spaces amid the landscape of greens,
sculptures, and an endless sky.
However,
even if the boulevard of commercial and office spaces
has yet to be formally launched, long lines of shoppers
patiently waiting their turn to make purchases in some
of the outlets that have already opened are not
unusual—even last Christmas.
The
strong pedestrian traffic of Bonifacio High Street and
its refreshing concept are now the main draws of this
retail haunt.
Abba
Napa, marketing head of Italian steakhouse Balducci,
said the number of diners at the restaurant—one of the
mainstays of Bonifacio High Street—shot up at the start
of the year as upscale shoppers and foodies named it a
new place to see and to be seen.
“Before
then, I could always find a seat here for dinner,” said
Napa, who also owns All Flip Flops, which sells the most
complete line of Havainas.
She said
she was pleased with her decision to open her largest
store in Bonifacio Global City.
The 85
square meter store dedicated to the premium rubber
slippers line from Brazil has been doing well despite
the fact that many of its neighboring outlets have not
yet opened their doors.
The
store carries 100 styles of Havainas with new models
being introduced every quarter particularly for
collectors who are willing to line up for the latest
styles and variations. Incidentally, Napa’s store is the
largest Havainas outlet in the world.
Napa said that the highway of greenery lined with winning
retail and dining concepts was attractive to her from
the very start. In fact, she convinced her father and
other investors in Balducci to set up their
Tuscan-inspired bistro within walking distance of All
Flip Flops.
She
noted that the accessibility of Bonifacio High Street to
most of the major cities of Metro Manila make it an
ideal launch pad for new stores just establishing their
presence in the Philippines such as Mizuno and Krispy
Kreme. It is also an ideal site for the showcase outlets
of brands such as Speedo and Hobbes and Landes, which
have located their biggest stores in the area. Nike will
also soon be launching its largest outlet there.
Linked
directly to the major thoroughfares of Edsa and the C-5
highway, Bonifacio High Street can easily be reached by
upscale residents from Quezon City, the Makati as well
as the Ortigas business districts. Its proximity to the
South Luzon Expressway makes it within reach of
residents from Parañaque, Muntinlupa and other
communities along the southern corridor.
Unlike
the typical commercial center that offers several levels
of stores usually built around an activity center,
Bonifacio Global City’s centerpiece offers shoppers an
unhampered view of the sky, art pieces and greenery all
around as they stroll from shop to shop.
According to Rowena Tomedlan, deputy group head of the
Ayala Malls, which manages Bonifacio High Street, the
fresh retail setup has been a big attraction for
merchants.
Other
retailers that are already enjoying Bonifacio High
Street’s superior location and amenities are: Figaro,
Lush, Timezone, Maxiworks, Speedo, Mini Shabu Shabu,
Wristpod and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Ecco. |
