When Pier One Bar and Grill first opened its doors in August 2000, many were intrigued by its unusual structure: seven used, sea-worthy shipping container vans stacked one on top of the other, just like the ones you see in a container yard at the pier. The unorthodox façade stuck out like a sore thumb that it piqued the interest of people and so when it opened, it was an instant hit.

Pier One is the brainchild of Francis A. Juan, a veteran bargoer. The concept of Pier One was thought of over beers and pulutan one evening while unwinding with friends at his best friend’s garage. His years of experience in bar-hopping helped him determine what he wants in a bar and restaurant. As for the novel idea of using used shipping container vans, he wanted something that was inexpensive yet easy to remove, transport, repaint and rearrange the appearance and its interiors.

What others do not know was that Pier One’s first outlet was also its first franchise. Juan, president and CEO of Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corp., initially wanted to open the first branch under Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corp. and franchise the succeeding outlets. However, his friends and colleagues liked the concept that they insisted on joining the project, therefore, convincing Juan to put up a separate company and franchise the first outlet instead. The first franchise was owned by Pier One Food Corp.

Juan also invested his personal money in the first franchise but decided not to charge a franchise fee and any royalty fee for the first three years of operation. Because of the success in Libis, more friends became interested in the Pier One business concept and eventually formed a new corporation to franchise Pier One. The members of the new corporation also invited Juan to invest in the new corporation, which franchised Pier One at the Bonifacio Global City that opened in September 2001.

More friends became interested in putting up a Pier One franchise. In October 2002 the first franchise in the Visayas opened in Boracay. However, so as not to destroy the beauty of Boracay, Pier One did not bring the container vans. Instead, it maintained the structure of the previous bar it occupied.

More outlets soon opened: Tomas Morato, Roxas Boulevard, Moonbay Marina, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Ortigas Center.

It also ventured into mall-type stores. Pier One Bar and Grill Holdings Corp. opened its first company-owned outlet at the SM Mall of Asia. Since this type of store cannot accommodate container vans, Pier One instead adapted its interiors to look like a fishing village. More mall-type store opened at the Allegro Center in Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati, and at the San Miguel By The Bay Leisure Park at the Mall of Asia Breakwater. And last February, Pier One opened its first outlet in the south at The Pergola on Aguirre Street (beside BF Ruins), BF Homes, Parañaque.

At the helm of Pier One BF opening is the newly incorporated franchise firm, AMT Southport Ventures Corp., owned and operated by the Timog family.

“We are very optimistic that Pier One BF will become one of the hallmarks of Parañaque when it comes to pleasurable dining experience, party hub at night any day of the week, and a choice family get-together restaurant especially on weekends. Having live in the city for many years now, we know how best to serve and satisfy the tastes and preferences of our own kind of crowd,” said Arnel Timog, general manager of Pier One BF.

This year, Pier One shall open another branch in the Visayas at the Ayala IT Park in Cebu City.

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