AL-FRESCO dining restaurants line ‘The Plaza.’
In a big city like Manila, recreational destination number one is a mall. Small wonder that real estate developers have made all manner of malls available in our country, from smaller, strip malls to giant, destination malls.
My own favorites are the high-end malls. The latest addition to these is the new Robinsons Magnolia Mall (www.robinsonsmalls.com), the latest addition to Robinsons Malls’ growing family of shopping malls.
The multistory edifice stands in the former site of the much-loved Magnolia Ice Cream House at the corner of Aurora Boulevard and Hemady Street in Quezon City, where a certain generation of us grew up experiencing an ice cream brand that used to own the entire market. The new Robinsons Mall has several new retail outlets and shoppers will love the mall’s wide and spacious, easily navigable hallways.
MALL goers will be greeted by Robinsons Magnolia’s beautiful Atrium.
One high-end shop is Ben Sherman, a men’s store brought in by Robinsons Retail Specialty Stores. Other shops include Top Shop, Penguin, Miss Selfridge and Laneige, all in the same section of the Mall’s Upper Ground. The second and third levels also offer a variety of branded retail stores, ideal for retail therapy for fashionistas of all ages.
On the Lower Level, the food court has a unique layout that lets customers see the food options in one sweep. Lourdes Alano, Robinsons’ VP for Lease, told me that the “food islands” are designed to be visually pleasing, and thus should invite diners to enjoy their meals in a well-lit, spacious food court.
ROBINSONS Magnolia al fresco
Food outlets, restos
More than shopping, Robinsons Magnolia also has an amazing array of food outlets and restaurants found on all levels. Enjoying a meal al fresco is possible with the mall’s well-manicured garden and water features. The Magnolia Mall was also cited recently as the only “green” mall in Quezon City.
The Plaza, a lushly landscaped, open space dotted with water features, is also an area for live entertainment. It is also where the Ice Cream House is found, serving the same old concoctions that we so loved.
ANOTHER perspective of ‘The Plaza’
Conceptualized by global design firm RTKL, Robinsons Magnolia’s layout highlights both the relaxing ambience of an outdoor setting and the cool comforts of sleek interiors. Robinsons Land, the mall’s owner and a recent awardee of Euromoney magazine as Best Managed Company, promises to bring more happy memories and fresh and new experiences to Robinsons Magnolia.
Great location
Next to the mall, The Magnolia Residences (www.robinsonsresidences.net) will soon rise. These condominiums are an urban and residential community that have the added value of being a great location, as they are so close to a number of schools and hospitals.
A PERSPECTIVE of Robinsons Magnolia’s Food Court
The entire project is envisioned to be the first high-rise development in the area that will bring a new beat to traditional city living while embracing the serene and secure neighborhood quality in New Manila. Once developed, residents of the gated residential community will enjoy the convenience of living beside its own mall and the comforts of being near exclusive schools like Saint Paul University, De La Salle University, Xavier School and Immaculate Concepcion Academy.
Access
A DAY perspective of ‘The Plaza’
The property is also very near well-known hospitals like St. Luke’s Medical Center and Cardinal Santos Medical Center. With the area bounded on one side by Aurora Boulevard, commuting to and from end points of Manila and Quezon City will be a breeze through the LRT Line 2 station.
Plans to develop a master-planned gated community next to what is now the Magnolia head office of Nestlé Philippines are now underway as Robinsons Land recently announced its purchase of the 5-hectare prime property from San Miguel Properties. All this is great news to New Manila residents, who now have a beautiful, high-end mall right in the heart of their community.
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