Fresh concepts at BGC

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 city 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 art work amidst the greenery; as well as the unique synergy offered by offices on top of the shops.

Particularly 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 multi-story residential complex. The Serendra retail area adjoins the 40-meter wide boulevard of brand-name anchor stores and corporate spaces amidst the softscape of greens, sculpture and endless sky.

But 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 their purchases in some of the outlets that had already opened were not unusual last Christmas season. Topnotcher was American retail sensation Krispy Kreme which has sold over 400,000 pieces of doughnuts since it opened in November.

The strong pedestrian traffic of Bonifacio High Street and its refreshing concept are now the main draws of this retail haunt. According to Abba Napa, marketing head of Italian steakhouse Balducci, diners at the restaurant, which is one the mainstays of Bonifacio High Street, shot up at the beginning of the year as upscale shoppers and foodies named it a new place to see and to be seen along with other tony restaurants in the area. "Before then, I could always find a seat here for dinner," she says.

Napa, who also owns, All Flip Flops, which sells the most complete line of Havaianas, is pleased at her decision to open her largest store in Bonifacio Global City. The 85 sqm. store dedicated to the premium rubber- slippers line from Brazil has been doing good sales despite the fact that many of its neighboring outlets have not yet opened their doors. The store carries 100 styles of Havaianas with new models being introduced every quarter particularly for collectors who are willing to line up for the latest styles and variations. It is also incidentally the largest Havaianas outlet in the globe.