A mall not just for fishermen

Until I sat down for lunch with the Del Rosarios who own it, I wrongly thought that the newly-opened Fisher Mall (at the corner of Roosevelt and Quezon Avenues, Quezon City, where the Pantranco station used to be) was exclusively for fishermen. I saw the progress of the mall’s construction because I pass by that area on my way to and from the office. The mall looks more impressive at night because of its well-lighted façade on both sides of the avenues.

Bobby del Rosario is the chairman, Paul Gerard del Rosario the vice-chairman, Raymond del Rosario the president of the Fisher Mall, Moleen del Rosario president of Fisher Department Store and Roberto Alfonso “Obby” del Rosario president of Fisher Supermarket. The family’s other business is fishing, that’s why the supply of the sea harvest never runs out. As soon as the stock disappears from the stalls, fresh (as advertised) supply arrives. It’s correct to say that the mall is owned by fishermen. Fishermen on land, that is.

My friends and I found time to do a quick tour of the mall after watching The Fault in Our Stars in one of the cinemas at the fourth floor. We learned that the temperature in each cinema is set at 19 degrees (centigrade). Cool and comfortable. While the housewives in our group retreated to the Fisher Supermarket, the rest of us took a leisurely stroll.

It turned out to be a discovery stroll, actually starting from the parking spaces at the upper and lower basements that accommodate more than 700 cars. It was a weekday and we had a hard time looking for an empty space, which simply meant that the mall is attracting more and more people since it opened last January.

Back from the supermarket, the housewives took the elevator to the fourth floor to let the kids sample the games at the Playland Arcade just beside the cinemas, and nearby is a Snack Bar. With the spaces occupied almost 95 percent by restaurants (fine-dining and fast-food), shops of all kinds, a department store, a Food Hall and an entertainment venue for music-lovers, the Fisher Mall is a one-stop-shop as the owners describe it.

There’s even a chapel, designed by Toym Imao, where Masses are held every day, twice (and soon thrice) on Sundays, with an anticipated Mass scheduled soon on Saturdays.

And, yes, there’s Morita Japanese Restaurant (more on it later) at the ground floor where we had lunch with the Del Rosarios.

I was happy to find a National Bookstore at the upper ground floor.

That much I can tell you about Fisher Mall.

Visit it and find out for yourselves what the mall can offer — that is, aside from fish. 

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