From eyesores to eye candies

Ayala Malls makeover

MANILA, Philippines — As with any renovation, the Zobel family’s massive malls makeover gets ugly first before it gets pretty.

Ayala Malls’ four iconic shopping centers will soon regain their full form as a shopping paradise – with scaffolding and tarpaulins that have become eyesores over the past months set to be replaced by a refreshed look that promises a world-class lifestyle experience.

With the completion of Ayala Land’s redevelopment of Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu centers drawing near, Mariana Zobel de Ayala, president of Ayala Malls and head of leasing and hospitality at Ayala Land Inc., admitted that the past two years have been a challenging and uncomfortable time at Ayala Malls.

“We made the decision to take four of our highest-performing malls –Greenbelt, Glorietta, TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu – and run them through a simultaneous and bold reinvention plan,” she said in a LinkedIn post.

“It would have been easier to stagger the work or make smaller changes, instead, we chose the more difficult path, because we believe Filipinos deserve more – and we believe we can deliver more,” she said.

In 2024, Ayala Land decided to embark on a massive P13-billion redevelopment of its flagship malls that will see its four iconic shopping centers – Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu – reinvented to cater to the evolving consumer preference.

The company also announced that it is spending an additional P4.5 billion to redevelop four more malls – Ayala Malls Abreeza, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, Ayala Malls Fairview Terraces and MarQuee Mall.

The redevelopment is expected to unleash the full potential of Ayala Malls’ retail space as well as enhance areas for convergence and create spaces that challenge retailers to bring their best to the Filipino consumer.

“We are investing P17.5 billion not just in physical improvements, but in reimagining the experience of our flagship centers while also expanding into high-growth areas nationwide. It’s not just a refresh; it’s a reinvention,” Zobel said.

“As we look forward, expect a refreshed TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu by the end of this year, and Glorietta and Greenbelt 2 to follow early next year. We are so excited,” she said.

Zobel also shared an excerpt from his father, Ayala Group chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, during his recent address at the University of Asia and the Pacific’s commencement exercises, wherein the tycoon said: “Choose the difficult. Because character is formed through friction, through struggle, through fire.”

Mariana said it was a reminder to forge forward.

“Amidst the difficult and uncomfortable, we have been given a lot of grace. I’m genuinely grateful to our customers who’ve been patient with scaffolding, tarps and detours, and to our merchant partners-many of whom have stood by us, some even opening right in the middle of renovation,” Mariana said.

“Your trust gives us confidence that this choice, though difficult, is the right one,“ she said.