An ‘anti-mall’ experience at Industria

MANILA, Philippines - There’s no denying it the retail industry is booming, and even as a number of mammoth-sized malls have already taken up prominent spaces in cities all across the country, a spate of spanking new shopping arenas is expected to follow suit.

Of those currently in development, Industria along Calle Industria, Quezon City, has all the makings of a colorful and lively shopping and lifestyle destination. Boasting 14,000 square meters of pure retail space, this P400-million venture is by Ortigas & Co., whose track record of thriving retail centers with distinct offerings include Tiendesitas on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Estancia in Capitol Commons, Ortigas Center, and Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

As such, Industria is no cookie-cutter version of any existing retail establishment. If Tiendesitas focuses on all-Filipino goods, the Greenhills Shopping Center pegs itself as a mecca of tiangge or flea market finds, and Estancia is a haven for high-end brands, Industria touts itself as an “anti-mall” of sorts, a hip retail solution for a young, edgy, and artistic market hankering for alternative places to shop, dine, and be entertained.

Industria is situated right at the center of a residential community, Circulo Verde—a 10-hectare piece of development home to a growing number of residents in the Majorca, Ibiza, and Seville Residences, as well as Circulo Verde Garden Homes.

“Industria is meant to become Circulo Verde’s neighborhood center, in the same way Greehills Shopping Center became the go-to place for residents of the Greenhills Subdivisions. There are a couple of ready-for-occupancy units within these towers and there also two new coming up—Lleida Tower and Avila. Industria is one of the reasons why living in this community can be exciting,” said Joey Santos, general manager of the Real Estate Division of Ortigas & Co.

A neighborhood grocery, unique gastronomic concepts, a fitness center, weekend markets teeming with organic choices, and arts and craft fairs are among the many places of interest of this modern indoor-outdoor retail concept.

While Industria was designed to cater to the families and tenants of Circulo Verde, Ortigas & Co.’s P25 billion, 10-hectare community of residential condominiums on Calle Industria, the retail development is expected to draw crowds looking for a fresher shopping and lifestyle experience.