Robinsons Magnolia: Inspired by the past, looking forward to the future

MANILA, Philippines - The memories are still vivid and fresh in my mind: An ice cream wonderland filled with kids digging their spoons into their favorite sundaes and parfaits with nary a care in the world. I was one of those kids who were saddened when the Magnolia Ice Cream House along Aurora Blvd. in QC closed shop in the early ‘90s. The advent of malls made it lose business, but our happy memories of the place have remained in our hearts.

Paying homage to the famous ice cream house, Robinsons Land Corporation transformed Magnolia Ice Cream House into a magnificent structure where old memories can be rekindled and new memories can be formed — the Robinsons Magnolia. And yes, they revived the iconic ice cream parlor for old time’s sake.

Robinsons Magnolia is a multi-story shopping mall with a distinct mix of shops and restaurants for the entire family.

“The Magnolia Ice Cream House is an important component of the development. The new, glass-encased ice cream parlor serves the ice cream delights that people in their late 30s, early 40s and 50s will surely remember such as the Banana Split, Peach Melba, Black and White, and Ernie and Bert. Robinsons Magnolia also houses a selection of the best restos in Manila such as Cibo, ClawDaddy, Thai Bistro, Elias, Buffet 101, Uncle Cheffy, Conti’s, Sumosam, Yabu, Ramen Bar, and many more,” shares Arlene Magtibay, Robinsons Land Corporation business unit general manager for commercial center division, during the grand opening last Aug. 13.

The grand opening was attended by JG Summit Inc. chairman emeritus John Gokongwei Jr., Robinsons Land Corporation president and COO Frederick D. Go, Robinsons Land Corporation GM for Commercial Centers Division Arlene Magtibay, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, Robinsons Retail Group president and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Robinsons Land Corporation endorser Solenn Heussaff, and Robinsons Department Store endorser Maricar Reyes.

Robinsons Magnolia boasts an impressive atrium with a full-length glass that extends to three floors. The lower ground level seamlessly blends the food court as the central attraction with all other food, service, and retail establishments found there. The food court is interestingly laid out — instead of the usual food stalls lined up against the wall, the food stalls are in the middle, clustered together in several island-type set-ups. All the food stalls have open kitchens that allow customers to see their food being cooked and prepared, a sure guarantee that only freshly cooked dishes are served there.

“Robinsons Magnolia is meant to be a place to relax and unwind. Aside from the variety of dining options, shoppers can look forward to after-dinner coffee or meet-ups at any of its popular coffee shops,” boasts Magtibay.

The new mall also has four cinemas — all with digital projectors. The cinema experience is likewise enhanced by the numerous snack choices that pepper the cinema lobby. From the usual popcorn to the flavored fries, burgers, milk tea and more, one will never be lacking in choices to enjoy inside the theater.

Some 60 percent of the stores are now open, with many more scheduled to commence operations in the next two months.

“We expect that a little less than 100 percent will be open by November in time for the Christmas season,” adds Magtibay.

Pet lovers will be thrilled to find out that they can bring their pets to the mall. The Plaza has lush landscaping and water features that make it the perfect place to romp with one’s pet while listening to acoustic music or live performances.

Aside from its interesting mix of shops, the mall easily stands out for its elegant and spacious interiors. 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 interior spaces. Inside, the mall boasts a grand entrance lobby and spacious hallways that lead to a four-level al fresco area that overlooks The Plaza, a lushly landscaped open space dotted with water features and an area for live entertainment.

“Although we have not trumpeted our green advocacy yet, Robinsons Malls has been quietly transforming the way we do business in order to contribute to a more sustainable environment. Most of our malls, including Robinsons Magnolia, undertake wastewater treatment, meaning we treat the wastewater and re-use this for our air-conditioning system instead of throwing this away. Another initiative is rainwater collection, water from which is used for flushing toilets. These programs result in a substantial reduction in water used for our malls,” adds Magtibay.

The mall is Wi-Fi enabled, is PWD-friendly, has babycare facilities, a Customer Pay Lounge, valet service, and monitored taxi service. A concierge facility is also on hand to provide the best customer service.

The old Magnolia Ice Cream house may be gone but at Robinsons Magnolia, there’s a new place to create happy, delicious, and lasting memories.