The lines started forming by mid-morning. The group of shoppers were eagerly awaiting their respective bowls of Mongolian stir-fry. Apparently it is a most popular fare for lunch, early dinner or snack. It’s a full dish of rice, meat, and veggies with sauces and spices. No, they were not queued up in a standard restaurant; they were in Shopwise Araneta Center where things that differentiate this chain from the others have been introduced by a progressive, customer-conscious management.
We have seen Shopwise grow through the years from its beginnings in Alabang, Muntinlupa. What makes it a frequent place to visit, aside from the products sold, are its staff members. Ask where the rarest of food ingredients are, and one of them will help you find them. Go to the Customer Relations counter and you are readily attended to. Nobody is too busy to mind you. This is the relationship that the chain has developed with the shoppers. Today, they are forging ahead with the recent opening of a revamped sprawling store at the Araneta Center in Cubao.
Working on innovative food concepts, this store is clearly a comfortable haven for shopping. It is brightly-lit, the aisles are wide, and displays are well organized. They call each area a “solution center,” obviously to cater to individual needs of the shopper, from food and groceries, to clothes, furniture and electronics. There is a pharmacy and a playwise area where parents can leave their kids under the watch of trained staff.
And yes, there is this place, by the Fresh section in the middle, where tables and chairs are set for dining and a selection of food is served.
That day “Marilyn Monroe” and “Elvis Presley” were at the soda fountain evoking the culture and food of the 50s – she in her windblown halter top dress and he strumming a guitar
We met a pretty kimono-clad young lady at the sushi and sashimi counter where freshly cut salmon and tamago were prepared.
A full-service deli, Le Gourmet, not only sells cured meats, sausages, hams and cheeses, but can also whip up grilled sausages and sandwiches for dining. The European-style deli items rival those in specialty stores but command a lower price.
The Mongolian grill is the first of its kind within a hypermart.
After our cup of coffee, we moved on to check the goods. We found tuna hotdogs, chicken sausages and a variety of hams, both sliced and whole. A special price for some meat products was proclaimed by big signs. A selection of seafood is available. Veggies, fruits are on display.
It is a big store and we needed more time to explore everything. Suffice it to say that Shopwise has adopted a multi-format concept in their chain. This means customers in each area of operation and their particular needs are carefully researched and eventually given what they want and need in a hypermart. Cebu is the next target. They are opening in Basak next month.
Not done with Christmas shopping yet? Here’s a tip. Go visit an outlet of Mrs. Fields in an area near you. Nobody declines a gift of cookies, especially this kind. We remember going to the US and never failing to drop by one of her stores. That was when no outlet was operating in Manila. Today Mrs. Fields is here. At the outlet in the Alabang Town Center, one can leisurely sip a cup of coffee and have a cookie or nibblers. Then choose from the holiday selection your prefered gifts.
Please, Secretary Mar Roxas, make your visit to the NAIA 3 again. You’ll find the escalator at the arrival area still “temporarily out-of-order.” That has been so for nearly six months. Make Christmas a comfortable one for travelers. Thank you.
E-mail comments and questions to ldcastillo327@yahoo.com.ph