Before add-to-cart online was a thing, spending hours at a physical shop just browsing was our favorite form of retail therapy. And with the changing times comes a changing of the shops. We're sure you still have your go-to brands whether online or at brick-and-mortar spaces but we're also sure they don't compare to the magic of the old shops you used to wander around in possibly after school or work. So below, we list down just a few of the shops we remember were a staple of the past, from stores that were once found at practically every mall in the Metro to standalones that gave the shopping scene an extra edge (Read: the IYKYK spots).
We know some of these spots will have you feeling like it couldn't have been that long ago; we don't know who needs to hear this, but it's 2023 and the '90s are now officially farther to us than the '40s. The 2040s. It's time for a throwback that will really have you feeling your age, folks. Don't worry, we feel old too.
Feel your back ache when you remember these 10 stores in Manila:
1. Hang Ten
Polos, polos everywhere. That and basic tees and bottoms, too, all in bright colors and with sewn-on footprints. This Hong Kong brand—with beginnings as a surf-wear store, hence the name—used to be pretty much everywhere back in the 2010s (yes, a decade or so ago) even when you were outside the country. Raise your hands if you ever went on a shopping spree for pasalubong at their little stores in Taiwan and, of course, Hong Kong.
2. Powerbooks
Bibliophiles will remember this very well. National Book Store's line of stores that focused on selling literary bestsellers was once the place to be, especially if you were into reading books that weren't held tight in plastic casings (for "free"). There used to be several Powerbooks dotted across the Metro, from that large one in Megamall that even had seats in their book shelves you could read on, to Trinoma and Greenbelt. The brand was eventually phased out and good ol' NBS now has Art Bar instead. We can't be the only ones getting a little weepy staring at their old logo.
3. Bestsellers
Apart from Powerbooks, NBS took it to the next level with this massive store tucked into the top floor of Robinsons Galleria. The first, and possibly only one ever of its kind, if we remember correctly, Bestsellers had the biggest and best curation of literary books from across all genres, true to its name. Stepping past its bright-orange facade led you into a huge two-level space with rows and rows of books. Calling all bibliophiles to manifest with us a new space just like this one.
4. Expressions Bookstore
Ah, did all the school memories come flooding back? Specifically those Sterling notebooks with cartoon characters and celebrities plastered all over the covers? Expressions was one of the go-to spots for supplies the start of the school year. And yes, they still exist! They have a couple of physical stores across the country and they're also on Shopee and Lazada.
5. Astro Vision
Remember scouring through all the latest albums on their shelves? Yup, a lot happened before streaming: Vinyls, casettes, CDs, and all that. And when it came to that last one, we bet you were all up in the many branches of Astro Vision and Astro Plus waiting for the next album drop of your fave music act, whether it was Britney Spears or Urbandub.
6. E.G.G.
This was the spot most of us did our Christmas shopping in. You could find all sorts of items at the aptly named Exciting Gifts + Goodies store at varying prices; they had so many bright knick knacks and whatnots that it was basically impossible to pass by their stores at malls and not take a look, then inevitably walk away with some cutesy item that took a chunk out of your allowance. Nowadays you can still find them online on Facebook and at pop-ups across the Metro.
7. Odyssey
Right up there with Astro Vision and Astro Plus were this store and all its blue lights. You couldn't walk past without it catching your attention. You could find all sorts of music CDs and even movies (remember when DVDs were the norm?) at their branches. Later on, you could also get the coveted karaoke set-ups here alongside other music gadgets. Not to be confused with Comic Odyssey, another store that we wish there was more of.
8. Video City
There was a time, long before Netflix, when everyone was a member of this video-rental store. With its yellow facade and rows and rows of movies to choose from, it holds a certain magic separate from all the scrolling you do on your chosen streaming platform. Yes kids, we once rented movies out from these shops. Chances are your family might just have a "borrowed" CD still lying around somewhere, or at the very least, a card.
9. People Are People
The party scene of the late 2000s to 2010s was something else, especially if we're talking about the 'fits. Outfits which you probably sourced from People Are People. Think bodycon bandage dresses, sky-high platforms and stilettos, chunky belts, faux fur, and all sorts of clunky bling. That was the look, and this old brand was serving it up in heaps. Raise your hand if your first party dress came from here!
10. Regina
This Greenhills OG was the type of shop that basically had people grow up with it. Chock full of all kinds of items, it was the place '90s kids would head to after school for a treat; no real need for a reason. This gift shop was around for 43 years before it finally closed its doors in 2020, marking the end of an era with a bittersweet goodbye. "Thank you for growing old with us!" they said on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by Cosmo.ph editors
