MANILA – High-end retailer Rustan’s relaunched last Saturday its Gateway branch in Cubao, which now boasts of fresh interiors, new brands and nearly three times more space.

The well-heeled affair was attended by Rustan's chairman emeritus Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. with current president Donnie V. Tantoco leading the ceremonial toast.

In his welcome remark, the younger Tantoco looked back at the company’s 42 years at the Araneta Center. It was originally located across Ali Mall, housing a supermarket and a department store, before moving to its present location at Gateway Mall.

“Today, as we launch the Rustan’s Gateway Mall, we’d like to express the deep pride we have for our very long historical presence and commitment we’ve had to the Araneta Center. Rustan’s has been here since 1974. Forty-two years later in an era where it’s all about technology, we still strongly believe that relationships still matter a lot,” he said.

He also thanked the Araneta family, represented at the event by guest of honor Judy Araneta Roxas for their continued support, as proven by their strong partnership throughout the years.

The new four-level Rustan’s now has a floor area of almost 10,000 square meters, expanded from the original 3,500 sq.m., to provide shoppers with more space to check out its over 800 brands, most of which are exclusively available in the department store.

The new layout also reflects an expansion of Rustan’s demographic to include millennials, with stations devoted to items like activewear, sneakers and denim. They also have fashion items for both men and women, featuring local and international brands.

Rustan's also opened a VIP lounge, a nursing station for mothers, and better restrooms to give customers a more comfortable and relaxed shopping experience. They also partnered with East Café to cater to shoppers who want to grab a cup of freshly brewed coffee or tea. They can also order the café’s well-loved dim sum and other specialties.

Apart from that, they also have a special section for homeware, decors, and furniture, perfect for your home improvement needs. Plus, they also dedicated an entire floor for kids, featuring toys, clothes, and other kiddie essentials.

To celebrate the new Rustan’s Gateway, shoppers with a minimum purchase of P3,000 worth of any merchandise can join a raffle, which runs from September 10 to 30.

At stake is a brand-new Toyota Fortune and weekend stays at the Novotel Bangkok Siam Square and the Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam in Thailand, the Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay and the Novotel Manila Araneta Centerr.

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