In the window of Gift Gate in San Juan, a sign with bold letters read: "CLOSING OUT SALE. EVERYTHING MUST GO."
It was big enough to hide from onlookers the barely stocked shelves and cabinets inside the store, which was once a favorite of Filipino kids who were looking for cute bags, pencil cases, and other pink-colored school stuff.
Established in 1976, Gift Gate was the go-to destination for those fans of Sanrio staples Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars. But once the popularity of those cartoon characters waned, apparently so did sales.
According to one of the store's clerks, the San Juan branch was the first to open its doors for Pinoys. It will also be the last one to close them, she said.
ABS-CBN News anchor Julius Babao and his wife visited the branch recently and posted a short video (above) of what they saw. He said the store will close on May 31.