Fashion Trend

Local Retail Brands Are Finally Getting Into Food and Beverage, but Will This Translate to Good Branding and Business?

- Denise Fernandez

International retail brands are no strangers to playing the food card. In Tokyo, Bulgari’s four-storey fine dining restaurant called Bulgari Il Ristorante serves Italian dishes created by a Michelin-starred chef. Café Dior, located in the luxe fashion district of Seoul, is home to French pastries and macarons. Ralph Lauren’s New York City flagship store has an elegantly minimalist café on its second floor called Ralph’s Coffee, serving gourmet South American and African beverages.

Even fast fashion brands like H&M have jumped on the bandwagon. Its new concept store Arket will soon open in London with an in house café serving organic Nordic dishes. Such brand extensions have been happening since the ’90s and early 2000s, but finally, Manila is catching up.

SURF IN THE CITY

It’s a strange but pleasant surprise that a relaxed space like Tenant Manila could exist in Makati’s central business district. Located right next to a small hotel, café and surf shop Tenant Manila personifies the laid-back beach philosophy its owners Anton Reyes, John Esguerra, and Mike Te are inspired by. With wide spaces and minimalist interiors, the establishment is a temporary seaside getaway from the hustle and bustle of urban lifestyle.

“My partners and I frequently spoke about opening a creative space that housed premium brands with a café to match,” Reyes reveals. “We felt like creating a place where you can shop, eat, and have a cup of coffee. [Tenant Manila] embodies the retail experience we thought was missing in the local landscape.”