Davao City—One iconic place here for visitors and travelers has ceased operations after five decades of providing a one-stop shopping center for souvenirs, the owner of Aldevinco Shopping Center has announced.
The one-story souvenir shopping center is located right at one of the busy intersections in downtown Davao. Aldevinco shuttered its store on December 31 to give way to a high-rise condominium.
Its owner, Alsons Development and Investment Corp. (Alsons Dev) announced that Aldevinco “quietly closed its doors, ending the iconic local landmark’s five-decade history of operating along CM Recto St. and Roxas Ave.”
“But as they say, when one door closes a new one opens; the same can be said for the Aldevinco tenants as they prepare to move to their new and upgraded home, Poblacion Market Central.”
Construction of the Poblacion Market Central along C. Bangoy Street in the former location of the Madrazo Fruit Stand, about 100 meters to another intersection from Aldevinco, was finished last year.
Alsons Dev said 66 percent of its tenants in Aldevinco, or 59 out of 90 stores, would transfer to the new Poblacion building. Some stores in Aldevinco had transferred to a nearby shopping area.
The company said it would continue Aldevinco’s legacy of promoting local and Mindanaoan culture, heritage, and identity through the Poblacion Market Central.
“In line with this, Poblacion’s seminal debut was hosting Mindanao Art 2021, the biggest celebration of creativity featuring the works of over 300 artists from all over the region, which attracted thousands of art enthusiasts last October,” it said.
“It is in the same vein that Poblacion Market Central reopened its doors last December to hold its first-ever Christmas event entitled Pasko sa Poblacion, where a curated mix of some of Davao’s best art, retail and food brands were invited to set up pop-up shops. Local artists, artisans, and entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to showcase their works and products as the perfect gifts for Christmas while providing customers with an exciting array of shopping and dining choices.”
Image credits: Manuel T. Cayon