Famous Chains First Branches

Taking up a business course, I became inspired and interested to stories of successful businessmen including their ways of managing their business and how they started. Just like everyone else, I wonder where these famous retail chains first popped up. Let’s travel around the globe through Google Street View and see the first branches of the famous retail chains here in the Philippines and in the world.

SM Clearance

The very first SM Store is SM Quiapo, which is also known as SM Clearance Outlet and SM Carriedo. This store owned by the Chinese-Filipino billionaire, Henry Sy opened in November 1972. Now, the SM Group now holds more than 30 branches located at cities and provinces in the Philippines and this store has been renovated and relaunched as SM Clearance Store.

Robinsons Galleria

In the corner of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue intersection, Robinsons Malls opened their first mall in 1990. Robinson Galleria is a five-level mixed-use complex and shopping mall near EDSA Shrine. It becomes the flagship mall of Robinsons Malls. Currently, the shopping mall has 54 malls in the Philippines and three more malls in China.

Red Ribbon Timog

Red Ribbon is one of the biggest and fastest growing bakeshops in the Philippines. Before, it’s only a small cake shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City established by Amalia and Renato Mercado. As you can see in the photo, the facade is different from the usual Red Ribbon which is now acquired by Jollibee Foods Corporation.

DMCI Lake View Manors

DMCI Homes is the real estate arm of DMCI Holdings. DMCI already gained my trust since my family’s been living in one of their condominiums for years now. But did you know DMCI Homes started its commercial operations in 1999 when it constructed its first Medium Rise Development, the Lake View Manors in Taguig City?

Serenitiea Little Baguio

Say hello to my favorite milk tea shop in the Philippines, Serenitea! It was Peter Chen and Juliet Herrera who brought the chain into the country as the partner opened the first Serenitea in Little Baguio, San Juan. Due to its success, they continued to open more branches not just in Metro Manila, but also outside the metro.

Walton’s 5 & 10 Bentonville

Who would have thought that the world’s largest retail chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores started in one of the streets of Bentonville under the name Walton’s 5 & 10? Founder Sam Walton decided to achieve higher sales volumes by keeping sales prices lower than his competitors. That’s why Walton’s 5 & 10, which is now Walmart, was built.

Original Starbucks Pike Place Market

In my country, drinking Starbucks coffees is such a big deal. However, in Seattle during 1971, the year when Starbucks was born, the world’s famous coffee shop is just located in a public market called Pike Place Market. During this time, the company only sold roasted whole coffee beans and did not yet brew coffee to sell.

Fashion 21 Highland Park

Originally known as Fashion 21, the first Forever 21 store was founded in the Highland Park district of Los Angeles, California on 1984 by husband and wife, Do Won Chang and Jin Sook Chang. The store is still in operation, bearing the chain’s original name. Now, I’ve been enjoying shopping in its branches here in the Philippines and different parts of the world.

IKEA Almhult

IKEA is a multinational group, headquartered in the Netherlands, that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, kitchen appliances and home accessories. It has been the world’s largest furniture retailer since 2008. It started its humble beginnings in Almhult, Sweden. It’s not far from where the founder was born.

Office Depot Lauderdale Lakes

Looking for low-priced office supplies, paper, ink, toner, technology and such. Come and visit Office Depot! But I’m not here to promote. I’m here to present their original location. Well, the company opened its first store at Lakes Mall in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida in 1986. While the branch is still on operation, the company runs 2,200 retail stores worldwide. Wow!