Greenbelt 1 Is Saying Goodbye. Here Are 8 Things We'll Miss About the OG Greenbelt

It’s the Wendy’s for me. The fastfood joint in one corner of the ground floor of Greenbelt 1 has been there for as far back as I can remember. In college my friends and I would get our snacks there before we went up to catch a movie. It was the spot where I would meet up with a friend after office hours when we got our first jobs in Makati. In more recent years, after a few facelifts and Makati’s changing retail landscape, I remember being comforted when I see that red sign all lit up each time I found myself in the area. Strange to feel that way about a Wendy’s, but I suspect I’m not alone. 

On Wednesday, news broke that Greenbelt 1, the oldest section of the Ayala-owned commercial center in the heart of Makati City, is being demolished to give way to something newer and shinier. The Philippine Daily Inquirer first reported that the planned redevelopment project will happen within the first half of 2024. It’s not a surprise, really, given Ayala’s track record for constantly developing and reinvigorating its properties (see: the evolution of Quad into Glorietta and Greenbelt over the years).

As a salute to the OG Greenbelt, here’s a list of the specific things we’ll miss about Greenbelt 1:

1| Greenbelt 1 cinemas

Before the much nicer cinemas in Glorietta 4 and Greenbelt 3 opened, people flocked to go see the latest blockbusters in the movie theaters in Greenbelt 1. You just buy your tickets at the ticket booth, pick up your burgers and fries at Wendy’s downstairs, then go up the escalators to the cinema. We also can’t forget those gigantic movie posters—more like billboards really—advertising the biggest movies at the time that hang down from the balustrade.

2| Onstage Theater

In case you didn’t know, Ayala transformed one of its movie theaters into a live theater stage where companies like Repertory Philippines staged their performances. The theater was not too big and not too small—just the right size for audiences to appreciate the actors onstage. I remember catching a performance of the hilarious play Run for Your Wife there in 2015. It was a bit more adult, but Rep’s lineup also had a lot of shows for kids. Here’s hoping the new development will have a performance venue of some kind to replace Onstage Theater.

3| National Bookstore

Opposite Wendy’s and right beside the old Rustan’s Marketplace was a big branch of everyone’s favorite books, school and office supplies store: National Bookstore. I’ve lost count how many hours I’ve spent just hanging out and browsing its shelves and shopping for essentials there, especially ahead of a new school year. It has since closed down, but luckily, there are other National Bookstore branches in this area (there’s a flagship branch in Glorietta).

4| Odyssey

Back when buying records and CDs was still a thing, Odyssey was a favorite hangout place. Sure there were the bigger places like Tower Records and Music One, but Odyssey was a nice place to browse for CDs and audio and video equipment. I remember I found a CD copy of Nickelcreek’s album This Side, which I had been looking for for months, in that branch in the early 2000s. Of course, it’s been closed now for years, no doubt a victim of our increasingly digitalized world, but it’s still fun to reminisce when it was there.

5| Jollibee and McDonald’s

The McDonald’s outside along Paseo De Roxas is practically a landmark at this point because it’s been there for so long, while the Jollibee inside Greenbelt 1 came a bit later. But both these fastfood joints will definitely be missed for providing relatively affordable meals in an area of Makati known for slightly higher-priced meals in fancier restaurants. When you couldn’t join your friends for dinner and drinks at places like Nu-Vo, Italiannis, Kai, or Lusso, you could always count on a filling meal at good old Jollibee or McDo. 

6| Via Mare

Of course, who can forget the classic Via Mare at Greenbelt 1? The casual restaurant serving Filipino favorites is undoubtedly a Greenbelt 1 institution, and it’s where families and friends have been congregating for decades. We’re definitely going to miss favorites like Pansit Luglog, Crispy Adobo Flakes, Sinigang sa Miso with Tiyan ng Bangus, and the classic halo-halo (both guinataan and the iced dessert kind). 

7| Auntie Anne’s and Big Chill

Located in one corner of the mall beside a bank of ATMs and the restrooms, the Big Chill and Auntie Anne’s kiosks are familiar favorites in Greenbelt 1. I bet we all ordered a refreshing mango or watermelon shake from Big Chill or a pretzel from Auntie Anne’s at least once throughout the years. 

8| Tickles

If you needed a quick gift for a classmate or officemate celebrating a birthday, Tickles always seemed to have something perfect for the occasion. The store that sells trinkets, toys, and sundry items is another one that’s been there for so long we can’t imagine a time when it wasn’t there.

There are so many other shops and restaurants on Greenbelt 1 that we’re for sure going to miss when the mall is torn down and a newer one takes its place—KFC, David’s Tea House, Giligan’s Island, and other retail shops. What will you miss most?