Araneta Group officials and executives from partner Megawide Construction Corporation led the ceremonial groundbreaking and time capsule laying at the site of the new mall on Tuesday, July 31.
The activity was led by senior officials from Araneta Center, Inc., namely SVP-Operations Mr. Antonio T. Mardo, SVP-Business Development Mr. John B. Castelo, VP-Leasing Ms. Lorna D. Fabian, VP-Materials Management Mr. Noel B. Leonor, Head of Architecture & Engineering Ms. Bernadette M. Tan, Senior Management Consultant Mr. Rowell Recinto, and Management Consultant-Architecture & Engineering Ms. Julie I. Castro; among others.
Officials from partner Megawide Construction Corporation, AVP Mr. Romeo Furigay, and EVP Mr. Ronald Paulo, were also on hand for the event.
In an interview with media reps, Araneta Center Inc. SVP-Operations Mr. Antonio Mardo noted that the new mall complements its award-winning predecessor. “We needed more space to accommodate more of the retail operators and F&B (food and beverage) operators in the country,” he said.
In his opening speech, Senior Management Consultant Mr. Rowell Recinto pointed out that Gateway Mall 2 is the latest project in the Araneta Center’s redevelopments, and with it, “The Center continues to build on its pioneering heritage in shopping and entertainment developments.”
Recinto added, “We are still committed to continue to enhance Araneta Center to become a more vibrant community” and that Gateway Mall 2 enhances the Center’s position as a leading edge lifestyle hub with its welcoming design, extensive shopping and dining offerings, and pampering public spaces.
Aside from offering vast spaces for retail and F&B operators, the Gateway Mall 2 will also have a state-of-the-art Cineplex, an organic vegetable garden where shoppers can have the farm-to-table experience, a spacious activity area, a unique food hall, and a 500-seater, fully air-conditioned iconic chapel.
The mall, which will be connected to the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Farmers Plaza, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2020.
Adjacent to the new mall will be the first Ibis Styles hotel in the country. It will be operated by AccorHotels, the same team behind the Novotel Manila Araneta Center, and is expected to attract guests with its charming design and topnotch service.
The groundbreaking and capsule laying event was also attended by Binibining Pilipinas winners Miss Universe Philippines Catriona Gray, Binibining Pilipinas International Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, Binibining Pilipinas Supranational Jehza Huelar, Binibining Pilipinas Grand International Eva Patalinjug, Binibining Pilipinas Globe Michele Gumabao, first runner-up Vickie Rushton and second runner-up Samantha Bernardo.