“Where heritage meets hip.” That is the core of Davao City-based real estate developer Alsons Development and Investment Corporation’s (Alsons Dev) newest lifestyle destination, the Poblacion Market Central. Soft opened in the last quarter of 2021, the retail hub was officially launched last Aug. 15, 2022, just in time for the annual celebration of the city’s Kadayawan Festival.
Bringing the best of Davao’s art, food, and fashion, the new commercial space houses over 70 merchants, some of which have been with the Alcantara Group-backed real estate giant since the operations of its now-closed Aldevinco Shopping Center. Poblacion Market Central’s family is expected to get bigger as more shops are about to open toward the end of the year.
Marking its official launch was the unveiling of the mural by Mindanaoan artist Kublai Millan, which is inspired by the mythical sarimanok bird. Also present were Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, Davao City Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr. and Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, Cecile Dominguez-Yujuico, president of Conrado & Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation Inc., the social development arm of the Alcantara Group, and Jolla Soriaga, AGM of Alsons Dev.
“Through Poblacion, we want everyone to know that ‘shopping’ isn’t limited to just browsing and buying items,” Cecile said. “We have enhanced and elevated this through other experiences like dining, art appreciation, monthly themed events, and having essential services–like banks–within an arm’s reach.”
“We are also proud of the fact that some of Poblacion’s merchants are third-generation entrepreneurs, whose grandparents started their journey with us at Aldevinco,” she added. “We are grateful that we are able to continue on as their partners in showcasing the best of Davao and Mindanao here in Poblacion.”
Apart from the official launch of the Poblacion Market Central, Alsons Dev also celebrated the opening of Kusina at Kultura ng Dabaw, Kukun for short, the shopping center’s food hall that houses a variety of food and beverage shops, many of which are led by Davaoeño entrepreneurs.
Making the dining space even more alive is its visual display of Mindanao’s art and culture through the okir wood carvings of Mindanaoan artists, the murals by Davao-based creatives Ghamar Kanda and Marko Aquino, and the designs by architects Patrick Tan, Denise de Castro, and Charisse Puentespina.
“Alsons Dev is happy to host and showcase the work of Davao's best creatives. Whether they make food, sculptures, weaves and textiles, or handicrafts, we believe that testing their concepts in a place like Poblacion Market Central contributes to a retail and cultural scene that is meant to gain national recognition,” Miguel A. Dominguez, Alsons Dev director, said. “Poblacion, true to its tagline, is a place where the heritage of Davao meets the possibilities of a hip and ever-evolving market."
Poblacion Market Central is located at the former location of Madrazo Fruit Stand in C. Bangoy St., Poblacion District, Davao City. To know more about this lifestyle destination, visit its @OfficialPoblacionMarketCentral on Facebook and @poblaciondavao on Instagram.