Triangle Island Plaza

Fifty-four years ago, the Capitol Shopping Center was established as an alternative commercial hub of Bacolod City after buildings at the downtown area were gutted by fire in 1953.

Filipino-Chinese businessmen then actively cooperated with the late Mayor Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in forming the Bacolod Investment Corporation two years later, paving the way for the opening of the Capitol Shopping Center, eventually known as the “China Town of Bacolod.” 

Businesses have thrived at the “Shopping” for years, but developments in other parts of the city superseded the once-busy trading center, and for some time, structural modernization seems to have eluded the area until a group of young Filipino-Chinese businessmen led by Dexter Solco decided to something about it, and built the Triangle Island Plaza mall at the heart of “Shopping.” The entrepreneurs said they named the place after shape of the area the plaza occupies.

“The idea started around two years ago,” Solco said of their two-storey commercial building, which had a soft opening last January 16, with a home improvement depot as anchor store.

What was in the minds of Solco and his cousins, however, was not a mere business idea. They wanted to bring “Shopping” back to its glory days – when their elders were enjoying brisk business in the area. “My family is from Shopping.  On our part, we would like to give back to ‘Shopping’ what it has given us before,” he said. “It helped my parents when they were young.  Now it’s our turn to help.”

The 1.3-hectare commercial center is situated on a family-owned property, he said, which, incidentally is right next to the heart of the BacoLaodiat Festival activities.  

UNIQUE MALL

Solco, president of the family-owned Triangle Island Plaza Corp., said their business concept is unique because they not only have a home depot, but also a supermarket, restaurants, and even computer shops. “Our concept is totally different from other malls because they don’t have a home depot as an anchor store,” Solco said.

The  Robinsons Supermarket, which occupies a 1,300-square meters space on the ground floor, will open in time for the mall’s grand opening in February. 

The home depot takes up 60 percent of both the ground and second floors. Also situated on the second floor are tiangge-type stalls available for small businesses at P6,500 a month. The outside portion is lined up with specialty stores.

Solco said location is their strength because 60 to 70 percent of public utility vehicles in Bacolod pass by Narra and Lopez Jaena streets and B.S. Aquino Drive, which bound their business. ”Accessibility should not be a problem and we have ample parking spaces.”

JUST THE START

Solco said he is hopeful that more new buildings will rise at the Capitol Shopping Center after the opening of the Triangle Island Plaza mall.

“We are hoping to encourage more investors in ‘Shopping.’ There are still huge opportunities for business here. We just started it,” he said.

“Our building will give life again to Capitol Shopping Center,” the young businessman said.  Nanette Guadalquiver

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