Your Guide to Restaurant Closures as Alabang Town Center Renovates The Street

(SPOT.ph) When news broke of Rockwell acquiring Alabang Town Center, it received a mixture of shock, excitement, and anticipation. While those initial reactions have since turned into criticism as the "Rockwell-ification" of Town takes place, the takeover also presents an opportunity for Town to evolve.

If you've been to Town recently, the transformation has been underway for the past months as new shops have already opened, and the growing number of tarped-up establishments with the Rockwell and Alabang Town Center logo can't go unnoticed. Soon, there will be more closures as The Street (the stretch between Cold Stone Creamery and Marugame Udon) will undergo major renovation starting August 3.

Before entering Cortes de las Palmas, you'll spot a notice announcing that parts of The Street will temporarily close starting Monday, August 3. According to the signage, the closure is part of efforts to "refresh and improve the space."

The stores that will remain open beyond August 3 are Marugame Udon (which has now expanded as they have occupied American Eagle's space) and its other brands in the same building: Mother Care, Dimensione, and Bench Fix Salon. Also marked safe are Fully Booked, Healthy Options, Krispy Kreme, Jamba Juice, and The Loop; while Pinkberry, although not included in the signage, will be open until further notice.

• 8Cuts will be open until August 2.

  • The closest branches from Town are Serendra, Uptown, and Salcedo Village.

• Chili's will be open until August 2.

  • The closest branch from Town is Festival Mall.

• Katherine's Cafe will be open until August 2.

  • The closest branch from Town is Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

• Nanbantei of Tokyo will be open until August 2.

  • The closest branch from Town is Greenbelt 3.

• Popeyes will be open until July 31.

  • The closest branch from Town is Festival Mall.

• Shake Shack will be open until July 31.

  • The closest branch from Town is SM Mall of Asia.

• Cold Stone Creamery is already CLOSED as of writing.

• Nike is already CLOSED as of writing.

The criticism largely stems from nostalgia, which is understandable. For many longtime patrons, Town's appeal has always been its relaxed atmosphere—the kind of place where you could drop by in your pambahay and tsinelas without judgment. As the renovations continue, some worry that the changes could alter this characteristic that made it unique, homey, and worth returning to, even when there was nothing in particular to buy.

It's natural to hold on to the version of Town everyone has grown with for the past decades, but change is an inevitable part of life. Places, much like us human beings, evolve one way or the other. The hope is that even as Alabang Town Center embraces a new chapter under Rockwell's management, it continues to preserve the sense of familiarity and community that made Town feel like a second home and a place of comfort for many.