Cebu now: ‘From couture to cuisine’
“From couture to cuisine.” That’s the bold proposition proffered by The Mall Nustar’s general manager May Adolfo, as she welcomed the media at the thanksgiving event at Mott 32 Cebu last week.
Recalling the beginnings of the idea for Nustar Resort and Casino in 2018, when they started knocking on the doors of global luxury brands to present them with the opportunity to open their first stores outside of Metro Manila in the Queen City of the South, Adolfo, in a past interview with Lifestyle, admitted it wasn’t the easiest of tasks. After all, what Nustar was proposing had never been done before in Cebu.
“Our concept was simple yet compelling,” she said to the reporters last week, “and that was to create a destination that redefines luxury in the Philippines, offering a carefully curated mix of global brands and experiences catering to the discerning tastes of our clientele. This strengthens our position to bring Cebu to the world.”
Then the pandemic happened. Adolfo recalled how Frederick Go, then president and chief executive of Robinsons Land Corp. and Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc., the developer of Nustar, and now the economic czar of the Marcos administration, made the “bold decision” to forge on with the project, “providing thousands of jobs to Cebuanos … We were the only one constructing in this side of Cebu.”
First in VisMin
By May 2022, Nustar started opening sections of the property little by little—first, parts of the homegrown five-star Fili Hotel (another eponymous hotel, Nustar, is opening soon), then portions of the casino.
In the latter part of 2023, they started opening parts of The Mall, with its specialty shops and restaurants. The Mall Nustar, the first and only luxury retail hub in the Visayas and Mindanao regions, had opened.
By yearend, Louis Vuitton was welcoming clients to its boutique at Nustar, its third in the Philippines and only its first outside of Manila. Soon, all the major global luxury brands followed suit—name it, and what Manila has, The Mall Nustar probably has it, too. Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Bulgari, Univers, Loewe, Celine, Saint Laurent, Ferragamo, Givenchy, Rimowa, Montblanc and Porsche Design are just among the many upscale brands on the four-level retail floor.
Prestige beauty and fragrance brands at this mall are led by Estée Lauder, Jo Malone and the roster at Rustan’s The Beauty Source, including Hermès; ditto for Eye Society, which carries all the major luxe eyewear brands.
It’s no exaggeration to describe The Mall as stunning, with its high ceilings and wide corridors, and it can easily rival any major mall in Manila.
When asked if he knew that all the brands reportedly followed suit when Louis Vuitton signed up for Nustar, Louis Vuitton Philippines general manager Gonzalo Nuche told Lifestyle: “That’s typically how it works, yes. That’s why we’re the no. 1 brand.”
As he took us around the boutique, pointing out the local touches from pieces created by Cebu designer Vito Selma “to make people feel at home,” the Spanish luxury executive added: “The mall looks great… It’s a very attractive offer. The more the merrier. We’re just creating that environment.”
Unique proposition
For dining, Mott 32, the only Philippine outpost of the award-winning modern Cantonese restaurant, leads the options. Other cuisines are also available, like Japanese from the Cebu concept Koshima by Nonki, owned by a Filipino-Japanese family; Korean at Yeonwha The Premium by Kaya; as well as known brands like Barcino and Kazuwa Prime, among many other food outlets. Not to be missed are homegrown Cebu concepts like Abaca Baking Company and Café Laguna. A personal favorite for pasalubong for this writer is the stellar Cebu’s Original Lechon Belly.
“We’re very proud of what we have achieved for The Mall. It has evolved into a very well-curated, four-level luxury mall, housing some of the most iconic upscale brands and best local and international restaurants,” said Adolfo.
In a previous interview, she explained to Lifestyle their unique proposition for The Mall Nustar. Cebu being both a leisure and business destination, offering everything from world-class resorts, unspoiled island retreats, and cultural and heritage spots to unrivaled food offerings, The Mall Nustar rounds up that travel experience with its luxury retail and dining outlets. “It’s an all-encompassing experience,” Adolfo told us.
Last week, she added, “Our story goes beyond retail. We have also become a hub for your gastronomic journey.”
