Cubao’s Gateway Mall continues to evolve as a high-traffic lifestyle and retail convergence point, with the arrival of Australian home and lifestyle retailer Anko, which has opened its latest Philippine store inside Araneta City.
The new branch occupies 1,455 square meters at Level 2 of Gateway Mall 1, positioning itself within one of Metro Manila’s most heavily connected urban corridors—where MRT-3 and LRT-2 passengers, office workers, and daily commuters intersect throughout the day.
Rather than a traditional mall rollout within a single retail ecosystem, the Cubao opening reflects a shift in location strategy. It is the brand’s first store outside the Ayala Malls network, expanding its footprint into a district defined more by mobility and transit flow than a single property group.
Inside the space, the retail layout follows a consistent design language seen across its Philippine branches: open pathways, category-led zones, and product groupings designed around everyday use rather than seasonal display. Kitchen tools, home essentials, stationery, toys, travel accessories, and beauty items are arranged to encourage browsing across lifestyle categories rather than isolated shopping missions.
The brand’s expansion in the country has been rapid since its entry in late 2024, beginning with Glorietta 2 in Makati before extending to TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Ayala Malls Feliz. The Cubao location marks its sixth store nationwide in just over a year of operations.
Operational execution of the Gateway Mall branch was handled primarily by the Philippine team, which oversaw merchandising, fixture installation, and final store build-out. Global teams provided planning support remotely, but no overseas staff were deployed on-site for completion.
This localization of execution was highlighted by Anko Global Chief Executive Officer Arjun Puri, who framed the opening as evidence of internal capability within the Philippine organization.
Meanwhile, Anko Philippines Interim Country Manager Kimberly Mulligan described Cubao’s commercial character as central to the brand’s placement strategy, noting its role as a daily intersection point for consumers moving through the city.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony formally marked the opening, attended by executives from Anko’s global leadership team alongside representatives from Ayala Corporation and Araneta City, reinforcing the brand’s integration into major Philippine retail and property networks.
Founded in 2017 under the Kmart Group, Anko continues to expand its presence in Metro Manila while signaling future openings in non-Ayala mall locations, indicating a broader diversification of its retail footprint beyond its initial launch partners.
The brand also continues to promote its membership platform, Anko Club, which offers early access to product drops and curated updates through its digital ecosystem.