I ♥ Shoppesville
I’m sure each of us has our share of memories with the old Virra Mall and Shoppesville area in Greenhills. While a new Virra Mall has been erected, ye olde Shoppesville still stands. This arcade is known for its bargain buys and its variety of stores. You can shop for toys, clothes, accessories, shoes, household items, books, and of course, eat!
My favorite Shoppesville haunts are:
Regina’s. This gift shop is full of knick knacks! They sell a variety of magazines, sweets, toys, accessories, art supplies, stationery, bags, belts, kids’ clothes and more, more, more. It’s a trinket addict’s haven. This is where I rediscovered White Rabbit and Big Boy bubblegum! Yup, they have it there! It’s difficult to get out of this little gift shop empty-handed. My most recent buys were a Finger-Painting Kit for my 3-year-old niece and a bag of candies (YanYan, Haw Flakes, Tarzan… do those sweets ring a bell?).
Chocfull of Nuts. This little kiosk is big on deliciousness. Have you tried their cuapao? They’re known for that. I have also tried their banana cake and taisan. Yummy. This little nook has no seats, so you eat your snacks standing by two tables on each side of the kiosk. Wash your cuapao down with an ice-cold bottle of Coke and you’re ready to hit the stores. A visit to Shoppesville is not complete without having a snack at Chocfull. As my friends and I say, “Magbigay tayo sa Chocfull of Nuts!”
Booksale. Almost every mall has this bookshop. For second-hand books of all genres, you can check out this store. I love that Shoppesville has Booksale.
Le Ching Tea House. This is one of the oldest restaurants here. You’ll love the Chinese food here, especially their beef brisket rice topping and tofu with soy sauce.That’s our old favorite. Its ambiance is simple and unassuming, and you can sense it has a lot of history. I’m sure it holds a lot of memories for its customers! If you find this tea house full, you can also try Le Ching Too.
Tropical Hut Hamburger. Classic burgers from my childhood. There burgers taste very different from your other fastfood places. The burgers are juicier, tastier… ah, the best way for you to understand my love for the place is to taste their burgers.
Nova Fontana. I don’t think this store exists anymore. This is where I used to buy Dragonlance novels. Nova Fontana also sold a lot of toys. There are many toy stores in Shoppesville now (a whole floor of them!) but I miss the charm of this old place.
On the third floor, there are a couple of home-style eateries hidden in that maze of clothes and toy stores. I will write about my favorite carinderia another time.
Greenhills always transports me to my childhood. While I like how modern V-Mall is now, I love that Shoppesville has retained its old charm. It’s bound to change though, as it will surely be modernized soon. Shoppesville may have its musty moments, but its charm is close to my heart.
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Chocfull of Nuts Foodshop: Level 2, Unit 39
Booksale: Level 1, Unit 6
Regina’s: Level 2, Unit 18/19
Le Ching Tea House: Level 1, Units 8-10
Le Ching Too: Level 1, Unit 66/67
Tropical Hut Hamburger: Level 1, Unit 63/64/84
More stores here.
It’s been a while since I’ve been back to Shoppesville but I also love the place. I remember eating several times at Le Ching Tea House. What a coincidence, I also love their beef brisket rice topping. When I was a young girl, my parents used to bring me to Tropical Hut Hamburger. I love their hamburgers until now. I eat their whenever I get the chance. Glad that the one at Shopesville is still open.
Hi Toni!
I was thinking what was it in Le Ching that I like. Yes, thanks, Rach. It’s brisket rice topping served in a small aluminum container.
Chocfull of Nuts, Regina’s and Tickles, they are Greenhills’ pioneers. And Gift Gate too. :) Now I’m getting nostalgic. Greenhills was my generation’s ‘dating place’. It’s really not so long ago. :)
Ah, Shoppesville, before Gateway and Sm Megamall, it was the most frequent mall during the 80’s. I always go to CD WAREHOUSE in the ground floor because they were the only one selling the rare and hard to find cd’s during those times.
Shoppesville also housed dayrit’s at one time.