A new two-storey branch of Starbucks with a drive-thru lane officially opened on March 6 along Rizal Highway in the Central Business District of Subic Bay Freeport Zone, signaling continued growth in tourism and commercial activity in the area.
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the inauguration ceremony, noting that the investment reflects confidence in the Freeport’s steady influx of visitors and customers.
The Starbucks branch, developed by Pandabest Realty and Trading, Inc., represents an investment of ₱36.75 million and occupies a 1,700-square-meter area at Portion of Lot 75-A along Rizal Highway.
Joining Aliño during the inauguration were the property owners Engr. and Mrs. Rhammeth Paras, Arch. and Mrs. Adonis Co, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tang, and Engr. Aries Tanglao.
Two-storey Starbucks stores are designed to provide enhanced spaces for customers, often featuring larger seating areas and distinctive architectural elements. Some notable examples worldwide include outlets housed in heritage buildings such as the shophouse in Chinatown, Singapore, the Reserve Hiraya in Tagaytay, and a colonial-style bungalow in Rochester.
Aliño said the newly opened branch in Subic was designed to cater to customers seeking a more conducive environment for work and study.
“Now we have one here, with the building designed to be work and study-friendly, providing more intimate and quieter spaces on the upper level compared to the busy ground floor,” he said.
Members of the SBMA Board of Directors, agency officials, and representatives from Rustan Coffee Corporation and Pandabest Realty and Trading were also present during the inauguration ceremony.
