DFS wants to become a ‘shop & dine’ destination

Exciting things are happening at DFS Saipan Limited in Garapan with the opening of new spaces and stores that aims to create an impact for both CNMI residents and tourists. (Bea Cabrera)

Duty Free Saipan Ltd. in Garapan aims to become a place where tourists and residents can shop and dine alike.

Toward that end, the T Galleria mall of DFS has been undergoing renovations the past few to create space that will offer both shopping and dining experiences for its customers.

Newly promoted DFS vice president for store operations Milan Rabold said that renovations within the DFS building to accommodate more stores are going swimmingly.

Rabold

“We are coming to the end of our renovation inside as we have done most of the interior dedicated to fashion, watches, and jewelry. …The total building is about 100,000 square feet and about 70 percent of that is dedicated to shops, [which covers] hundreds of brands.”

The exterior renovation is now underway, he said, which explains the abundance scaffolding surrounding the building’s façade.

“We are building a very beautiful and modern façade that even I can’t wait to see myself because it’s going to be fantastic,” he said.

DFS is looking at four more months and renovations should be done by August.

All these are being done to bring the T Galleria to the next level when DFS introduces the “shop and dine” lifestyle.

According to Rabold, the next step is to open restaurants at the south side of the building where the casino used to be. “Right now, we are using the area as temporary areas for some of our brands and we plan to maximize that whole area where we will have restaurants in the future,” he said.

He said DFS is working on a great restaurant line-up and food and beverage concept to create an overall satisfying customer experience and exciting environment both for locals and tourists.

DFS already has a good mix of brands, with some having their own shops and some of them in kiosks. In February this year, Cartier, the French company known the world over for its luxury products, brought its brand to the CNMI with a new boutique inside DFS Saipan.

“Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci are some of the brands that have their own store. …Aside from Cartier, we also opened Omega, Fendi, and Prada.” Rabold said.

A section in the beauty area of T Galleria is now called the “Excitement Zone,” which DFS management described it as the “happening” area. Last Friday, fashion forward British brand “Boy London” launched its spring/summer collection at the Excitement Zone.