There are grocery places and supermarkets that people visit to grab their essentials efficiently. But then there are those like Joel's Place — a contemporary grocerant that offers everyday luxuries to Filipinos — that encourage grocers not just to get their supplies but to also stay and enjoy a different shopping experience. Knowing the story of the person this place is named after explains why Joel's Place is a special grocery and dining destination.
The grocerant, a portmanteau of grocery and restaurant, is named after Jose Luis, the late brother of Joel's Place CEO and President Donnie Tantoco.
"Joel loved Paris and the inspiration for this place came from there," Tantoco told The Sunday Times Magazine on the sidelines of the grocerant's opening in Glorietta 4.
"But even though it has the energy and inspiration from Paris, a place so important to my brother, at the end of the day, it's still a Filipino place," he added.
When talking about his late brother, Tantoco proudly says his brother had the "highest aesthetic intelligence in the family."
"My brother Joel just knew how to create and how to put things together that are different. For example, art and retail; Filipino and French. He was such a creative soul and spirit."
Tantoco also took pride in describing Joel as an equalizer.
"There's so much inequality in the world. Most of the time, there are experiences that are not accessible to everybody. So he was all about equalizing, democratizing and creating a place that's high quality that does not separate; it includes.
"He stands for things that are aspirational or upscale but he wants everybody to be able to access that and he doesn't want any separation. He was a beautifully good person who appreciates beauty in the ordinary things," he emphasized.
All these qualities guide the overall aesthetic and experience inside Joel's Place, which now has its newly opened second branch in Glorietta 4, Makati on top of its first branch at The Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell.
Primed as a go-to neighborhood place, the grocerant offers a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, and daily food essentials. Whether one's looking for fresh local produce like Guimaras mangoes and Pangasinan tomatoes, or international assortments like authentic Japanese melons and Spanish bell peppers, Joel's Place has everything needed to whip up one's next standout dish.
Moreover, patrons can find gourmet baking and cooking ingredients, breakfast staples, confectionery, condiments, dried goods, packaged food, and beverages that not only cater to diverse tastes, but may also come in gluten-free and plant-based varieties.
Premium-quality meat and seafood at The Butcher and The Fishmonger are also available.
Home to an exquisite array of fine meats and premium cuts, The Butcher presents Angus beef, Wagyu, lamb meat, organically-raised free-range chickens, turkeys, and ostrich meat. There are also pork products made from naturally raised pigs and sourced from the best local and international producers of pork goods.
Meanwhile, The Fishmonger boasts a fresh seafood selection, sourced sustainably, emphasizing traceability. Shop local and imported assortments of freshwater, seawater, fattened fishes, mollusks, shellfish, crustaceans, roe, and smoked fishes.
Setting Joel's Place apart from other groceries or supermarkets is its premium, ready-to-eat food selections — from hearty grubs to filling snacks. Choose from The Deli's sandwiches, pasta, rice dishes, soups, salads, and daily meat carvings. Then pair a meal with fresh fruit juice from The Juicer or savor a bold cup of coffee from The Barista, which can also be taken on the go. For brunch-goers, The Baker is the new go-to for freshly baked bread and high-quality handcrafted desserts, from specialty loaves to croissants, mini cakes, and delectable tarts.
For dessert, indulge in creamy scoops of authentic gelato expertly crafted by award-winning pâtissier Michael "Miko" Aspiras, available at The Gelateria.
In addition, Joel's Place offers the highest quality local and imported alcohol at The Sommelier. This tightly curated selection of spirits and wines includes Filipino-made liquors with unique taste and texture — from the creamiest flavor to the strongest taste.
To add to its impressive curation, its imported collection goes beyond food accompaniment; they're from carefully selected winegrowers. Why not enjoy a glass of white, red, or sparkling wine before shopping or stop by for a quiet sip and some charcuterie or cheeses from The Dairy and The Charcutier? These can be purchased in-store and served for you after your grocerant run.
The new Joel's Place at the G/F Rustan's Makati, Ayala Center is open Mondays to Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fridays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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