Vintage Pop is Closing its Doors, Did You Hear?

So who else knew that Vintage Pop was going to close down?

I guess I can consider ourselves lucky for canceling plans tonight and deciding to pass by Cubao-X instead. And yes, Xai, you’re right, the impromptu trip to Cubao-X was highly driven by the hopes of coming up with awesome ideas for this site, and what do you know, I got what I needed to see, and more.

Most of the shops were already closed when we got there, at past 9PM, but the usual Friday night hangouts were still in full swing. Walking past Vintage Pop, I wondered why the place that used to be teeming with vintage wall clocks, and lamps, and furnitures, was now near empty. And on the walls, in place of those intricately designed wall clocks, were clocks drawn with chalk.

We went in and found out the sad news: Tonight was their last, they’re closing down.

Bong Salaviera, the owner of the popular vintage shop that, for a good five years, has been in the center (literally and figuratively) of everything that Cubao-X is, chatted with us like we were good old friends (really nice of him). He let us write on the walls with chalk. He allowed us to take photos of what’s left of the place, and with him. He offered beer. (But no thanks, I don’t drink anymore.) He answered questions.

Apparently, their application to migrate to Canada was approved last March, so they had to make the hard decision of closing Vintage Pop down. It was only in June that they started telling friends about closing down the store, so yeah, those people got the first dibs on the clearance sale (Okay, I just had to add that bit, argh!)

They didn’t really plan on making a big news out of it, Bong said. They thought it would be better to disappear quietly.

Then again, of course people will notice. Vintage Pop has indeed become an icon, having withstand the ups and downs that Cubao-X experienced through the years. That lovely window display with the iconic “X” (which, by the way, was also sold during the clearance sale), just beside Bellinis’ scenic facade, will surely be missed.

The “X” in Vintage Pop’s window display was actually sold during clearance sale

It sucks that we never got around to properly giving Vintage Pop a place in this site; I imagined myself writing looong reviews and posting lots of pictures of their unique vintage pieces when Xai and I were still discussing about the possibilities. Vintage Pop would have been a regular headliner here.

Not having known that VP was closing its doors prior to this day, I think it was a beautiful accident that we used a Gel’s photo of Vintage Pop’s window display to go with one of our very first posts here, as if some form of symbolism. And, more importantly, that we got to have one last glimpse of this legendary store that’s become a part of Cubao Expo’s rich history.

Looking back to VP’s humble beginnings, Erwin Romulo of PhilStar wrote:

The way he (Bong Salaviera) describes Vintage Pop is that he just wanted to put up a space that would be like the kind of place you always dreamed about. With a passion and eye for beautiful things as well the skilled discipline of a craftsman, he did just that: filling the store with wonderful items that he collected as well as some he would tinker with. He also invited friends and artists to put their stuff on display there, not accepting any cut from any sales made. “I really have no idea how to run a store,” says Salaveria, referring to the fact that making money was never the focus of Vintage Pop. As several visitors can attest, he’d rather give you the item than sell it to you, just because you really, really looked like you wanted it. “I want them to have nice homes,” he says.

Oh yeah. That sounds exactly like that Bong-person we had the priviledge of meeting tonight. :)

To say that we were fortunate enough to drop by tonight is an understatement. It was like fate.

The upside? We got to take home a few stuff, Bong was generous enough to give us discounts.

For me, these:

Now this is LUCKY — a vintage leather make-up bag (P1,500) , a miniature doll that holds a vintage video camera (P100), and a smallish Coffeeholics Mug (P150)

Rico, meanwhile, took home a bunch of 2007-2008 issues of Wallpaper Magazine (P50 each), an old Tony Stone stock photo catalog (P400), and an Architecture book (P100).

Oh, and yeah, this:

Vintage Coca Cola wall clock (PHP1,200)

Not bad for left-overs, indeed. ;)

Good bye, Vintage Pop, thanks for opening your doors and imparting to us not just art, but your life and passion as well.  We wish you success as you try to make a difference wherever you’re headed.

* * *

Closing time, one last.

More of Vintage Pop through the years, found around the web:

• I love Vintage Pop, PhilStar (July 3, 2009)
• Warhol & The Vintage Pop (March 2009)
• Fallen at Vintage Pop (June 2008)
• A Fine Vintage, Real Living Magazine (April 2008)
• Vintage Pop (July 2006)
• Clone at Cubao-X (May 2005)