It's Me, Gracee: The Armory

The Armory Co-Owned by Martin Del Rosario Now Open at Congressional Ave. Quezon City!

Entertainment Monday, May 23, 2016

More and more people nowadays look for places where they can have fun after struggling whole day at work or at school after grueling hours of work or studying and more, but it's always best to be with your friends or officemates to de-clogged all these stress and start anew the next day. What better way to do this than by partying all night at the newest party venue in town, all roads lead to THE ARMORY located at Congressional Avenue Extension, Quezon City.

Along the far-off Congressional Avenue Extension in Quezon City are some commercially successful food establishments fast making the strip " the next go-to dining area up north. For those sick and tired of the traffic and congestion common in the Fort, Makati, Ortigas, Greenhills, and even Tomas Morato areas, Congressional provides a more convenient and understated alternative. There are the Brewing Point Neighborhood Cafe, Chimes Square, and Box Park, among other cool, new joints in the area.

Another one to launch in the flourishing Congressional area is The Armory, so called for its rugged, barracks-themed facade, interiors, and overall ambiance. By offering quality in its line of beverages and services, plus the night-out experience it gives, it's poised to be the first bar and grill to spice up the party scene up north.

The Armory's location is strategic, as it's just a detour away from Quezon City's most congested areas. It's just 12 minutes away from Katipunan; 15 minutes from Trinoma/SM North; and 20 minutes from Tomas Morato. It's a mere 30 minutes away from Sampaloc, Manila.

The distance will surely be no issue once you step into The Armory and relish the full experience.

Grapefruit Mojito

Mocktails

"The Bunker," the first floor of the Armory, is a restaurant that complements its subtlety with the wide variety of cocktails tended right at the counter and the delicious food choices delivered to your table by the accommodating staff. It's a friendly place for some chillaxin', but you can have fun here, too, with a beer pong table and a DJ playing some cool beats on the side.

At the second floor is "The Armory" proper, where the real shindig happens. While hard liquor, beer, and cocktails are served here, the DJs are other reasons why it's worth the sneaking. One of the city's hottest DJ groups, Impact Manila—who plays at Black Market, Aracama, and at "Happy Thursday" joints—is a regular DJ here. So, expect nothing but the ultimate jams when they're manning the booth!

"You'll have a different kind of drinking experience at The Armory. It's actually the first time that a bar in Quezon City is serving craft cocktails," says GMA-7 actor Martin del Rosario, The Armory part-owner whose a first timer in a "major" type of business.

"From the military warehouse theme to the accommodating staff, we'll make sure everyone up north who decides to drop by will have a great time!"

"The Bunker" is open all days of the week, while "The Armory" is only open from Wednesdays to Sundays.

Both "The Bunker" and "The Armory" have each day of the week tailor-fit for any party goer's mood. These are Dropout Wednesday, which caters to students on a budget but would like to take a good mid-week break from school; #Squadgoals Thursday, which invites barkadas looking for some turned-up get-together; Ambush Friday, which provides surprise promos to make sure the weekend is welcomed with a bang; and Suicide Saturday, which seals the deal for a legit, lit night-out.

The student-friendly promos are perfect for students coming from Diliman-Katipunan like UP Diliman, Miriam, Ateneo, FEU-NRMF, Philippine School of Business Administration, among others; and Sampaloc like UST, FEU, University of Manila, San Beda College, and San Sebastian College - Recoletos, and more.

Stuck up north yet thirsting for some awesome party escape? Check out The Armory, a bar and grill alternative for those looking for the best party experience in the northern part of the city!

Once his much-praised drama series Buena Familia wrapped up last March, GMA-7 actor Martin del Rosario made himself busy brushing up on his marketing skills, talking to sponsors, securing permits, monitoring social media, and other kinds of legwork for a new business he's part of. The place is The Armory along the flourishing Congressional Ave. in Quezon City, which the young entrepreneur successfully launched last May 20. The Armory is poised to be the first bar and grill to excite the party scene up north.

"I've always been into business. Di din kasi forever ang pag-aartista—kailangan may fallback or sideline man lang," said the 23-year-old Del Rosario, who heads a group of other young entrepreneurs.

"You'll have a different kind of drinking experience at The Armory. It's actually the first time that a bar in Quezon City is serving craft cocktails. From the military warehouse theme to the accommodating staff, too, we'll make sure everyone up north who decides to drop by will have a great time!"

Apart from being a part-owner, Del Rosario specifically takes charge of the bar's marketing efforts. His work spans from brand building to social media management.

"It was mid-last year when the concept came to be, and my business knowledge and little experience when I had my own online retail store were very useful. We finally found a good location in November last year," narrated Del Rosario, who was a business administration student at the University of the Philippines Diliman before shifting to Broadcast Communication.

On choosing the location, he said that he wanted to cater to "Northeners" like him who would usually face the dilemma of going down south of Metro Manila just to have good, quality time.

"We targeted the residents near here like Tierra Pura and Mira Nila. Maganda sa QC kasi maluwag and less traffic. It's also perfect for students coming from schools in Quezon City and Manila. We wanted The Armory to be the next go-to place among Northerners seeking for some fun!"

How invested is Del Rosario with his new baby? He went through a two-week bartending course under "The Barman" Dondz Bolante to learn a new skill.

"Hilig kong mag-mix ng mga bagay-bagay kaya talagang nag-aral ako ng bartending. I saw the opportunity to do it here at The Armory and gaya ng pag-aartista, nagustuhan ko din sya."

With his new venture, is Del Rosario turning his back on showbiz? Not quite.

"Kahit sino naman pwedeng mag-put up ng business, basta may sipag at tiyaga. Pero my goal pa din is to finish school. But habang may savings pa, nag-business na din ako," he said. In fact, Del Rosario is very excited to invite his showbiz friends to come visit his new venture.

"Sobrang welcome sila dito! First time akong gagawa ng drinks for them. I'll be grateful over their support for me and the business, too. Fans can just approach me and say hi if they get to catch me here!"

From getting home late due to tapings to manning The Armory, Del Rosario said he has learned a lot about time management and setting his priorities in this new endeavor.

"Mahiyain ako dati—introvert kumbaga! Chance ko na 'to to meet other people," he added with a laugh.

Del Rosario has a new drama series in the pipeline, so he's expecting to have busier days in the next months. But the talented actor remains thankful.

"Katulad ng acting, nagustuhan ko din talaga ang business. I wanted to be a well-rounded person and I guess this new opportunity is helping me become that."

"I'd like to invite sina Kylie Padilla and yung Buena Familia family ko. Pati yung mga friends ko sa ABS, welcome sila dito!"