Just recently, we discovered that Ito Kish’s showroom is closing with a closing sale extended until June 4. However, that’s not the only closing sale that makes us sad. The iconic Gift Gate, home of Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends, is closing its doors on May 31.
Gift Gate used to be a destination for fans of Hello Kitty and Friends, especially during its heyday before 2000s. Usually clad in combination of pink, red, and white, Gift Gate carried various all sorts of items with images of Sanrio characters on it: bags, pencil cases, and even plates.
In a video posted by news anchor Julius Babao, the first Gift Gate was established in 1976 in Greenhills. This branch is also the last one to close shop. In the past few weeks, other branches had also closed including the one in Alabang Town Center.
We’re so sad to see Hello Kitty go, but at least, she’s not retiring yet. Now, it’s time to look for Gift Gate memorabilia we’ve kept.