Today’s shopping experience looks like an afternoon inside a mall, walking from one store to another and finding almost anything we need under one roof. And we have Hoskyn’s Department Store to thank for that! Established in Iloilo City in 1877, it offered Filipinos a new way to shop at a time when the country was still under Spanish rule.
A Different Kind of Shopping
Before department stores became ingrained in Filipino culture, shopping often meant visiting merchants’ standalone stores for different needs. Hoskyn’s changed that by bringing a broad selection of merchandise together in one store.
Inside, shoppers could find imported fabrics, groceries, jewelry, stationery, toys, furniture, hardware, and other goods. This type of setup earned it the reputation of selling everything “from a needle to an anchor.” Especially for shoppers in Iloilo, it meant fewer stops and more choices in a single trip.
No Haggling Necessary
Hoskyn’s also introduced a shopping practice many Filipinos now take for granted: fixed prices. At a time when bargaining was common, the store placed set prices on its items. Customers could then see how much an item cost and pay that exact amount without resorting to negotiating with the seller.
So while that system has become the norm now, it offered a distinct retail experience back in the late 19th century.
Phases in Iloilo
Hoskyn’s success was closely tied to the state of Iloilo back then.
It operated at the corner of what is now J.M. Basa and Guanco Streets in the heart of the city’s commercial district. By the late 1800s, the area had become an important center of trade, with its economy growing alongside the booming sugar industry. Its busy port and international connections brought foreign merchants, imported goods, and new commercial opportunities there.
Eventually, the original business model came to an end. After World War II, the Que family acquired the property and transformed it into Washington Commercial. It later became Washington Supermart before eventually becoming part of the Iloilo Supermart chain.
Before the Modern Mall
It is easy to trace “one-stop shopping” back to the modern mall. Hoskyn’s Department Store reminds us that it dates further back. Because a simple trip there offered more than just shopping; it foreshadowed the retail experience that would eventually make its way into everyday life across the Philippines.
