Revisiting Garibong's Outlets

One cool Saturday afternoon, I decided to hop on a bus and a subway train to get to Garibong, where a couple of years ago, I stumbled upon Zara outlets at the Mario Outlet and the Z Mall. 

 And now, when I thought of getting a few more of those KRW10,000-a-pair Zara pants as pasalubong (presents) when I fly home, spending an afternoon of travelling to the other side of the city was not a bad idea.

So, from Hannam-dong, I simply took the Blue Bus 214, got off at the stop near Nonhyeon Station of Line No. 7, the same line as the Gasan Digital Complex Station.

After walking out of Exit 4 of the Gasan Digital Complex Station, I strolled towards the Mario Outlet area and saw those 'sale' signs all over. Nothing much has changed, actually. I hope the prices have! Ha-ha-ha! Lower, of course.

I ventured into the Mario Outlet building and checked out the  Zara Outlet in the building, but I was disappointed. Not much interesting things for me. So, not to waste any time, I crossed the street and headed inside W-Mall, and went straight down to the basement level, where, once before, I was surprised with the items at the Zara outlet just next to the food court!

But now, the Zara outlet was gone! No more Zara pants! Only the food court was there...and the bulgogi menu! Ha-ha-ha!

Disappointment.

Oh well, not my lucky day. So, I just roamed around and console myself at the GAP store on the opposite side, and got some KRW3,000 shirts. At least, I wouldn't go home empty-handed. I certainly wouldn't want those kilometers I covered from travelling go to waste. 

Do I want to come back here again someday? Maybe. Maybe not. Unless the Zara outlet returns next to the bulgogi restaurant at the basement of W-Mall, maybe I would.

But in the meantime, where is the Zara outlet? My brother wants his Zara pants quick!

Best Seoul Shopping: Outlets @ Garibong!

I haven't returned to the Garibong area in years! I was there on my first autumn in Korea when I needed to get myself some winter coats so I wouldn't freeze over during my first winter ever. This place is different from the Dongdaemun shopping centers as these are outlets, meaning, branded items are sold here at very, very cheap prices!

My Korean friends told me way back about this place, where I could get myself cheap bargains for quality clothes. And they were right! I returned to the Mario Outlet and the W Mall a couple of times ever since! 

And as three of my Pinoy friends (Ruth, Polly and Bong) in Seoul wanted me to bring them there, I played tour guide one day.

The fastest way going there is through the subway. Just get off at the Gasan Digital Complex (Line 7), Exit 4, and you're almost there. But Ruth's driver had other ideas that day. We took her car from Itaewon, thinking he knew the fastest way to get there. But he relied on his electronic navigator, which instructed him to meander through Mapo-gu,Yeouido and Yeongdongpo-gu before hitting the direction to our shopping target. (I actually knew the fastest way by car, but I just shut my mouth up, lest this noisy, human navigator wanted to be kicked out of the van! Ha-ha-ha!).

 And after 45 minutes of joyride and unscheduled sightseeing from the van, we finally arrived in Garibong!

The Mario Outlet has a couple of buildings, each one has multiple shopping floors. The W Mall across the street also has several floors and with a convenient food court in the basement, right next to a Zara discount shop! Where else can you find an outlet mall, where you can munch down your bulgogi lunch while picking out Zara items at the same time and at an unbelievable discount!  Zara goodies for only KRW10,000! 

Well, to make the shopping blog short, the four Pinoys had fun shopping and ended up with tired legs (as expected!) and multiple shopping bags (really expected!). Ha-ha-ha!

And to cap the shopping conquest, we rested our tired legs at the coffee shop on our way to the Gasan Digital Complex Station. No more driver this time.

(thanks for the coffee, Polly!)

                           (a shopper with a mascot)

                   (a happy shopper on her way home)


So, if you're heading there soon, be prepared to spend the whole day there.  Happy splurging!