Allbrook then and now!

When you say Albrook Mall everyone knows what that means ~ Panama's largest mall. Let's first take a look at how it got to be what it is today. It has undergone some big changes in the last 75 years.

Let's start back in the 1900's with what was called "Balboa swamp." After the completion of the Panama Canal in 1914 security concerns brought about a slow but steady increase in the numberof US military installations in the Canal Zone. In 1922 the "Balboa Fill Landing Filed" was completed and as the name implies the swamp was "filled in" and the river was diverted undergeround to make room for the airfield. in 1924 it was renamed "Allbrook Field" in honor of Lt. Frank P. Albrook - the general area is still referred to as "Albrook" although many of the facilities, including the airport,now have names honoring Panamanians.

Today: Albrook Field was expanded and improved many times over its lifetime and eventually transferred to Panama in 1979 as a result of the Panama Canal Treaty. Today, Marcos A. Gelabert Airport (still called Albrook by many) is now Panama's primary domestic airport with scheduled service to most areas of the country. This picture taken from the same location as the old photo, shows just a portion of the current airport and gives you a general idea of the changes over time. The Panama Canal can be seen in the upper left corner of the picture.

The Gran Terminal de Transporte de Albrook: This gigantic terminal (this picture only shows have its size) is the hub for bus service to every corner of Panama and international service to Costa Rica and Mexico - it sits on part of the old airport. Buses of every description, from the diablo Rojo to sleek long range expresses, depart around the clock and because it is so affordable they carre a LOT of people. During the last Carnival break in February, they estimated over 350,000 people used the terminal. While you're waiting you can eat (food court) get a haircut, do your banking and of course shop - it even has its own police station.

Albrook Mall is Panama's largest mall and as you can guess it occupies a portion of the original air base - it sits next to Gran Terminal and across the runway from the current airport's terminal. This is an area that Panama did a good job of recycling a base they received from the United States.

It is great for us because we do not have to cross town to get to this mall, we can bypass the city completely. For high end stores you will have to go to Multiplaza Mall where you will find a selection of designer shops like Hermes, Louis Vitton and others. Albrook has two "HomeDepot" type stores, three food courts, lost of ice cream and it is nice and cool. It is also two levels and VERY LONG - great for exercise. It will be very convenient for us when we have to purchase items for our construction because it can be accessed easily and quickly.