5 things you probably don't know about Redbox

Redbox is one of my most favorite hang out places in the metro--primarily because my friends and I love to sing; the place offers affordable packages (especially during off-peak hours); customer service is noteworthy; the food is top notch; the songs are updated weekly; and the place (the one in Greenbelt) is very accessible to where I live.

Redbox's new logo

If you frequent the place yourself, good for you. If not, you're missing out on a lot. last week, I wrote about Redbox and its first major renovation since its game-changing debut back in 2003 that redefined karaoke singing in the country. You can read that previous blog by clicking here.

Having had the pleasure to interview Walden Chu, the company's president and owner, I learned so many things about Redbox. Here are five of the most interesting things about it.

Walden Chu

1. Walden Chu, the owner of Redbox, is also the owner of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. According to him, he likes singing songs by Robbie Williams and Coldplay. He put up the first Redbox branch (in Greenbelt) seven months after putting up the first Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

2. Redbox has four branches in the country--the flagship branch in Greenbelt in Makati City; the one in TriNoma in Quezon City; the one in Eastwood (in between Richmonde Hotel and the adjacent mall); and in Ayala Center Cebu in Cebu City. Together, it totals 100 rooms.

3. Redbox would soon offer console gaming (Wii, Kinect, PS3), aside from providing free instruments (beat box, maracas, tamborines, etc) for use for customers who want to play live while they sing.

4. There are over 100,000 songs in six languages to choose from at Redbox. New ones are added every week.

5. Redbox was originally a karaoke place in Hong Kong. Walden Chu was supposed to put up a franchise here in the country. But the company who runs the Redbox in HK folded before that took place. So Walden owns everything about Redbox nowadays.

* Read about Redbox and its first major renovation by clicking here.