New mall boosts SM retail portfolio

SM Prime Holdings Inc, the Philippines’ largest mall operator and one of Southeast Asia’s biggest integrated property developers, announced on Thursday another milestone—growth to 7.3 million square meters in local retail space portfolio—as it unveils its 56th mall in the country.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, the publicly listed firm of Philippines’ richest tycoon Henry Sy said it is opening today, November 27, “a new regional landmark,” the SM Seaside City Cebu. The new mall is SM’s third mall in Cebu, and adds 430,000 square meters of gross floor area (GFA) to its retail portfolio.

The new destination mall is the first of many developments in the 30-hectare SM Seaside Complex, which would take about five years to fully develop, said SM Prime President Hans T. Sy. According to SM Prime, the new mall “is the first of its kind in urban development” within the South Road Properties in Cebu City. “As the anchor development, the mall is slated to transform the city’s landscape, as SM Prime builds residences, offices, an arena, a five-star hotel, and convention centers,” the company said.

The complex, it added, features a steel sculpture named “The Cube,” which symbolizes strength and stability of Cebuanos, as well as “SM’s continued commitment to excellence.” The younger Sy said the new mall promises to revolutionize the malling experience not only in Cebu, but also in the entire Southern portion of the Philippines.

He said the company was inspired by the success of its Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, a mixed-use development that offers retail, residences, offices, hotels and convention centers. “We are replicating this concept of ‘lifestyle cities’ in Cebu, as we open the SM Seaside City mall. We see Metro Cebu as one of our important growth corridors in Visayas and Mindanao, following our growth track in Metro Manila,” said Sy.

The new mall will feature a 147-meter “Seaside Tower,” that offers a “sensational panoramic view” of the entire city, and a “Sky Park” that provides diverse dining outlets. Other features of the mall include a skating rink, eight cinema houses, and 5,000 parking slots.

“SM Seaside City Cebu is slated to transform the city’s landscape,” the company said. SM Seaside City Cebu is the sixth SM Supermall to be opened this year, after SM Center Sangandaan, Cherry SM Shaw, and SM City Cabanatuan, among others.

To date, SM Prime has 56 malls in the Philippines and six in China, with an estimated combined GFA of 8.3 million square meters.