SM City Cebu at Night

SM City Cebu is a large shopping mall located in Cebu City, Philippines. It is the 4th shopping mall owned and developed by SM Prime Holdings, the country's largest shopping mall owner and developer. It is the company's first shopping mall outside of Metro Manila and the 4th largest shopping mall in the Philippines. It has a land area of 11.8 hectares and a gross floor area of 268,611 m2 (2,891,300 sq ft), becoming part of the world's 15 largest shopping malls and making it the 11th largest shopping mall in the world in 2009.

On an average day, more than 100,000 people visit SM City Cebu, with the figure increasing to 140,000 to 150,000 on weekends. Due to Cebu City's position as a transshipment point for the Visayas and Mindanao, and SM City Cebu's location close to the city's port area, the mall attracts a significant number of transient shoppers.

 

History

The mall first opened in November 1993, and was seen as catering to the low and middle class of shoppers, in contrast to its upmarket competitor, Ayala Center Cebu which opened a few months later. An expansion wing that particularly targeted upper class customers was added in 2007. As of 2009, the mall has undergone major renovations. Expansion plans with a hotel and convention center are being developed. More shops are being proposed in 2012.

 

Design

SM City Cebu is a four-level complex featuring eight cinemas with a total seating capacity of 8,848, a food court, a fully computerized bowling center, 8,000-square meter amusement center, and a 2,000-square meter trade hall. Prior to the addition of the Northwing, it had a car park capacity of 1,629.

The Northwing expansion, opened in 2007, features two floors of retail stores, restaurants, and cafes. It houses more than 200 tenants and caters to a more upscale clientele. The expansion also added three levels of covered parking, and a one level of roof deck parking.

 

Development

SM City Cebu, opened on November 27, 1993 with an area of 161,562 m2 (1,739,040 sq ft). To initially attract shoppers, Manila-based movie and television stars and entertainers performed free concerts at the mall. Free jeepney rides to the mall were offered to fulfill the lack of available public transportation.

 

Northwing

Construction on SM City Cebu's expansion building, dubbed the Northwing, began in March 2006. The expansion, which was developed at a cost of P1.3 billion (US$30.5 million), was built on the parking lot to the north of the existing building, temporarily decreasing the number of parking spaces by more than 30%. The Northwing was started in April 2007, and opened in November 2007, featuring spacious hallways catering to the leisure market and upper class customers, while the existing mall, redubbed as the Southwing, is targeted for those who "love the hustle and bustle." It increased the total gross floor area of SM City Cebu by 107,049 m2 (1,152,270 sq ft), for a total of 268,611 m2 (2,891,300 sq ft).

IMAX

In early 2008, SM Prime Holdings signed a deal with IMAX Corporation for the opening of additional IMAX theaters, following the success of the country's first IMAX theater at SM Mall of Asia. The IMAX theater planned for SM City Cebu will replace cinema 4 screens. It will feature clearer picture quality due to its use of a digital projector rather than a film projector. A budget of P100-million ($2.4 million) was allotted for the renovation and was opened to the public last July 9, 2010 with James Cameron's Avatar in 3D.

Anchors

Major Anchors:

• SM Department Store
• SM Cinemas (8)
• SM Supermarket
• SM Food Court
• SM Bowling Center
• Cyberzone
• Trade Hall
• Gamezone
• Imax Theater

Junior Anchors:

• Ace Hardware
• National Bookstore
• Toy Kingdom
• SM Appliance Center
• Surplus Shop
• Sports Central
• Watsons
• Our Home
• Banco de Oro
• Kultura Filipino
• Forever 21

 List of Accommodations in Cebu City

• Parklane International Hotel  - Archbishop Reyes Avenue and Escario St.
• Montebello Villa Hotel  - Banilad
• Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino  - Salinas Drive, Lahug
• Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu  - Sergio Osmena Boulevard corner Juan Luna Avenue
• Marco Polo Plaza  - Cebu Veterans Drive Nivel Hills Apas
• Golden Prince Hotel and Suites Cebu City  - Acacia Street, Corner Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Barangay Kamputhaw
• Cityscape Hotel  - Ayala Access Road, F. Cabahug Street corner Hernan Cortes Street
• Harolds Hotel  - 146 Gorordo Avenue corner Rosal St., Lahug
• Rajah Park Hotel  - Fuente Osmena
• The Beverly Boutique Business Hotel Cebu  - F. Manalo St.
• Citi Park Hotel  - F. Cabahug Street, Kasambagan Road
• Crown Regency Hotel & Towers Cebu City  - Fuente Tower 1 Osmena Boulevard
• Summit Circle Hotel  - Fuente Osmeña
• Alto Pension House  - D. Jakosalem St
• Marriott Cebu City  - Cardinal Rosales Avenue
• Hotel Asia Cebu City  - 11 Don Jose Avila St., Capitol Sit

 

How to Get There

By Plane: From Manila, there are daily flights going to Cebu City.

By Boat: Cebu City's domestic port is the country's busiest. Cebu City is home to almost 80 percent of the country's passenger vessels. The country's largest shipping lines, namely WG&A, Sulpicio Lines, Trans-Asia, George & Peter Lines and Lorenzo Shipping Lines, are headquartered in Cebu. Large passenger ferries with a capacity of 2,000 to 4,000 passengers ply the more distant routes such as Manila, Davao, Butuan City, Zamboanga, and Cagayan de Oro.

From the airport, you can ride a multicab, jeepney, or taxi. Simply ask around for which route to take. They are available 24 hours and cover most of the nooks and crannies of the city. Just be sure you know what part of the city the jeepney will take you to.