SM Prime expands presence in Visayas with new Mandaue mall

SM Prime Holdings Inc., a prominent property developer in Southeast Asia, is set to enhance its presence in the Visayas region with the opening of SM City J Mall in Mandaue City, Cebu, on October 25, 2024.

In a recent announcement to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the company highlighted that this new mall will be its fourth in Metro Cebu, its eighth in the Visayas, and the 87th mall across the Philippines.

“The launch of SM City J Mall underscores our confidence in the strong economic growth of Central Visayas,” said Jeffrey C. Lim, President of SM Prime. He added that the mall is designed to meet the growing demand for premium shopping and lifestyle experiences in Mandaue City.

Mandaue City is recognized as a first-class, highly urbanized area located in the central-eastern coastal part of Cebu Island. Known as the industrial hub of the Central Visayas region, it accommodates around 10,000 industrial and commercial establishments.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Central Visayas recorded the highest economic growth rate among the country's 17 regions in 2023, with an expansion of 7.3 percent.

SM City J Mall is strategically located along A.S. Fortuna Street in Barangay Bakilid, providing excellent accessibility and visibility for both locals and visitors.

The four-story mall boasts over 100,000 square meters of gross floor area (GFA) and offers a wide range of retail, dining, and entertainment options.

With strong interest from tenants, approximately 80 percent of the mall’s gross leasable area has already been pre-leased.

Key anchor tenants will include The SM Store, SM Hypermarket, SM Appliance Center, Watsons, Uniqlo, Levi’s, Miniso, Pet Express, Sports Central, Ace Hardware, BDO, and Chinabank.

To enhance the shopping experience and attract more visitors, SM City J Mall will feature two Director’s Club cinemas, a curated food hall, and various lifestyle services. Additionally, the mall will provide ample parking space for up to 1,000 vehicles.

“Our expansion into dynamic regional centers like Mandaue City is crucial to our strategy for driving economic growth across the Philippines while providing sustainable value to our stakeholders,” Lim concluded.