SM opens first mall in Isabela

The country’s largest shopping mall developer, SM Prime Holdings Inc., has gained a foothold in Cagayan Valley region with the opening of SM City Cauayan in Isabela province, the group’s 49th shopping mall in the country.

With a gross floor area of about 66,299 square meters, this is SM’s first open strip mall, the company disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

“We are excited about the opening of SM City Cauayan which is situated at the industrial and commercial hub of the Cagayan Valley region. We look forward to serving thousands of our countrymen as we continue to expand in various regions of the country which offer so many opportunities for growth,” SM Prime president Hans Sy said.

Cauayan City is considered the central business district of the Cagayan Valley region, home to over 2,000 registered business establishments. It is deemed as a regional crossroad given its proximity to 11 Isabela municipalities, making it accessible to over half a million people.

Designed by Edge Interior Designers and Arquitectonica, the company said SM City Cauayan would “feature a vibrant landscape that incorporates nature into the design.”

“Ceiling fans will be strategically located to ventilate the arcaded walkways and storefront hallways, a green and cost-effective approach compared with the typical use of air conditioner units,” the company said.

The mall developer said the exterior features of this mall would also “include warmly colored panels set in a random pattern to give an air of gaiety and festivity and will be combined with glass and steel finishes for a modern touch.”

The carpark building can accommodate 316 cars or total of 570 parking slots including the ground floor parking vehicles. It will also offer special parking spaces for wheelchair-bound drivers or people with special needs consistent with facilities offered in all SM malls nationwide.

The mall will host The SM Store, SM Supermarket, Watsons, ACE Hardware, SM Appliances and SM Cinema, which will be the first movie theater in the region. It will also house fashion brands such as Guess, Payless, Giordano and For Me, and restaurants like Gerry’s Grill, McDonalds and Max’s. Doris C. Dumlao