SM City Bacolod

SM City Bacolod is a large shopping mall in the Reclamation Area of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. It is operated by SM Prime Holdings and forms part of the broader SM Group portfolio of shopping centers, department stores, supermarkets, cinemas, convention facilities, and other property assets. The mall opened on March 1, 2007, becoming SM Prime's 29th supermall, its first supermall in Negros, and its third in the Visayas region. The complex occupies a strategically accessible waterfront-side urban location near the Bacolod seaport and several bus stops. Its layout is organized into two principal buildings, the North Wing and the South Wing, which are linked by two pedestrian bridges. This configuration allows the mall to function as a single retail and entertainment destination while separating different clusters of tenants and services. The North Wing contains much of the mall's general retail offer, including department-store merchandise, fashion, home-related goods, specialty shops, restaurants, entertainment, and service businesses. It also accommodates the SMX Convention Center Bacolod and a hotel facility. The South Wing includes restaurants, a cinema area, a supermarket, and additional retail and service tenants. Food and beverage outlets are distributed across both wings, while the connecting bridges include smaller fashion, beauty, hair, and accessory businesses. SM City Bacolod began as two mostly one-story wings with an initial area of approximately 71,759 square meters. Subsequent expansion and redevelopment substantially increased the property. The mall is reported to have a total land area of approximately 161,096.60 square meters and a total floor area of about 133,894 square meters. A major North Wing renovation was undertaken in 2016, and SM Prime also pursued a multistage South Wing expansion plan involving a three-story addition and the extension of portions of the existing structure to two stories. The plan was intended to add approximately 150 tenant spaces and broaden the mall's retail and community functions. Beyond shopping, the mall serves as a venue for public festivities, commercial promotions, community activities, and large gatherings. Its security arrangements include guarded entrances and screening procedures. In 2023, a government service office opened on the mall's third floor, adding a public-service function to the site's retail, dining, entertainment, and event uses. SM City Bacolod's role has also expanded within a wider redevelopment context. In 2024, the Bacolod city government closed 24 nearby stores to facilitate a mixed-use development being built by SM Prime Holdings. Affected tenants were offered temporary space at SM City Bacolod, although the reported offer was not accepted. The episode illustrates the mall's relationship to surrounding urban redevelopment as well as its position as one of Bacolod's principal commercial hubs.

SM City Bacolod was developed as part of SM Prime Holdings' expansion of its large-format shopping-mall network beyond Metro Manila and into major regional centers. The project was significant within the company's geographic development because it represented SM Prime's first supermall in Negros and its third in the Visayas. The mall opened on March 1, 2007, in Bacolod City's Reclamation Area, a location close to the seaport, public transport connections, and established urban routes. The original complex consisted of two one-story buildings known as the North Wing and South Wing. At that stage, the mall had an area of approximately 71,759 square meters. Each wing was organized around a principal hallway, with escalators leading to bridges that connected the buildings. The initial design combined general retail with food, entertainment, and everyday shopping services, establishing the property as a regional destination rather than a small neighborhood center. The two wings developed distinct but complementary roles. The North Wing became the main concentration of department-store merchandise, fashion, home goods, specialty shops, arcades, restaurants, and other storefronts. It also gained a hotel and the SMX Convention Center Bacolod, which added business, conference, and event capacity. The South Wing became associated with dining, a movie theater, and a supermarket. Pedestrian bridges between the buildings provided additional space for fashion, beauty, hair, and accessory businesses while maintaining an integrated circulation system. Over time, SM City Bacolod expanded well beyond its original configuration. The property is reported to have reached a total land area of approximately 161,096.60 square meters and a total floor area of approximately 133,894 square meters. A major renovation of the North Wing took place in 2016. SM Prime also planned a phased South Wing expansion involving a three-story addition and the extension of portions of the existing mall to two stories. The proposal was designed to accommodate about 150 additional tenants, and some new tenants opened during the phased development process. The mall has served functions beyond conventional retail. Its restaurants, public areas, and event spaces make it a venue for festivities and organized activities in Bacolod. Security screening is conducted at the entrances, with guards and sensor-based procedures used to control access. In 2023, a government service office opened on the third floor, adding a public-facing administrative function to the property. In 2024, redevelopment around the mall became a subject of public attention when the Bacolod city government closed 24 nearby stores to make way for a mixed-use building being developed by SM Prime Holdings. Tenants of the affected stores were offered temporary space at SM City Bacolod, but none reportedly accepted the offer. This event placed the mall within a broader debate about changing land use and redevelopment in the surrounding area. Despite these changes, SM City Bacolod remains an active regional commercial complex combining retail, dining, entertainment, convention, public-service, and community uses.

• 2024

  Surrounding-store closures linked to mixed-use development

  [1]SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org

  Twenty-four nearby stores were closed to facilitate an SM Prime mixed-use project; temporary space at SM City Bacolod was offered to affected tenants.

• 2023

  Government service office opens

  [1]SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org

  A government service office opened on the mall's third floor.

• 2016

  North Wing renovation

  [1]SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org

  The North Wing became the primary focus of a significant renovation and modernization program.

• 2014

  Food-court relocation during expansion

  [1]SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org

  The original main food court in the South Wing was relocated or reconfigured during the mall's second expansion phase.

• 2007

  Opening of SM City Bacolod

  [1]SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org

  SM City Bacolod opened on March 1, becoming SM Prime Holdings' 29th supermall, its first supermall in Negros, and its third in the Visayas.

A regional supermall serving Bacolod and surrounding communities through a broad combination of shopping, dining, entertainment, supermarket, convention, event, and public-service facilities.

• Retail · 2007

  North Wing retail complex

  The North Wing is the mall's principal general-retail area. It includes department-store merchandise, fashion and apparel, home-related goods, specialty shops, restaurants, arcades, personal services, and other storefronts. The wing also contains the SMX Convention Center Bacolod and a hotel facility, giving it commercial and event functions beyond ordinary shopping.

• Retail and entertainment · 2007

  South Wing retail complex

  The South Wing complements the North Wing with restaurants, a supermarket, a movie theater, and additional shops and services. It has been the focus of a phased expansion plan intended to add floors and tenant capacity while improving the mall's overall retail and leisure offer.

• Convention and events

  SMX Convention Center Bacolod

  Located within the North Wing, SMX Convention Center Bacolod provides conference, exhibition, and event space as part of the mall complex. Its presence broadens SM City Bacolod's role from a shopping destination to a venue for business gatherings, public functions, and organized events.

• Supermarket

  SM Supermarket

  The South Wing includes a supermarket serving everyday grocery and household-shopping needs. It supports the mall's role as a regular-use destination for local residents as well as a center for discretionary shopping, dining, and entertainment.

• Entertainment

  Cinema and entertainment facilities

  The mall's South Wing includes movie-theater facilities, while other parts of the complex provide arcades and event areas. These offerings complement the retail and food tenants and help position the property as an all-day leisure destination.

• 2016

  North Wing renovationOther

  Background

  The North Wing required modernization as the mall continued to expand and its tenant mix developed.

  Action taken

  SM Prime Holdings made the North Wing the principal focus of a major renovation.

  Aftermath

  The renovated wing continued to accommodate the mall's broad retail and service mix.

  Source

• Phased expansion of the South WingStrategy

  Background

  SM Prime Holdings sought to increase the mall's capacity and modernize its existing configuration after the original two-wing complex had been established.

  Action taken

  The company planned a three-story South Wing expansion, extension of the existing structure to two stories in selected areas, and approximately 150 additional tenant spaces, with implementation in phases.

  Aftermath

  Some additional tenants opened during the phased development, while the full completion timetable and final financial outcome are not specified in the available reference material.

  Source

1. 1SM City Bacoloden.wikipedia.org
2. 2SM Prime Holdingssmprime.com