SM City Legazpi

SM City Legazpi is a shopping mall owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines. The complex stands along Imelda C. Roces Avenue, formerly known as Tahao Road, at the corner of Terminal Road in Barangay Bitano, within the Legazpi Port District. It is positioned close to the Legazpi Grand Central Terminal and the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation, approximately 1.5 kilometers from Legazpi City Hall and about 2.3 kilometers from Legazpi Airport. The mall opened to the public on September 14, 2018, following a blessing and inaugural sale the previous day. It was the first SM Supermall in Albay and the second SM Supermall in the Bicol Region, after SM City Naga. Its opening also represented SM Prime's 70th SM Supermall in the Philippines at the time. The development expanded the SM Supermalls network into a major urban center in the Bicol peninsula and gave Legazpi a large-format retail, dining, services, and entertainment destination. The project was publicly discussed by Legazpi city officials in 2015. Early reports identified an estimated investment of approximately PHP1 billion, while later reports placed the planned spending at approximately PHP1.5 billion. SM presented the mall's design in late 2016, and groundbreaking took place on February 22, 2017. Construction required the relocation of a jeepney terminal and the retail complex of the LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub, including an SM Savemore branch. City authorities also considered alternative roads in anticipation of traffic generated by the development. The project was expected to create approximately 4,000 jobs, although the cited material does not establish the final employment figure. SM City Legazpi occupies a five-hectare site and has three levels with approximately 87,706 square meters of total floor space, making it the largest mall in the Bicol Region by gross floor area according to the referenced description. Its design uses a broadly Z-shaped floor plan and incorporates green-architecture features, including provisions for natural daylight. A glass-walled Food Hall with an outdoor balcony provides views toward Mount Mayon, while an SM Prestige Lounge offers another elevated viewing area. The complex is anchored by The SM Store and SM Supermarket. Its tenant mix includes retail, household goods, electronics, groceries, fashion, beauty, sports, books, banking, restaurants, and personal services. Named affiliates and tenants include SM Appliance Center, Our Home, Watsons, Cyberzone, ACE Hardware, BDO, Uniqlo, Surplus, National Book Store, Sports Central, Bata Shoes, The Face Shop, The Body Shop, and Miniso. The mall has been described as accommodating more than 150 stores, combining local, national, and international brands. Entertainment and visitor infrastructure includes six digital cinemas, each described as having 109 comfort seats, and a 922-slot three-level parking facility with roof-deck parking. Other facilities include a customer-service hub, access ramps for persons with disabilities, and a breastfeeding station. SM Supermalls described the building as designed to withstand typhoon conditions, an important consideration for a commercial property in the Bicol region. The mall remains an active regional shopping center, although detailed current tenant, management, financial, and operational data are not established in the supplied reference material.

SM City Legazpi emerged from SM Prime Holdings' expansion into the Bicol Region. In 2015, Legazpi city officials disclosed that the mall operator was considering a large shopping-center project in the city. Mayor Noel E. Rosal was cited in reporting about the proposal, with early estimates placing the investment at approximately PHP1 billion. Later reports indicated that SM planned to spend about PHP1.5 billion on the development. The project was expected to strengthen Legazpi's role as a commercial center and create approximately 4,000 jobs. By late 2016, SM had presented the design for the proposed mall. The selected site covered five hectares along Imelda C. Roces Avenue, formerly Tahao Road, at the corner of Terminal Road in Barangay Bitano. The location is in the Legazpi Port District and is close to major transport and civic destinations, including the Legazpi Grand Central Terminal, Ibalong Centrum for Recreation, Legazpi City Hall, and Legazpi Airport. Groundbreaking took place on February 22, 2017, and construction followed immediately. Preparation for the project involved moving the jeepney terminal and the retail complex of the LKY Metro Transport and Lifestyle Hub, including an SM Savemore operation. Local officials anticipated that the new mall could increase road congestion and discussed alternative routes leading to the site. The completed development was formally blessed and held its inaugural sale on September 13, 2018. SM Supermalls officials attended alongside local representatives, including Hans T. Sy Sr., identified in the source as SM's chairman for the executive committee. SM City Legazpi opened to the public on September 14, 2018, with approximately 85 percent of its leasable space already awarded. It became the first SM Supermall in Albay, the second in the Bicol Region after SM City Naga, and the 70th SM Supermall in the Philippines at the time of opening. The mall was built as a three-level complex with approximately 87,706 square meters of total floor space. Its layout follows a Z-shaped plan and includes features intended to increase daylight and environmental responsiveness. The building was described by SM Supermalls as typhoon-resilient, reflecting the climatic conditions of the region. A glass-walled Food Hall and outdoor balcony provide views toward Mount Mayon, and an SM Prestige Lounge adds another visitor amenity with panoramic vistas. Its commercial program combines department-store, supermarket, specialty-retail, dining, service, and entertainment functions. The SM Store and SM Supermarket serve as principal anchors, supported by tenants and affiliates including SM Appliance Center, Our Home, Watsons, Cyberzone, ACE Hardware, BDO, Uniqlo, Surplus, National Book Store, Sports Central, Bata Shoes, The Face Shop, The Body Shop, and Miniso. The mall also includes more than 150 retail, restaurant, and service establishments according to the cited description. Additional facilities include six digital cinemas, a three-level parking structure with 922 spaces and roof-deck parking, a customer-service hub, accessibility ramps for persons with disabilities, and a breastfeeding station. SM City Legazpi is described as the largest mall in the Bicol Region by gross floor area. The supplied sources do not provide a complete current tenant directory, current executive roster, revenue figures, or a detailed account of operations after opening.

• 2018

  Public opening

  [1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  The mall opened on September 14 after a blessing and inaugural sale the previous day.

• 2017

  Groundbreaking ceremony

  [1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Groundbreaking took place on February 22, beginning the construction phase.

• 2016

  Mall design presented

  [1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  SM presented the design for the planned Legazpi shopping center.

• 2015

  Project publicly announced

  [1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Legazpi city officials disclosed that SM Prime Holdings was planning an SM Supermall in the city.

A large regional shopping, dining, services, and entertainment center serving Legazpi City and the wider Albay and Bicol markets.

• Department store · 2018

  The SM Store

  A principal anchor of SM City Legazpi providing broad department-store merchandise across fashion, household goods, personal items, and other general retail categories.

• Supermarket · 2018

  SM Supermarket

  The mall's supermarket anchor, serving everyday grocery and household purchasing needs for Legazpi residents and visitors.

• Dining · 2018

  Food Hall

  A glass-walled dining area with an outdoor balcony and views toward Mount Mayon, forming one of the mall's distinctive architectural and visitor features.

• Entertainment · 2018

  Digital cinemas

  A six-screen digital cinema complex with seating described in the source as 109 comfort seats per theater.

• Consumer electronics and technology retail · 2018

  Cyberzone

  An SM mall technology-retail area offering consumer electronics, mobile devices, accessories, and related services through participating vendors.

• 2018

  Launch of SM City LegazpiProduct launch

  Background

  After design work and construction beginning in 2017, the new regional shopping complex was prepared for operation.

  Action taken

  SM opened the mall to the public on September 14, following a blessing and inaugural sale on September 13.

  Aftermath

  The mall opened with approximately 85 percent of its space already lease-awarded and became SM's 70th Supermall in the Philippines at that time.

  Source

• 2015

  Expansion into Legazpi and AlbayStrategy

  Background

  SM Prime Holdings sought to extend its SM Supermall network into Legazpi, a major urban and commercial center in the Bicol Region.

  Action taken

  The company planned and subsequently developed a large-format mall on a five-hectare site in the Legazpi Port District.

  Aftermath

  The project opened in 2018 as the first SM Supermall in Albay and the second in the Bicol Region.

  Source

• 2018

  SM City Legazpi opens to the public[1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  A blessing and inaugural sale took place on September 13, followed by the public opening on September 14. The mall opened with approximately 85 percent of its space already lease-awarded.

• 2017

  Groundbreaking held for SM City Legazpi[1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The mall held its groundbreaking ceremony on February 22, 2017, and construction began immediately afterward. Related transport and retail facilities were relocated to clear the development site.

• 2016

  SM presents design for SM City Legazpi[1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  SM presented the design of the planned Legazpi mall after earlier project announcements. Later reports described the planned investment as approximately PHP1.5 billion.

• 2015

  Legazpi announces planned SM Supermall development[1]SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Legazpi city government announced that SM Prime Holdings was planning a new SM Supermall in the city. Initial reporting cited an investment estimate of approximately PHP1 billion.

1. 1SM City Legazpien.wikipedia.org