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| (Image Source: SM Supermalls) |
On May 17, 2024, SM Supermalls officially opened SM City Caloocan, the 86th SM Mall nationwide and the third in Caloocan City. This grand opening promises a one-stop destination for exceptional shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences for residents and visitors alike. The City of Caloocan is a first-class highly-urbanized city divided into two distinctive clusters, south and north. South Caloocan is bordered by Manila, Quezon City, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, and is home to two SM Supermalls prior to the opening of SM City Caloocan. North Caloocan, on the other hand, shares its border with Quezon City, Valenzuela, Marilao, Meycauayan, and the City of San Jose del Monte Bulacan. SM City Caloocan is strategically situated in the heart of the city which serves as a passageway for residents from both North and South Caloocan. Located along the bustling Deparo Road in Bagumbong, Caloocan City, it is the first-ever big-city mall in North Caloocan, offering the ultimate mix of retail, entertainment, and recreational choices. Beyond its role as a lifestyle hub, the opening of the mall will pave the way for local employment and business opportunities for the community.
“SM Supermalls is committed to new and exciting shopping experiences for the communities it serves. We are excited to open SM City Caloocan with our well-loved brand of service and convenience, sustainability features and family fun experience that SM is loved for, such as giant installations and eco-friendly features such as E-Vehicle charging stations and biker-friendly facilities,” stated SM Supermalls President Steven Tan who graced the opening of the new mall. Excitement buzzed in the air even before the official opening. A day before its grand opening, a mall blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the momentous occasion. The ceremony imbued the new establishment with spiritual significance and well wishes. Following the Holy Mass, a spectacular big fun balloon burst took center stage at the mall. This colorful spectacle symbolized the thriving future of SM City Caloocan and energized the attendees. SM employees and tenants actively participated in the festivities, kicking off a series of exciting opening activities. Sharing the honors in the blessing and ceremonial balloon burst aside from Tan are SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans Sy Jr., Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo "Along" Malapitan, Novaliches Bishop Roberto Orendain Gaa, Caloocan City Vice Mayor Karina Teh, and SM Food Retail Executive Director Hendrik Sy. “We are very excited to open SM City Caloocan to the public and offer a complete shopping experience, with good services, convenience, sustainable features and more. Caloocan is a very populous market, and we already have two SM malls located in the southern side of the city. There is a dense population here in the north as well, and we want to be able to serve them too,” said SM Supermalls’ Vice President for Operations Junias Eusebio who led the ceremonial door opening of SM City Caloocan with SM Supermalls President Steven Tan.
Spread across more than 94,000 square meters GFA (gross floor area), the comfortably spacious and well-lit three-level SM City Caloocan boasts a seamless combination of urban design and nature-inspired elements, redefining the mall experience in North Caloocan. Materials inspired by nature that adorn the mall’s environments, combined with graphics and abundant indoor planting, evoke a warm and inviting atmosphere. Abundant greenery and strategically placed landscaping further blur the lines between the mall and the modern-day Town Plaza-themed exterior, all culminating with an indoor garden and al fresco-themed dining space on the third level, offering a bounty of aspirational yet affordable dining choices. Poised to become the new favorite mall among locals, SM City Caloocan brings new attractions and unique features to the community including the Wellness Space, the Sky Plaza and Cali, a delightful 25-ft inflatable panda. Additionally, the mall proudly hosts homegrown tenants like Mahiwaga Café and Elliot Bar & Restaurant alongside SM affiliate brands such as The SM Store, Uniqlo, SM Supermarket, Watsons, SM Appliance Center, Surplus and Ace Hardware. Completing the big-city mall experience are the cozy and spacious SM Foodcourt, the cutting-edge SM Cinema, and the tech haven Cyberzone. In addition, the mall has a sizable Car Park equipped with two slots of E-vehicle charging station and 1,190 parking slots for customer convenience. Of course, the growing reach of SM malls nationwide is providing a venue for growth for many small and medium enterprises and communities. The opening of SM City Caloocan will better and further connect surrounding urban and rural communities, sharing borders with Quezon City, Valenzuela, and the cities of Marilao, Meycauayan, and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan.
“SM malls are venues for businesses to thrive and these provide linkages to adjacent and surrounding communities. Our malls have transport terminals for better access to these areas. The malls also serve as a hub for different brands and enterprises both local and foreign, all of which support economic activity. With the opening of SM City Caloocan, we hope to bring more connections to more families in the North Caloocan community," said Tan. Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo ‘Along’ Malapitan shared how Caloocan residents have been very excited about the opening of the first SM mall in North Caloocan. “We have been hoping for this because it will be the first big and leading mall to open in North Caloocan, which was once deemed as 'bukid area [rural area]'. Having three SM malls in Caloocan shows the trust of the community in the partnership with SM. It’s a trust that builds on the capacity and belief in our people that enhances the vibrancy of our local economy,” said Mayor Malapitan. Caloocan is identified by the Commission on Audit (COA) as one of the fastest-growing economies and has 65% of its 1.66 million residents in North Caloocan. Mayor Malapitan added, “There is a substantial economic impact in having SM Sangandaan, SM Grand Central and now, SM Caloocan in our city. Given the large workforce that mall operations entail, it has created jobs and more opportunities for our constituents." SM remains committed to serving as a catalyst for local economic growth with 80% of jobs in the new mall filled by residents in the community and over 7,900 employees across its three Caloocan malls in various roles. With the new mall, two homegrown businesses, Mahiwaga Café and Elliot Bar & Restaurant, have also expanded their presence to their fifth and second branches respectively. Success stories from Mr. Dandy Alberto of Mahiwaga Cafe and Ms. Elisa Domingo of Elliot Bar & Restaurant offer a glimpse of the overall impact of SM on the community of Caloocan. And through these partnerships, SM helps the community by providing livelihood opportunities, enabling locals to advance their careers and start their own businesses.
