SM Supermalls, also simply known as SM is a chain of shopping malls owned by Philippines-based SM Prime. As of October 2023, it has a total of 93 malls (85 in the Philippines, 8 in the People's Republic of China). It was also formerly known as Shoemart.

SM Supermalls
Product typeShopping mall chain
OwnerSM Prime
CountryPhilippines
IntroducedNovember 8, 1985; 38 years ago (November 8, 1985)
Related brandsSM Retail
MarketsPhilippines and China
TaglineYou're always welcome here.
We've got it all for you!
Websitesmsupermalls.com

History edit

 
SM North EDSA, the first SM Supermall.

SM Supermalls was pioneered by Henry Sy, a Chinese Filipino businessman whose roots traces back to Fujian. Sy opened his first shoe store in Quiapo in 1948 and later the first store under the Shoemart (SM) name in 1958 along Carriedo.[1] In 1972, Shoemart turned into a full-line department store.[2]

In 1985, the company ventured into the supermarket and home appliance store business. It opened the first "Supermall" in the same year named SM North EDSA in Quezon City.[3]

SM expanded abroad with the opening of its first branch in China in 2001. The mall is SM City Xiamen in Fujian.[4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company's revenue was down nearly 50% in 2020, though it claims to have maintained a healthy occupancy rate throughout the pandemic.[5]

Locations edit

 
SM Seaside City

There are 85 shopping malls in the Philippines operated by SM Supermalls, with the most recent mall, SM City Sto. Tomas opened on October 27, 2023.[6] It also has eight malls in China, with the most recent mall, SM City Yangzhou opening on September 29, 2023.[7] These include SM North EDSA in Quezon City, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong and SM Seaside City in Cebu City which are among the largest in the Philippines.[8]

Tenants and amenities edit

SM Cinema edit

 
SM Cinema at SM City Legazpi

SM Cinema is the movie theater chain of SM Supermalls.

SM Cinema is also responsible for some milestones in the Philippine film industry.

SM Cinema offers premium cinema experience called "Director's Club", which features leather-recliner-seating and butler service,[9] and offers eight IMAX theaters including the first IMAX theater in the Philippines at the SM Mall of Asia. This IMAX theater, opened in 2006, initially had a capacity of 635 seats (reduced to 490+ seats after renovation and Paragon 918 seating upgrade in 2019) and a screen height of 21.955 meters (72.03 ft), making it the largest cinema screen in the country.[10][11]

There are no cinemas at some SM Center branches such as Pasig, Las Piñas, Dagupan, and San Pedro.

The first drive-in theater in the Philippines was opened under the SM Cinema brand in July 2020 at SM City Pampanga.[12]

There is a policy in place since 2002, which dictates the non-airing of films rated R-18 in SM Cinemas.[13]

SM Store edit

 
SM Store at SM Mall of Asia

The SM Store is the department store chain of SM Supermalls. The first outlet was established in 1972 along Carriedo in Quiapo, Manila, when Shoemart store was converted into a full-fledged department store.[2] It was renamed as the SM Department Store in 1975[14] prior to being rebranded as "SM Store". The SM Store would become one of SM Supermall's common anchor tenant.[2]

SM Skating edit

 
SM Skating at SM Seaside City

SM Skating is SM's indoor ice rink chain. The first rink opened at SM Megamall in 1992 which later closed in 2009, but has since reopened in 2014 at another space.[15] There are also ice rinks in SM Mall of Asia[16] and SM Seaside City, and there used to be one at SM Southmall as well.[17]

SM Supermarket edit

 
SM Supermarket branch at SM City Cebu

Every SM Supermall features supermarket chains such as SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, and Savemore Market, collectively known as SM Markets, as anchor tenant. Most SM Supermalls house one of these brands, while some malls (including SM City Fairview and SM North EDSA) have both SM Supermarket and SM Hypermarket coexisting. Standalone Savemore malls, Hypermarket outlets, and Savemore Express Markets are also considered as outlets of SM Supermalls.

Branding edit

The current logo for SM Supermalls was adopted in 2022. The logo consists of the letters "SM" in a custom typeface referred to as Henry Sans after founder Henry Sy and uses a shade of blue dubbed as "SM Electric Blue".[18]

References edit

  1. ^ Zhang, Wenxian; Alon, Ilan (2009). "Sy, Henry Sr". Biographical Dictionary of New Chinese Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 161. ISBN 978-1-84844-951-0. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "The SM Store: A template for the retail industry". The Philippine Star. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "10 Surprising Facts You Didn't Know About SM Supermalls (But Should)". SM Supermalls. March 6, 2020. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Dumlao-Abadilla, Doris (November 14, 2016). "SM stepping up China expansion". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "SM Supermalls sees full recovery by 2023". BusinessWorld. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "SM City Sto. Tomas is now open". SM Supermalls. October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  7. ^ "SM opens 8th mall in China". SM Supermalls. October 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Go, Josiah (February 1, 2019). "Decoding Henry Sy's top growth strategies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "FIRST LOOK: Director's Club Cinema at The Podium Comes With Butler Service". Spot.ph. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  10. ^ "First IMAX theater in RP raises gigantic screen". The Philippine Star. January 6, 2006. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  11. ^ Dela Peña, Zinnia B. (July 16, 2009). "SM to roll out 3 new IMAX theaters in 2 yrs". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "First PH drive-in theater in Pampanga set to open amid pandemic". ABS-CBN News. July 29, 2020. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Cruz, Marinel (December 29, 2022). "Thriller 'Deleter' bags 7 MMFF trophies". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Pamaran, Maan De Asis (December 16, 2022). "Mall beginnings". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  15. ^ Dumlao, Doris (January 29, 2014). "SM mall introduces speed skating in PH". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  16. ^ Iglesias, Iza (October 23, 2017). "Olympic-size ice skating rink invites family bonding". Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  17. ^ "SM Seaside City opens first Olympic-size skating rink in Cebu". SM Supermalls. December 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "The vibrant new SM logo, part of its brand refresh". Manila Bulletin. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2023.

External links edit