Positioning to be Cebu’s biggest value shopping destination, Parkmall has just opened at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.
After soft operating its Al Fresco area composed of outdoor and indoor restaurants and the biggest Save More outlet, Parkmall recently opened to the public its Atrium composed of its Home Zone and Kid’s Village components.
In an interview, James Co, Parkmall Managing Director said that currently the mall is 50 percent done as most of their junior anchors are already operational.
He said that the construction of the Garden Enclave component of the mall which will house resto bars, garden restaurants, and tourist center will be completed by the end of the year.
Right now, the Atrium’s ground floor is 70 percent occupied with close to 100 units for rent and some are already operational, most of which are lifestyle boutiques.
While the Value Zone on second floor that will feature a tiangge-style bazaar is still under the finishing stage and is targeted to be opened by November.
Co stressed that as a new player in Cebu’s booming mall industry, they do not aim to compete with big and identified mall developers and operators as they want to become an alternative shopping destination with its own original trademark.
“We are a new company who is trying to get a new market for itself and not grab on existing nationwide brands. We are just Cebuano entrepreneurs who take the opportunity presented to us and offer Cebuanos a totally different mall atmosphere,” he said.
Parkmall is owned by Golden Great Value Properties, the commercial center company of the Cebu Oversea Hardware Group, one of Cebu’s biggest hardware and do-it-yourself home improvement company.
“We want Parkmall to become a platform for new businesses, new innovation, products and even old products that can be innovated in times of crises to grow. Now is the perfect opportunity where we should innovate on products,” said Co.
He discussed that most tenants in Parkmall are composed of new and existing home-grown local companies who have innovated its products and services to provide something new to the broader A, B, and C segment of the Cebuano market.
Located just across the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), Parkmall stands at a six hectare total land area with three hectares gross floor area.
Recently, the mall also presented to the public its “Tree of Discovery” located in the focal point of its lobby.
As Parkmall takes pride in fostering and giving local businessmen a chance to take huge first steps towards a brighter future, tree symbolizes new beginnings and a wealth of opportunities for Cebuano entrepreneurs.
“We are trying to shape the market opportunities for young entrepreneurs and future investors and provide them with new markets,” said Co.
Other components of the mall include a park where shoppers can stroll and relax, a Piazza that could be a venue for main mall activities, a Pasalubong Center for food and souvenir items for tourists, and a Gateway Center that will become a hub for shuttle services to and from sea and air ports.
Co said that together with other locators in the North Reclamation Area, Parkmall is also currently negotiating with the local government units and the LTFRB to increase the number of routes passing through the mall.