SM City Laoag
 | This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to self-published sources. (May 2025) |
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 SM City Laoag, July 26, 2025. | |
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| Coordinates | 18°11′17″N 120°35′09″E / 18.187938°N 120.585877°E |
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| Address | Airport Road, Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines |
| Opening date | May 30, 2025 |
| Developer | SM Prime Holdings |
| Management | SM Prime Holdings |
| Architect | Budji Layug and Royal Pineda |
| No. of stores and services | 165 |
| No. of anchor tenants | 9 |
| Total retail floor area | 113,000 m2 (1,220,000 sq ft) |
| No. of floors | 3 |
| Parking | 1,300+ |
| Website | Official website |
SM City Laoag (also locally known as SM Laoag or SM Laoag City), is a shopping mall in Laoag City. It is the fourth SM Supermall and the largest in Ilocos Region, the first in the province of Ilocos Norte, and the 88th in the Philippines. It is owned and operated by SM Prime Holdings. It has a total retail area of 51,000 square meters (12.60 acres and 5.1 ha), a total gross floor area of 113,000 square meters (1,220,000 sq feet).
History
[edit]Media reports and social media posts about the proposed mall began circulating around 2010. In 2014, the project was publicly announced, with partial payments made to landowners.
Additionally, SM Prime began scouting the area shortly after the opening of Robinsons Ilocos, which opened in late 2009.
The clearing of the land began on 2023, and construction began on 2024. The mall was originally supposed to open on October 25, 2024, but was delayed for an unknown reason; however, tropical cyclones likely played a role. It was also supposed to open by Christmas 2024, but was again delayed without any stated reason.[1]
The mall officially opened its doors on May 30, 2025.[2] Its soft opening and blessing was on May 29, 2025, when most of the stores and services were already open.[3] During the soft opening, stores held their own opening ceremonies and programs.
Mall features
[edit]
SM Prime Holdings envisions the 3-level mall as a new lifestyle landmark in the city. It features a biophilic design with indoor trees, and has three tall atriums for vertical expansion. The mall features three floors of retail spaces, a roof-deck parking area, and a transport terminal. SM Supermalls previously described the Laoag mall as being inspired by the city’s “coastal desert.”[4][2]
“Festive Ilocos’ first supermall inspired by Laoag’s coastal desert, this mall celebrates local heritage and culture.” was stated on the SM Supermalls website.[5]
SM City Laoag houses SM's anchor tenants, including SM Supermarket, SM Store, and SM Cinema.
Located behind the mall is Dap-Ayan Park, a small park featuring a playground, rock tower art, and pinwheels. Sky Ranch is still in the planning stages.[6] In addition, the mall features a prominent LED billboard which can be seen at the front of the mall.
Starbucks was the first store to open in the mall, on April 30, 2025, a month ahead of the mall's opening. J.CO Donuts & Coffee followed suit with an opening on May 24, 2025.[7]
A number of stores and services opened ahead of the mall's grand opening as well, offering free items such as food and souvenirs to visitors.[3]
Food Court
[edit]The food court at SM City Laoag is designed to offer a diverse and culturally inspired dining experience. While specific details about the food court's features have not been publicly disclosed as of now, general information about SM Supermalls' food courts can provide some insights. Located at the second level, it features a biophilic design with diverse culinary options. The food court incorporates curvilinear design elements that mimic the natural contours of the nearby La Paz Sand Dunes, a significant local landmark. This design approach creates a fluid and organic ambiance within the dining area.[8]
Cinemas
[edit]SM City Laoag hosts four regular cinemas and two Director's Club cinemas with plush leather recliner seats, an exclusive food menu, and in-house butler service. The Director's Club uses Dolby Atmos for the cinema's sound systems.[9]
Events
[edit]On May 25, 2025, the mall's east parking lot was used as a 3x3 basketball court for the 2025 Panlarong Pambansa.[10]
The mall’s sky fest event was postponed to May 31, 2025 due to inclement weather conditions. It featured a kite show, mini hot air balloons, and a grand firework show.
Reference
[edit]- ^ gdecastro0289 (2024-11-16). "No Christmas season opening of SM City Laoag, Ilocos Norte". RAPPLER. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Adonis, Meg J. (May 28, 2025). "SM City Laoag opens on May 30". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ a b Delos Santos, Edmar (May 29, 2025). "Nakalukaten! What to expect at SM City Laoag". Rappler. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ TDT (2024-08-09). "SM Supermalls ushering in new era". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ "COMING SOON: THE NEXT ERA OF SM SUPERMALLS". SM Supermalls. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ CEDTyClea (2025-05-28). "SM City Laoag to open as SM Prime's 88th mall". BusinessWorld Online. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ Starbucks, SM City Laoag (April 30, 2025). "We're now brewing early in Laoag! Visit us at SM City Laoag starting today!". Facebook. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ Pilipinas, Dito Sa. "New SM Malls Champion Culture, Sustainable Design | Dito Sa Pilipinas". www.ditosapilipinas.com. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ SM Cinema, Laoag (2025-05-03). "SM Cinema Laoag; Director's Club". SM Cinema. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
- ^ "Schedule, venues: Palarong Pambansa 2025". Rappler. May 21, 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.