Property developer SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SMPH) is set to open SM City La Union on Friday, its 89th shopping mall in the Philippines.
The mall, located along Diversion Road, Barangay Biday in San Fernando City, offers more than 51,000 square meters of leasable area, and to date, over 80 percent of the space has already been taken up, it said.
SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Jeffrey Lim said in a statement to the stock exchange that the new mall is the company’s ninth in Northern Luzon and was designed to serve as a landmark for both residents and tourists.
“As the surfing capital of the region, La Union deserves a retail center that reflects its vibrant lifestyle and rich culture,” Lim said.
One of the highlights of SM City La Union is the Sandbox, a 1,348-square meter outdoor venue designed for sports tournaments, mini-concerts, yoga, Zumba and other community activities. It will also have a bike lane parallel to a manmade sandbar, giving cyclists a unique way to enjoy the open-air setting.
The mall’s major tenants include SM Store, SM Markets, Ace Hardware, Toy Kingdom, Levi’s, Watsons, Surplus, Pet Express, Adidas, Miniso, Sports Central, SM Appliance Center, Puma, UNIQLO, National Bookstore and BDO.
For dining and leisure, SM City La Union will feature an SM Foodhall offering Ilocano, Filipino and international dishes, while SM Cinema will showcase the first Director’s Club in the province.
“With our diverse and unique offerings, we hope to strengthen La Union’s position as both a tourism and economic hub in Northern Luzon,” Lim said.
La Union’s tourism industry generated over P1 billion in revenues in 2024, led by an increase in spending per visitor. The average length of stay also slightly grew year-on-year from 1.33 days to 1.39 days.
San Fernando City, San Juan and Bauang municipalities ranked as the top three destinations in the province with more than 500,000 tourist arrivals last year.
