Future mall at recla to house Cebu brands

EVEN before proponents held its groundbreaking, a mall project at the Mandaue City reclamation area has drawn the interest of companies in Cebu and in Metro Manila.

“So far, the acceptance of the concept by prospective tenant partners has been encouraging,” said James Co, managing director of Parkmall, a future shopping destination that will rise across the Cebu International Convention Center.

Co, during a press conference held shortly after the groundbreaking of the pro-ject last week, said Parkmall will open in the last quarter of this year.

According to a press statement from Parkmall proponent Golden Great Venture Properties Co., the mall will be a “Philippine retail store” of Cebu home-grown brands and will serve as “incubation platform” for the new breed of local entrepreneurs.

“They just need to submit their business plan… to address the need for incubation,” Co said. “We will do our part to raise entrepreneurs in Cebu.”

The company is encouraging all businesses in the province and those in Metro Manila to become its partner-tenants.

Parkmall, which involves an investment of about P350 million, has a total lease area of 30,000 square meters.

Project proponents stressed that Parkmall does not duplicate existing malls as it is more like a “tiangge” concept. Golden Great Venture is also inviting call center companies to become potential tenants.

With the opening of a new public utility jeepney route, the company said Parkmall will be accessible to the public. The future mall complex will also house a parking lot with over 700 slots.

Parkmall will rise on a six-hectare lot at the Mandaue City reclamation area and will feature an accented piazza that will be a “venue for people to stroll, relax, jog, and do other fun activites.” (TEP)

New P300-M mall to open in Mandaue

New P300-M mall to open in Mandaue

By Bernadette Parco
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 02:31pm (Mla time) 06/18/2007

Cebu, Philippines - A P300-million mall is scheduled to open in the last quarter of the year at the North Reclamation Area.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Parkmall was held last Friday and was led by company executives such as Napoleon Co, company president; Carlos Co, chairman and past Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president; and James Co, the managing director.

At a press conference held later in the day at the City Sports Club, James Co said the new mall was enveloped in a cloud of mystery for some time and had led to speculations as to what the new establishment could offer the Cebuanos.

James Co said the mall was envisioned to be "the source of pride for Cebuanos."

"We envision this to be a place that will capture the Cebuano spirit, a homegrown mall where families come together, friends hang out and businessmen can meet," he said.

He said the new mall will have a 5,000 square-meter piazza, "which is inspired by the iconic gathering place, the Fuente Osmeña."

The new shopping destination is not a branch of the popular mall in Manila, the 168 Mall. The owners clarified that the official address of Parkmall is 168 Ouano Avenue, Mandaue City.

Napoleon Co, Parkmall president, said the number 168 is considered by the Chinese as an auspicious number.

The figure sounds like Chinese characters that could be interpreted as "all the way progress."

The new mall, which is located near the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), will rise on a 30,000-square-meter lot. It has room for 135 small units and some stand-alone kiosks.

"There is also a place for new concepts that is grounded on marketing realities. A place where we can incubate new ideas and help realize the dream of showcasing the Cebuano entrepreneurship and talent," Co said.

He said that the new entrepreneurs would be welcome to present their concepts and business plan.

However, he clarified that the mall was "looking for those who really, really need our assistance."

Aside from the Piazza, there will be a garden enclave of resto-bars and garden restaurants in stand-alone structures and a pasalubong center that will offer a variety of food and souvenir items.

There will also be a Gateway Center, a hub for transportation services that will bring visitors to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and the pier.

Co also said that there will be a supermarket in the complex, but he said that negotiations are still ongoing so he could not reveal the company that will handle the business.

There will be a Kids' Zone, a home zone and a value zone that will consist of factory outlets of branded goods and tiangge-type (flee-market-type) stalls.