SM City General Santos
SM City General Santos is a large shopping mall in General Santos, South Cotabato. It is the 45th shopping mall by SM Prime Holdings, the Philippines' largest shopping mall and retail operator. Making it the largest mall in Soccsksargen. It has a gross floor area of.
It opened to the public on August 10, 2012.
History
Planning
It was reported in 2008 that SM Prime Holdings, the Philippines' largest shopping mall and retail operator, was interested in developing a shopping mall in General Santos. Rival developer Robinsons Land had started construction on a ₱1 trillion shopping mall set to open in 2009, challenging long-established malls Gaisano and KCC Mall.Construction
In September 2011, four construction workers working on the mall were injured when a portion of the third floor collapsed as the workers were pouring wet cement. The floor crashed down to the second floor, pinning the workers below. The workers were confined in a local hospital for treatment.Another construction accident occurred in December 2011, when a platform collapsed as construction workers were installing insulators on the ceiling of the third floor. The workers, who were not wearing safety belts, fell to the concrete floor, resulting in seven workers sustaining varying degrees of injury. The victims were employees of Irvine Construction, one of the construction firms hired by SM Prime Holdings to build the mall.
Opening
SM City General Santos opened on August 10, 2012. At the time of its opening, it was 80% occupied.Mall Features
The mall features a wide range of facilities and a spacious layout. It houses numerous retail stores and dining establishments, anchored by The SM Store and an SM Supermarket, along with a Food Court and other international and local dining options.For entertainment, it boasts 4 cinemas under SM Cinema, and a Cyberzone for gadgets and technology. The mall's architectural features include the Fountain Court, an al fresco area with a dancing fountain and restaurants for customers to enjoy meals outdoors, and a large oval atrium, which is a central event space for promotional activities and shows. The complex also includes a five-level carpark building.
A unique feature of the mall is the Trade Hall, located on the 3rd Level, which serves as a venue for various events, exhibits, and trade fairs. The Trade Hall has a total floor area of 3,131 square meters. It can be converted into two exhibit halls, each approximately 1,300 square meters. Additionally, the facility includes two meeting rooms: Meeting Room 1 is around 116 square meters, and Meeting Room 2 is about 195 square meters.
Other notable facilities includes The Medical City Clinic on the second floor.
Incidents
- In 2019, The Mall was damaged in outside and the ceiling collapsed inside the mall.
- On November 17, 2023, the mall was once again damaged by an earthquake and the malls ceiling collapsed, causing the mall to be temporarily closed for a few days.