Parkmall better at 10

Who would have thought that an abandoned warehouse tucked at the heart of Mandaue City 10 years ago could become a bustling shopping and dining destination, much more, a catalyst for growth?

“There was nothing in here but an unfinished warehouse,” says Neal Carlson Co, the General Manager of Golden Great Value Properties Inc., the company that owns and develops Parkmall, when asked about the location of the mall at the Mandaue North Reclamation Area.

Putting up a mall at the MRA in 2008 was a risk, as the area was presumed to be unsuitable for business at that time. It was but barren land and the few properties that were purchased there were but made into storage.

But Co saw potential at the NRA and believed it was the perfect place to build a community his family has always dreamt of.

With optimism and a clear vision as driving forces, Parkmall chose to blaze the trail.

But, as anticipated, the journey was not smoothsailing. Because no public transportation plied the NRA, bringing customers to the mall was difficult and, because of this, convincing business owners to set up shop at the mall also became a challenge.

But these challenges did not prove to be insurmountable.

In 2016, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry recognized Parkmall as Destination of the Year for its contribution to the economy of Mandaue City and for its innovation in marketing and property development.

Parkmall takes pride in its refreshing design and relaxing ambiance reminiscent of a public park, like the Fuente Osmeña circle in the past. Its al fresco dining area, which boasts of a wide array of delectable choices, is a fitting welcome to every arriving guest. At the second floor, an exciting array of local products awaits.

Its West Strip located near the mall’s well-managed PUJ terminal houses stores and restaurants with long operating hours to accommodate guests of nearby hospitals and hotels.

Its huge open spaces serve as venues for fitness activities, music festivals, and food markets.

PET FRIENDLY

In 2010, Parkmall opened its doors to pets and remains the only true pet-loving mall that holds pet-centered events, programs, and activities. It is the only mall in Cebu accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry.

One of its events is the Pawshionista, an annual dog fashion show where owners and their dogs get to parade in twinning outfits. Pawshionista will turn 10 years old next year.

Known for its advocacy on responsible pet ownership, Parkmall bagged the silver award for marketing excellence in the Cause Related Marketing category of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) AsiaPacific Shopping Center Award with its entry on the Pet Festival Philippines last year in Thailand, besting 16 other finalists that included huge international mall chains.

PARKMALL, BETTER

Ten years after opening its doors, it tells the public: Parkmall, Better.

The mall’s manager, Yael Sacris-Torrejos, explains the new tagline:

“We do not wish to compete with anyone else, but we are committed to be better every day. Parkmall Better because we can surely say that after 10 years, we are now better than we were before.”

Co credits the past 10 years to the mall’s unrelenting effort to stand by its vision.

“The continuous improvement and hard work and the people we have are the factors of our success. And being consistent with our vision, which is to provide spaces where our guests can stay, relax, shop, and dine at the same time. Give them comfort after a long day at work,” Co said.

Sacris-Torrejos, meanwhile, believes that “our collaborative corporate culture” is an indispensable factor in the mall’s success.

“We empower our people to make a certain degree of decision that can better our service. Also, feedback from our guests is relayed by our staff straight to us in the management,” she said.

She tells the mall’s patrons and loyal clients: “Parkmall was built for you. Thank you for believing in Parkmall and supporting us and our tenants all these years.”

From a lone mall in an unfamiliar territory in 2008, Parkmall has become a center for growth at the NRA, welcoming 25,000 visitors a day today.

Now surrounded by other big businesses and establishments, it can take pride in having helped pave the way for a flourishing Mandaue City skyline.