SM Hypermarket Archives - MyCebu.ph: Re/Discover Cebu

SM Hypermarket opened a third branch in Cebu at the commercial complex of the Mactan Economic Zone (MEZ) II to cater to the diverse mix of people in Lapu-Lapu City.

This will be Cebu’s first SM Hypermarket with a provision for 33 retail spaces that can accommodate dining facilities, clothing and other dry goods shops, and services outlets, said company vice president Arnold Paul D. Daluz.

He added that the whole complex in Pueblo Verde in Barangay Basak covers 7,000 square meters of space and about 3,000 square meters make up the hypermarket.

The SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu City branch is in the ground floor of the two-storey building, while most of the retail facilities will be in the second level.

Joy Veloso, SM Supermalls vice president for Visayas operations, said they will open the second floor outlets on March 20, 2015.

Store hours

The hypermarket makes it convenient for MEZ workers, Mactan residents, and travellers flying in or leaving Cebu from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) by opening at 6 a.m.

Its product offerings include groceries, household items, appliances, clothes, toys, and furniture. Within the hypermarket are stalls providing drinks, full meals, and snack items. SM Hypermarket counts among its tenants food outlets like Leylam Shawarma, Master Siomai, Pritong Manok, Thirsty? Juices and Shakes, Masitta Food Shop, and Julie’s Bakeshop.

SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu also incorporates bills payment, foreign exchange, and Western Union money transfer services to answer monthly, weekly, and routine transactions.

“There is about a million daytime population in Mactan and SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu caters to their needs. We decided to build a hypermarket in Lapu-Lapu as it is a booming city,” Daluz explained during the opening of the facility on February 26, 2015.

He added that they started construction of the building two years ago, but it was finished only recently because of some challenges. Daluz said part of the building was built over the lagoon at MEZ II and this offered construction difficulties.

Asked about SM Hypermarket’s expansion plans, Daluz said the company is looking at areas north and south of Cebu City.

Retail outlets

According to Veloso, the SM Hypermarket Lapu-Lapu is the first in Cebu with a second floor for retail facilities.

The retail spaces, which will be managed by SM Supermalls, measure from 80 to 500 square meters, she added.

Nine of the facilities are on the ground floor while 24 will be on the second level, which will host computer, accessories, clothing, food, services, and other retail segments, she further said.

Daluz added that the hypermarket will employ around 2,000 employees and that another 1,000 will be added when the second floor opens later this month.

Popular Cebuano restaurants Conching’s Native Chicken, A-One Tinola ug Sinugba, and Cebu Lechon Belly now have outlets at SM Hypermarket Cebu along Logarta Avenue in Subangdaku, Mandaue City.

Angelo G. Carandang, store manager, said they wanted to add to the assortment of services they are currently offering SM Hypermarket customers.

Conching's specialty, which is the roasted native chicken, sells for P280. — Conching’s specialty, which is the roasted native chicken, sells for P280.

“We already offer grocery and fresh produce as well as appliances. Our aim is to further provide convenience to shoppers by allowing them to shop and eat in their favorite restaurants without having to worry about parking,” he added.

SM Hypermarket Cebu has put up al fresco dining spaces, 36 square meters for each restaurant, along the store’s anterior area. The restaurants can accommodate 32 people and a common dining area can seat about the same number.

Conching’s Native Chicken

Conching’s Native Chicken, which started as a small ihaw-ihaw stall in Taboan way back in 1968, is a popular food destination of locals, tourists, and even celebrities.

Popular restaurants Conching's, Cebu Lechon Belly, and A-One Tinola ug Sinugba now have branches at SM Hypermarket Cebu. — Popular restaurants Conching’s, Cebu Lechon Belly, and A-One Tinola ug Sinugba now have branches at SM Hypermarket Cebu.

The restaurant’s signature dish is the native chicken, which can be roasted or prepared as tinola or stew.

Concepcion Pia Layam, Conching’s Native Chicken owner, said they now sell an average of 200 roasted chicken daily. “We always use native chicken, that’s half the secret. The rest is our family’s trade secret,” Layam added.

Conching's at SM Hypermarket features al fresco dining. It can seat a maximum of 32 people. — Conching’s at SM Hypermarket features al fresco dining. It can seat a maximum of 32 people.

Conching’s main restaurant is near the Honda Cars Cebu Showroom along A. Soriano Avenue in Cebu City.

A-One Tinola ug Sinugba

Well known for its seafood menu, the A-One Tinola ug Sinugba started out as a roadside eatery selling grilled items at Pier Tres in 1984. Early customers referred to it as A-One because it was located in front of a lumber store carrying this name. The name has since stuck.

A-One is known for its seafood menu, including fish soup or tinola and grilled fish.

When it comes to flavorful fish tinola and grilled seafood, locals think of A-One. It sells fresh catch from the sea and grills it to perfection. People come to A-One for its bestsellers, which include freshly grilled tuna, squid, blue marlin as well as hot fish soup locally known as tinola.

Esmeralda Paca, one of the daughters of the couple who started the small streetside barbecue stall, said her father was a fisherman and her mother a fish vendor. The inspiration for the eatery came from their livelihood means, she added.
Paca said she and her other siblings worked to grow A-One into what it is now. Early this January, they plan to open an A-One branch in Tubigon, Bohol. Aside from Zamboanga, Bohol is also A-One’s supplier of fresh seafood.

Cebu Lechon Belly

Cebu Lechon Belly started with an idea that revolutionalized the roasted pig industry. The company calls its innovation “super lechon” because it gives people what they want in a roasted pig: the belly part which is tender and boneless at the same time.

Marlon Gochan, owner, said all the flavor goes to the belly because it is where roasters put all the spices including lemongrass. Every inch of Cebu Lechon Belly is guaranteed to be as good as all the other bites.

“I admit we had a hard time at first because we’re in Cebu, the place famous for lechon. It’s hard to compete with the favorites but what we have introduced is something that people also want,” he pointed out. Cebu Lechon Belly now has 30 branches nationwide and they’re the first Cebu-based lechon business to ever reach Manila.

The Cebu Lechon Belly branch in SM Hypermarket Cebu is one of 30 operating nationwide.

These three restaurants in Cebu now operate at SM Hypermarket Cebu, making it easier for their customers to satisfy their craving for their popular dishes. Carandang said SM Hypermarket is not just groceries, clothes, and home essentials anymore, it is also now a place where people can taste Cebu native food specialties.