Robinsons launches mall, mixed use complex in Cebu

A third Robinsons mall in Cebu officially broke ground at a 4.6 hectare lot along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City yesterday, part of a development worth over P5 billion.

In a press conference, Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go said Robinson’s Galleria Cebu will have 300 tenants offering international and local product brands and services.

“We are investing over P5 billion for the development of the whole property which will include a Go Hotel, a BPO (business process outsourcing) building and four residential premium condominium towers,” said Go.

Go said the new project will be the third Robinson mall in Cebu after Robinsons Fuente and Robinsons Cybergate Cebu and the second mall in the country that is issued the “Galleria” brand.

Aside from anchor tenants like Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, True Value, Robinsons Appliances, Saizen and Toys R’ Us, the mall will house six cinemas including two 3D theaters with a total seating capacity of 1,800.

There are currently 31 Robinson malls around the country with the 32nd store opening in the old Magnolia Plant in Quezon City within the year.

The whole complex will have a gross floor area of 156,000 square meters that includes 153-rooms for the hotel, over 9,000 square meters or about three storeys for BPO offices and 56,000 square meters covering four levels of the mall.

“We are very confident of the Cebu market that’s why we are fueling a lot of investments here including all other ongoing developments we have for residential,” said Go.

Including Robinsons Galleria Cebu, the Robinsons group now have five ongoing projects in Cebu including Azalea Place Cebu, Amisa Mactan Cebu Resort Condominium, Blue Coast Residences and Aspen Heights Cebu.

Go said they’re looking into opening the 153-room Go Hotel together with the mall which is structurally integrated together with the BPO offices.

Despite the presence of many malls, he said the market remains wide in Cebu.

He said their company is trying to fill the market demand by building a fully integrated, mixed use complex consisting of residential, hotel accommodation, commercial and office spaces.

“The retail and tourism industries are vibrant along with BPO industry which will fuel investments like Robinsons Galleria Cebu,” Go said.

This year Robinsons Land Corp. opened three malls in Pangasinan, Puerto Princessa and Quezon City.

They also plan to open five more Robinsons Place malls in Butuan, Roxas, Malolos, Malabon and Santiago, Isabela.