GREAT shopping, leisure and entertainment go east of the Metro as 8M City Marikina opens its doors to the public.

Located along the Marcos Highway, Barangay Calumpang, in Marikina City, the mall is SM Prime Holdings’ 31st supermall and the first to open this year.

The mall is projected to be a catalyst in the growth of Marikina City, whose local government has envisioned it to become the most progressive city in Metro Manila. Various programs have been implemented to achieve the vision. City ordinances have been issued on waste management, stricter law enforcement, vehicular traffic management, repair of roads and bridges, construction of new arterial roads, and the rehabilitation of the Marikina River.

At the center of all the programs is the creation of the Riverbanks Center, which has been declared as the city’s business, finance and commercial triangle. SM City Marikina is located in the Riverbanks Center and serves customers in this bustling city, as well as those in Pasig City, Cainta, San Mateo, Quezon City and Antipolo City

With its grand entrance, high ceilings and interplay of glass and steel, with modern Asian touches, the new mall is definitely a landmark in the area. Interiors have spacious areas with multicolored lighted ceilings with circle accents.

With the SM Department Store and Supermarket as its anchors, the mall brings shopping excitement to the area with its mix of SM mainstays like the SM Appliance Center, ACE Hardware, The Surplus Shop and Watsons, plus top homegrown and international brands, including fashion boutiques, home stores, shoe stores, bookstores, novelty stores and service shops.

Mallers also have great food choice courtesy of the SM Foodcourt, local and international fast-food chains and specialty restaurants. SM City Marikina boasts of eight cinemas, including four digital cinemas, each with a seating capacity of 477 seats; and four analog cinemas, each with a seating capacity of 360. Techies will have fun at the mall’s Cyberzone.

For customer convenience, SM City Marikina has more than a thousand parking slots, including provisions for motorcycle parking, plus a jeepney terminal for commuters. A 4-meter-wide pedestrian overpass to and from the main mall area to the LRT Santolan Station and another 2.40-meter-wide overpass to the Bus Bay 2 area ensure the safety and convenience for the shoppers.

The latest SM supermall, moreover, is eco-friendly, where a leisurely walk to and from the riverside is encouraged through an interlinked walkway that is accessible even to the physically challenged.

SM City Marikina’s design team includes Jose Siao Ling and Associates, architects; D.A. Abcede and Associates, project manager; and BF Corp., general contractors.