You probably wonder why I am writing a post about malls here in Davao City. Well, I just want to share with you here the difference between the period of time since we first moved here almost 13 years ago. I can definitely say that from that period to now, there is an enormous difference. When we first moved here Davao just had few malls and to name we had Gaisano Mall, Gaisano Ilustre or Gaisano South CitiMall, Victoria Plaza, NCCC Uyanguren, One Gaisano store somewhere (I can’t remember the location), Newly opened SM opened 10 years ago, NCCC Mall opened a few years after SM, and Chimes about 5 or 6 years ago. The fancy one over the years was SM City mall & Chimes. With-in less than 2 years ago 2 more malls opened and they are the high end malls. Going around Davao was just easy and fast. No Traffic. Now, though, traffic is a nightmare!
Victoria Mall – located in Bajada. I think really most people that shop there are the masses. They just like the simplicity of the mall. People are not intimidated in entering the place just wearing shorts and flip flops. I like to shop there too because I like to see their kitchen stuff on the third floor. For me they have more kitchen stuff to chose from. I also like to see their fabrics and craft stuff there, they used to have good selections, not that much now. Most of the second floor, stalls, were selling cheap brand of clothes which affordable to the masses, I like to window shop there. At the grocery stores some products were cheaper from the other stores. Lots of other stores and kiosk inside the mall. They had post office and other shipping courier there too.
Gaisano Mall or G-Mall – Located in Bajada too. I’ve heard people say it’s the largest Gaisano Mall in the Philippines. Especially now, they just had an expansion and more parking space. Not too far from Victoria mall. They are also serving similar to Victoria. G-mall is way bigger than Victoria.With good restaurants upstairs at the expansion and also computer stores too. I’ve heard people saying that G-mall had the cheapest prices for clothing and other stuff. I like to go there personally, they have more imported products to chose from at the grocery area compared to others malls. I just like to browse around and see what they have there at the grocery store. Me and my niece like to see what they have for baking. They also have good kitchen products there. I also like to go to the hardware store there near to the kitchen wares store and grocery stores.
Gaisano South Citimall Davao – Similar to the other malls. With grocery stores at the ground floor, kiosk and other small eating area. With pharmacy and hardware stores downstairs. With parking lot at the underground area. They also have good clothing lines for sale with good prices too. At the fifth floor a very good Italian restaurant there, they serve good pizza and pasta. Love the osso bucco and the risotto there. Just talking about food makes me hungry here. 🙂
NCCC Mall or Bob likes to call it “THE C” – It caters to A, B and C classes of people. People with sari-sari stores like to shop there. They sell large quantity of products. I tried buying at the wholesale area buying stuff for the less fortunate people it took me forever waiting for the products and it just slow there. But for the sari-sari store owners it’s worth the wait for them. I guess they get good discounts there. The “C” also has a department store, nice cinema, kiosk, computer stores, hardware store, drugstore, restaurant and others.
NCCC Uyanguren – The haven for the sari-sari store owners. They can buy bulk stuff from there with a good discount. They also have good selections of fabric there for any occasions. The place is located at the heart of China Town (Uyanguren) here in the city. Outside NCCC Uyanguren, you can shop and find almost anything with a really good and decent price.
SM South in Matina – 10 years ago SM was the fancy mall in Davao. It’s clean and just a bit nicer than the other malls that I mentioned above. SM North & South Mall I think has the biggest space for parking among the other malls, and they have a nice movie theater too same as the “C”. They also have appliance center, good place to shop around for a good quality appliances. The grocery area also has good products, but a bit more in price compared to the other malls above that I mentioned. We always buy our meat there.
Chimes Mall – The upscale mall here in Davao. They used to had good selection of kitchen stuff and bed and bath. They still had good stuff and furniture for babies and toddlers. Lots of name brand products. They also have a grocery store downstairs. Still with in the mall you can find restaurant, gourmet deli (you can order good and fresh herbs and veggies). With pastries and coffee shop too. With good parking garage on the second level.
Abreeza Mall – Located in the heart of Davao. The first Ayala mall in Davao. Really fancy place to hang out with. With the first TGIF restaurant in Davao. Few nice coffee shops inside the mall franchise from here and abroad. Name brand products. Franchise companies from abroad like True Value hardware, Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, ArmyNavy, Mark & Spencer, Ace Hardware, Toys “R” Us, and many more. With a nice and clean grocery store with fresh fruits from North America. Shopping there you have to bring along with you your thick wallet and plenty of cards (Visa, Master Card, etc).
SM Lanang Premier North – The second SM mall in Davao City. The biggest shopping mall in Mindanao. Located in the northern part of the city. With the spacious atrium of all the malls here in Davao city. With IMAX theater, the first in the city. Same with Abreeza, SM too has lots of franchise companies from here and abroad. They had one store there that I kinda liked, it’s “Our Home”, but when I asked the price of a bed sheet I was turned off. It’s way too much than what I was expecting. The price was Php 10,000 and its already on sale. Wow, was the understatement. The saleslady could tell that I am shocked when she told me the price. The sales lady then explained to me the count of the thread or something. I’m not even hearing what she was saying. My mind was just totally out. I was blown away. Ha ha ha. I’m not going to buy anything from there if they don’t have any good sale though.
Really we are looking forward to the opening of S & R Davao which is sometime in May.
Happy shopping everyone!
Hi Feyma,
Sounds like you have a lot to choose from in malls there. Especially the Abreeza Mall with all the high-end items.
Now when you mention NCCC Uyanguren, you say that it’s in the heart of Chinatown there. What is Chinatown like as an area? I wasn’t even aware that there was such a place there.
I know what you mean about the fancy malls, alot of window shopping because of a lot of really over- pricey items like that bed sheet! Fun to go around though, to pick and choose what you might want.
With so many kinds of malls there, you can take advantage of what each one has to offer at any given time to meet your needs.
Hi Queenie – Yes, it’s nice to have so many malls to chose from now. The NCCC Uyanguren is located in the downtown area of the city. If you are in to durian fruit, many stands that sells those were not far from the China town.
I’m just good at window shopping. Ha ha ha… Hmm, just calculating on my head what to ask for the special occasion comes. You know what I mean? 🙂
I think Cebu has far too many malls than Davao now. Have fun shopping there too…
Take care and God bless!
Hi Feyma!
This was a really great and informative article. I like the “before and after” approach you took in providing the information. I, also, like the details about the different malls. This type of reporting, especially, helps people (like myself) who have been in the Philippines for a long time and are looking to make a geographical move within the country.
I wrote to Bob a few weeks ago (no reply) about doing a detailed article on the new weather pattern changes in the Davao City (and surrounding areas)area and what you believe the impact will be in the future.
I have been thinking of moving my family to Davao but I am concerned about the weather patterns that have been changing in the area. I would live in the Davao City proper area so there lies my concern. Items discussed would be where to live and not live in the city. Are the major sub-divisions like Woodridge safe from flooding?
Please think about a detailed serious article on this important subject.
Again, a really GREAT article!
Have a great day! John
Important to consider how you treat people. Sometimes, if you use harsh words when communicating with a person, it is not reasonable to expect them to assist you the next time you contact them. Just saying…
Mrs Feyma,
Will have to visit a few of those malls when we make it down there to visit you guys later this year. Looks like a nice choice and everything you will want or need. Take care and thanks so much for the info.
Hi PapaDuck – You should visit our malls here. You might find something here that’s not available in your area.
Looking forward on meeting you guys.
Take care & God bless!
John Adams – I’m glad that you like the article. Good luck to your move here in the Philippines. With regards to weather, even we had some low pressures here in the city and causing to had the floods before. Despite that we still are happy living here. Just small place were flooded here, and the city were good in responding to the flood victims.
Plenty of places for you to choose where to live here in the Philippines.
Thank you for stopping by!
Very interesting phenomenon… the mushrooming of shopping malls.
We got a brand new one here as well. Just opened a few months ago in Puerto Princessa City. Not cheap! Almost the same prices as in Canada and the choice is rather limited. What continually surprises is me is the absence of milk products.
Here, a fair distance from us where we live, it’s the craze of motorbike and plastic ware outlets. Everyone wants those.
However, my wife’s favourite remains the same… the (smelly) fish and vegetable market. Everything is always fresh. Fish is only a couple of hours fresh.
Hopefully we’ll get the first bank branch close-by (METRO BANK) so that I don’t need to drive 2hrs to the nearest ATM.
Hi PalawanBob – Got plenty of them now. More coming up by middle or end of the year here. But I’m so looking forward on the opening of the S & R here. I know what you mean about the cost of living here now. A friend told me that it’s actually cheaper for him to live where he came from abroad than living here in the Philippines now. What brand of milk are you wanting? I mostly just use the Alaska Slim Milk. Lots of different brand of milk here, some were from Australia and New Zealand.
Hey, Filipinos always wants to eat bulad(smelly fish). Deal with it man… 🙂 ha ha ha… Kidding. Really its a Filipino food that we can’t live without. Sorry you guys…
Wow, that’s something for you to enjoy everyday then, fresh fish and veggies. Can’t go wrong with that. Enjoy there.
That’s no fun driving for 2 hours just to get to the ATM machine. It will cost you so much gas.Famous banks nearby the small town would be BPI and PNB I think.
Good to see you here. Have a pleasant day!
Feyma,
As malls go up so do prices, economy is getting more foreign money coming in. Everything is starting to get expensive. Davao is definitely not the place I loved back in 2000.
Expats will stop moving to the Philippines as prices equal or go above their home countries. Just won’t be worth it.
The poor are getting even poorer……….I see no end in site but at some point the poor will strike back .
Don R.
Hi Don R. – Too many OFW bringing home the money. Yep and it’s getting expensive here. Yeah soon the expat will see that it’s not cheap to live here.
You are correct the poor are getting poorer. An endless cycle of life here in the PI.
Happy to see you here. Have a great day!
I loved the article, and really made me think about shopping in the Philippines. I have a store here in the U.S. that I prefer, but also got to other ones for special need items. Spices and things in bulk I use GFS which has good prices and large containers. Clothing, someplace else, etc. I only remember going to one mall when I was there, maybe two, but I didn’t really look around much.
This article is going to get me to consider more options once I arrive there to live. 🙂
Thanks for writing the article. It is MUCH appreciated.
Hi Scott Fortune – Thank you. I’m glad you like my post. If ever you move here and live in the big city not much problem with the stuff you wanted. I think you can pretty much purchase it. But living in the province is another story.
Good luck on your move. Have a wonderful day!
Dear Feyma,
When it comes to fresh food like vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, Philippines is still much cheaper compared to a lot of western countries. If you stay away buying branded stuff , eating in the restaurants and fast foods you’ll come out ok. You have to learn to go shopping in the palengkes( this is equivalent to the flea markets in USA) where you can find mostly fresh farmers produce and fresh catch from the sea. Every time we go to the Philippines, we always prefer to go to the palengke, just learn to ignore the smell of rotten stuff…..you’ll actually get use to it. I normally use closed plastic shoes because I can’t stand the wet ground, other than that we always enjoyed shopping especially early AM. I am actually glad the presence of newly built shopping malls, it is a nice place where to hang around and treat ourselves for a cup of coffee and window shopping. Davao is a lovely city, it has a unique character. I highly recommend the place to visitors and immigrants to settle, but they might have to live in higher areas or go to Samal.
Hi Ms Feyma! -You’re going to enjoy S & R! Blue Bunny Ice cream, Breyers, Ben & Jerrys and….. ghirardelli chocolates! and they have Cheesecake factory cakes. Yum! And when they have sale ( they had one last week) it’s really a sale! Like 3 to 4 hours queuing. I stood in line for 4 hours.. That’s how it is here in Manila ^_^. You mention they will open in May, They usually have their second yearly sale sometime in Sept. Happy shopping. ^_^
Hi Feyma,,, here in Bohol we have two malls BQ and ICM, that’s it.
I must be one of the few is majorly unimpressed by SnR. It is fine if you want overpriced western food, or a good quality meat/wine selection, but for anything vaguely local it works out the same prices, or in many cases more expensive, than shopping at the cheaper local malls.