Sunday, April 17, 2016

SM SEASIDE IS A BIG DISAPPOINTMENT SO FAR

The SM SEASIDE is big but it is sad to say, that compared to the malls  in other parts of the world, is a big disappointment so far.

 

Don't get me wrong the mall is beautiful to look at but dont touch as they want you to get in and buy and get out.

SM has evidently made a conscious decision to make it uncomfortable for people waiting for shoppers as there are no seats anywhere in public areas for people to sit comfortably.  There are some stools with no backs now put on the upper floors but outside or inside the supermarket, department store or first floor there are few uf any even stools.  And elderly people who needs supporting backs like the resturants have, forget it...comfortable is not a priority it seems.  As long as it looks beautiful then its fine but customers want a comfortable place to sit while waiting and conveniently ....not in a far off floor as people wait.  There are a few benches at the taxi stand outside in the stifling heat so why not inside too so customers paying for the mall can enjoy inside too?

SM SEASIDE  HAS NO BENCHES OR BACKS WITH SEATS FOR CUSTOMERS TO BE COMFORTABLE OR FOR ELDERLY INSIDE IN AIR CONDITIONING IN PUBLIC AREAS THAT I SEE ...MAKE A MALL FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE TO WAIT FOR RELATIVES SHOPPING WOULD BE WONDERFUL


NONE OF THESE AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC AIR CONDITIONED AREAS ?


There is no jeeps that can run conveniently to the mall which is a major shame....there are supposedly some buses that run to the airport and south but no online maps of the routes and no time schedule.  Even the workers have no way of getting there easily except by expensive taxis.  Vans should run frequently from downtown Osmena Circle and other parts of the city including the South bus terminal on schedules published online and in the newspapers.  Again a beautiful mall but no easy way of getting there except by taxi.  Sad

.

The mall is about half empty of stores and few new brand new restuarants have been recruited to open there even though there are thousands around the world that people would enjoy.  The marketing and selling of space leaves something to be desired.

The small food court is always jam packed.  Why is not more food courts opened in such a major mall to avoid over packing?  Searching for a seat should not be a chore.  And more new restaurants too.



Why is there no senior lounge for elderly to sit and relax after shopping ?  Elderly just avoid going there now as where can they wait their children while others are doing entertainment and shopping?



The Smart cell signal is just about non existent there and Globe and Sun are the only ones available...why is not SMART a strong signal there for mall goers to use?



There is no listing of all the present stores available and their location on a map for mall goers to see what is available and where they can find it?  Publishing it online and having pamplets available at the door would be helpful in such a large mall.






Why do taxis have to go all the way around the mall to get access to roads north or downtown.  It runs up the taxi meter and it wastes gas.  Why can't taxis turn left out ot the mall except in one location....Such a cheap for mall users.  Why are not taxis directed inside the mall right out the back rather than forcing them to go completely outside and around the mall to turn left...Help mall goers save money on fares by having a rear exit to the left turn road rather than forcing them to circle the mall completely?


Why is there no map of exits and entrances to the parking garage and taxi unloading and loading so people can plan their trip in advance?  It should be published online and available to mall goers inside.



For the meantime I will avoid SM Seaside unless it is an evening trip as there is some bench and strolling areas upstairs outside to enjoy but certainly because of the hot sun during the daytime it would be impossible to use during the daytime. 

If you want to see a beautiful mall enjoy the SM Seaside but dont linger as it is not people friendly for waiting for friends or family and hard to get to without a taxi and then the taxis have to take a long way to exit because of traffic patterns.  And there are no maps showing what is available shopping or eating inside or maps showing you how to bring your car in or out.

Where are the bank atms?  Beside BDO which SM owns few other banks seem to be available in the mall to get cash to buy items.  Seems the marketing people have not met the peoples need for cash as there are customers from many other banks that want to spend at SM Seaside but cant get cash to do so?



Cebu Sunstar even had a article today in the newspaper about user friendly malls but obviously it didnt consider these points when it was written.  

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Why no one likes indoor malls any more and SM Seaside needs condos and offices on top or connected!


I like the sound of the "new mall" with apartments above.

The mall that's viable now is different in some notable ways that go beyond the quality of its brands: It's open-air instead of hermetically sealed, its stores turn outward instead of in, it has restaurants below and apartments above, which means that some people don't even need to drive there.



Try looking at the Ayala Mall in Cebu as it builds its condos and hotels on top of and attached to the mall. Walk out onto the parklike plaza in the center where outdoor entertainment is provided. Look at the office buildings surrounding the mall for call centers and business. This is the mall of the future and the only design problem is the lack of benches with backs for people to relax and enjoy the mall instead of just benches with no backs.

In place of the giant mega-block wrapped in parking, it has its own compact street grid with pedestrian plazas. It feels almost like a neighborhood. It has room for a skating rink.

Robinsons Manila is another good example of condos attached over the mall but badly needs seats for customers in mall.

SM Seaside seems to be missing a major opportunity to have built in condos and call centers surrounding it to provide built in live in customers.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/01/06/why-no-one-likes-indoor-malls-any-more/

photo credit http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/02/28/d-valley-mall-to-offer-new-investment-opportunities/

Comments

I've purchased two flat screens, four computers, yards and yards of various cables, all the components needed for home theatre, dozens of digital discs, blank and with content. I've had clothing , car parts, kid's toys and everything else I've needed to exist, delivered to my door. I only needed to know what I wanted and it was all ordered, Online. If all the retail stores in my city closed, I would only know about it from reading Online. The Internet has changed the way I live, completely. Going to 'The Mall' is so 20TH Century. I'm happy to live in the 21ST! I know I'm not alone.

A simple search for 'mall closings' or 'vanishing shopping malls' will show you that although there are "plenty of thriving malls" in the US, there are fewer of them every month that goes by. Malls are an endangered species.

The Economics (and Nostalgia) of Dead Malls

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/business/the-economics-and-nostalgia-of-dead-malls.html

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

TOP RESTAURANTS IN USA ....franchise in Cebu for us please

Cebu Loves to Eat and here are some of the most popular fast food outlets in the USA

When will investors bring them to Cebu too?

I get tired of going to McDonalds here in the Philippines with their small chicken sandwich compared to Burger King's much bigger Chicken sandwich fully loaded with lettuce and tomatoes and onions for the same price

And as considering the cholestrol in fried items at McDonald's and KFC, we need some new items on the menu rather than the grease laden fries value meals which give rice or veggies a option rather than fries.  And where are the barbeque pulled pork that is so delicious and with pork everywhere here it should be easy to make...but where are the restaurants offering it? Or how about a veggie burger or veggie restaurant for us trying to cut the weight and save our heart?

I certainly hope the management of SM Seaside and Robinsons Galleria Cebu and Ayala Mall make an attempt to get Chipotle to come here as well as Panera and Shake Shake or they will be missing a changing world menu....

Eateries we love most USA  click the link to read more at the source article  http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/08/11/eateries-we-love-most/

The Chipotle effect: Why America is obsessed with fast casual food and the Philippines needs these restaurants as trends change

Fast casual food is so hot right now. The market for fast casual food, which is almost but not quite fast food (I'll get to that in a second), has grown by 550 percent since 1999, more than ten times the growth seen in the fast food industry over the same period

Chipotle website
Panera website
Shake Shack website
supermarket fast service USA
Source article http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/02/02/the-chipotle-effect-why-america-is-obsessed-with-fast-casual-food/

Other interesting articles

Wall Street gobbles up Shake Shack
How Chipotle is eating McDonald's lunch






Favorite general casual dining: Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Italian: Maggiano’s.
Favorite steakhouse: The Capital Grille.
Favorite seafood: Pappadeaux
Favorite breakfast: Mimi’s Cafe

USA Today 10 Best: Southern barbecue spots

1) In-N-Out Burger 

2) Papa Murphy's Take N'Bake Pizza

3) Portillo's Hot Dogs

4) The Habit Burger Grill

5) Jason's Deli

6) Chick-Fil-A

7) Firehouse Subs

9) Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill

10) Culver's


Ted's Hot Dogs

Wow Bao

Five Guys

Lenny's

Taco Cabana

Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse

www.esquire.com/the-side/feature/top-fast-food-restaurants-0909

-----------------------------------------------
What's the next big restaurant hit? 10 brands to watch

1. Mendocino Farms   www.mendocinofarms.com
2. Cooper's Hawk  https://www.coopershawkwinery.com
3. Hopdoddy Burger Bar  www.hopdoddy.com
4. Bruxie       bruxie.com
5. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar   www.lazydogrestaurants.com
6. PizzaRev     pizzarev.com
7. Project Pie    https://www.projectpie.com
8. Marlow’s Tavern     www.marlowstavern.com
9. Twisted Root      twistedrootburgerco.com
10. Ocean Prime    www.ocean-prime.com

Source to read more
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102405201/page/1 

 This is a terrible sign for McDonald’s


Part of McDonald's woes are due to the growth of new-age competition. Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has become a staple for many Americans, is perhaps the best example. But the chain's popularity is emblematic of a larger trend away from traditional fast food outlets. Chipotle belongs to a new, somewhat nebulous category called fast casual, which also includes Panera and Shake Shack. The new wave, which is almost but not quite fast food, has proved that Americans are willing to pay a little extra if it means better quality and fresher ingredients. It now accounts for more than five percent of all restaurant traffic, roughly five times what it did 15 years ago.

It's hard to convince people you're on board when your french fries have 19 different ingredients in them.




http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/08/13/mcdonalds-is-shrinking/
America’s best burger? Midwest’s B Spot put to the taste test

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/greatamericanbites/2015/08/13/b-spot-burgers-michael-symon/31533797/

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

SM CEBU LACK OF UNFRIEDLY SEATING FOR ELDERLY HOW ABOUT THE REST OF SM MALLS?

HOW ABOUT SM SEASIDE .....WILL IT TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THE ELDERLY WITH PLENTY OF SEATING? AND FOR RELAXATION?

You have to wonder why some mall owners like SM Cebu cannot provide seats benches with backs for the elderly.

For now, my mum has decided to curtail her visits to bigger malls and opt for outings within the neighbourhood. Older people are largely overlooked in what remains a youth-obsessed consumer marketplace.

READ THE COMPLETE POST HERE
http://smmalls.blogspot.com/2014/07/sm-cebu-lack-of-unfriedly-seating-for.html

Thursday, July 3, 2014

ALDI best supermarket award WE WANT IN THE PHILIPPINES TOO HOW ABOUT CEBU

 
SOMEONE OR COMPANY SHOULD BRING ALDI TO SM CEBU SEASIDE 

ALDI best supermarket award
Discount store Aldi was crowned Supermarket of the Year by consumer watchdog Which? today – for the second time in a row.
Judges said the budget brand took the title “for its impressive range of best buys, quality food and good pricing”.

The German-owned chain, which appeals to savvy shoppers for its value for money prices

Aldi wins prestigious award for best grocer: for second year

What is Aldi doing right?  Why?

Part of its success lies in the pricing, which is kept low by a strict policy of low-cost sourcing, and a low-cost model which restricts the number of items in each store, the staff required to sell it, and the money spent on display. It also doesn't waste money on complex multi-buy offers, loyalty cards, and national campaigns.




Aldi
, short for Albrecht Discount, is an international discount supermarket chain based in Germany.

http://www.grocery.com/aldi-foods/
Aldi stores sell their own brand label foods, beverages and inexpensive household items, including electronics and appliances. It limits the number of outside brands it sells, usually to one or two per product, in order to increase sales and keep Aldi stores smaller than supermarkets that offer more diversity for a similar range of products. Aldi does not accept manufacturers’ coupons, although some stores in the U.S. experiment with a store coupon successfully.
Like some no frills, warehouse-style stores, Aldi does not decorate its aisles or fill all of its shelves. It offers pallets of its products, boxed in cardboard, which it places alongside aisles for customers to pick from



ALDI SUPERMARKET
http://www.aldi.com/ WORLD WIDE
CONTACT https://corporate.aldi.us/
Contact https://www.aldi.us/en/contact-us/
ALDI AUSTRALIA https://www.facebook.com/ALDI.Australia
https://customerservice.aldi.com.au/
International https://www.facebook.com/ALDI.Australia/app_306298489469849

Best rated restaurants in USA we would like to have in Philippines at SM Seaside Cebu

Consumer Reports: McDonald’s burger ranked worst in the U.S.

According to the survey, released on Wednesday, more than 30,000 Consumer Reports subscribers say these restaurants’ signature items are the worst in their categories: McDonald’s has the worst burger; KFC has the worst chicken; and Taco Bell has the worst burrito.


Habit Burger Grill, In-n-Out and Five Guys Burgers received the highest rating for their burgers, 8.1, 8.0 and 7.9 respectively.


Fast-food alternatives: fast-casual restaurants
Chipotle was rated by readers as their top  fast-casual restaurant. (Fast-casual restaurants usually serve higher-quality, higher-priced fast food.) According to the survey, McAlister’s Deli gets the award for most improved as the chain’s score increased significantly since the 2011 report.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2014/07/02/consumer-reports-mcdonalds-burger-ranked-worst-in-the-u-s/

Links to these best rated restaurants in USA we would like to have in Philippines

 Habit Burger Grill
contact http://www.habitburger.com/contact-us/







In-n-Out
Contact www.in-n-out.com/contact









Five Guys Burgers
franchise http://www.fiveguys.com/contact-us/franchise-opportunities.aspx









McAlister’s Deli
franchises Email: franchising@mcalistersdeli.com













Chipotle
Get a franchise
http://www.chipotle.com/en-us/talk_to_us/development/development.aspx


Sunday, March 17, 2013

SEATING FOR TIRED SHOPPERS

SM MALLS IN CEBU NEED SEATING WITH BACKS FOR TIRED SHOPPERS AND ELDERLY!



Atrium seating for "tired shoppers" at Southlake Mall in Merrillville, Ind. featured live trees, fountains and modern art in 1976. The mall opened in 1973.

The mall of most American malls are places to take the family and relax while the family shops and gets entertained but in the SM malls in Cebu they have made it fairly hard to find seats with backs anymore for comfortable sitting while waiting in public areas.

 SM owners should take note of the elderly and shoppers by bringing back the comfortable seats with backs like most other malls provide for example Ayala provide extensive seating with backs for comfort rather than the uncomfortable box seats SM is now installing. I hope the new mall in SM Seaside will make it truly a fun and comfortable place to wait for family and relax with seats with backs too as malls are made for people to be comfortable and why not the seats too? AND MAKE MORE SEATS AVAILABLE FOR RELAXING AND ENJOYING THE MALL EXPERIENCE!


The designers in SM malls are getting carried away with seating boxes with no backs and yes they look beautiful but for the elderly its very uncomfortable!!!
 MOST MALLS OFFER COMFORT TO THEIR SHOPPERS WITH FULL BENCHES WITH BACKS LIKE AYALA AND ROBINSONS
 
TAKE A LOOK AT THE TYPES OF SEATS FOUND AT OTHER MALLS CLICK THE LINK ABOVE AND WHY NOT MAKE SM MALLS WORLD CLASS TOO FOR SHOPPERS TO LINGER A WHILE AND SAVOR THE EXPERIENCE?