Acronym of SM Mall

Undisputedly SM's chain of malls is the most famous department store in the Philippines. We perhaps all heard the rags to riches success story of SM. But have you ever wondered what does SM stands for? I don’t know too. Let us briefly go over with their history, SM started way back in the 60’s as a humble little shoe-making and repair shop in Cariedo, Quiapo. The owner called this store Shoe-Mart in short SM. The years of 70’s rolled for SM then around 80’s the mall era has began. And during these years SM or Shoe-Mart became a department store and started including other services like supermarket, food court, and other retail store format. And during the 90’s the little store that all began in Quiapo has became the the MegaMall in Mandaluyong and this has started the mall-culture in the Philippines.

As of to date three SM malls have gotten a spot in the 10 largest shopping malls in the world based on its gross leasable area (GLA). Third place is SM City North EDSA with 4.74 million sq. ft. GLA, fifth place is SM Mall of Asia (MOA) having a 4.67 million sq. ft. GLA, and the eighth placer is SM Megamall having 3.75 million sq. ft. GLA. And if you will extend the list up to top 15, SM Cebu is on the twelfth place having a 2.8 million sq. ft. GLA.

Now going back to my question earlier what does SM stands for? Obviously it cannot be Shoe-Mart anymore!

I hope somebody can post here in the forum the meaning of S.M. acronym.

Rumor has it that Mr. Henry Sy partnered with a certain Mendiola when he started SM in Carriedo thus SM originally stand for Sy-Mendiola but some contest that it was Mercado and not Mendiola.

[OceanBreezeInn]

Originally Posted by smallbird

Rumor has it that Mr. Henry Sy partnered with a certain Mendiola when he started SM in Carriedo thus SM originally stand for Sy-Mendiola but some contest that it was Mercado and not Mendiola.

Seems to be correct. When I look at this Businessweek article its stated:

INSIDERS ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT SM Investments Corp. (SM)

Harley T. Sy has been the President of SM Investments Corp. since 2005 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sy also serves as Executive Vice-President of ShoeMart Inc. a subsidiary of SM Investments Corp. He served as Senior Vice-President and Treasurer of SM Prime Holdings Inc. from 1994 to February 20, 2007. Mr. Sy was involved in the merchandising area of the SM Department Store, as well as retail affiliates within the SM Group. He takes an active role in ... Mall leasing. Mr. Sy has been a director/officer for more than five years in companies engaged in banking, retailing, food, real estate development, finance and investment. Mr. Sy has been a Director of China Banking Corp., since May 2001 and SM Investments Corp., since 1993. His directorships include the following: ACE Hardware Phils., Shoemart Inc., and H.S. Food, Inc., among other corporations. HSY, HTS, HS and HTS, Jr. are related within the 2nd civil degree by consanguinity. Mr. Sy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, major in Finance from De La Salle University.

And Jorge Mendiola also belongs to the SM Board of Directors


According to Wikepedia:

The roots of SM date back to the 1950s when entrepreneur Henry Sy established a shoe store in Carriedo, the then-central business district of Manila. His aggressive and adamant strategy helped him gain large profits within a few years and he later expanded his business in Quiapo to become a fully functioning department store named "Shoemart", specialising in the sale of shoes, the sector of which the store originally was. Shoemart was later abbreviated to "SM" and became commonly known as "SM" and/or "Shoemart" by the locals. The SM in Carriedo was later abandoned and moved in the present site in Quiapo near the Manila LRT Yellow Line. The old site was demolished in 1982.

So perhaps either Shoe-Mart when they started and then later SM translates to Sy-Mendiola. I hope the SM management would officially say what S and M really stands for.

Whewww. you really did your homework. Well I agree with you. That SM stands for Shoe Mart. As we have the habit to say things/words in acronyms to say it better and faster. Just like name of banks, schools, qoutes, etc.

Originally Posted by OceanBreezeInn

Seems to be correct. When I look at this Businessweek article its stated:



And Jorge Mendiola also belongs to the SM Board of Directors


According to Wikepedia: