SM Prime said the new mall would feature the biggest supermarket in the municipality through Savemore and would also feature SM mainstays like Ace Hardware, Watsons and BDO. "We are committed to continue our expansion towards the provincial areas which remains our strategic direction in the Philippines," SM Prime president Hans T. Sy said. SM Prime built its very first mall in 1983 on North EDSA, considered as Metro Manila's main thoroughfare. SM founder Henry Sy, Sr. developed a then-vacant swamp into a mall and turned it into what is now one of the most popular and iconic brands in the country. SM North EDSA mall, which opened in 1985 with a gross floor area (GFA) at that time of 125,000 sqm, now draws a foot traffic of about 400,000 per day. "In almost 30 years, SM Malls have become an important element in every community. We will also continue to expand and improve the look and feel of our existing malls to keep them current and exciting for our customers," Sy said.