Rational Madness

Friday, March 02, 2007

Mall Tycoons

I came across this very interesting list on msn.com last night. It's about the 10 biggest malls in the world. In 1994, back when I had my first ever copy of the Guinness Book of World Records, the biggest mall in the world was in Canada. This year, that mall has gone down to Number 4 in the list. Eight of biggest malls in the world now rises in Asia, and shocker of shockers, three of those are in the Philippines!

Check this out (square footage is relative to available retail space):

1. South China Mall (2005, China) 7.1 Million square feet

2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall (2004, China) 6M sq.ft.

3. SM Mall of Asia (2006, Philippines) 4.2 M sq.ft.

4. West Edmonton Mall (1981, Canada) 3.8 M sq. ft.

5. SM Megamall (1991, Philippines) 3.6 M sq. ft.

6. Berjaya Times Square (2005, Malaysia) 3.4 M sq. ft.

7. Beijing Mall (2005, China) 3.4 M sq. ft.

8. Zhengjia Plaza (2005, China) 3 M sq. ft.

9. SM City North Edsa (1985, Philippines) 3 M sq. ft.

10.King of Prussia Mall (1962, USA) 2.8 M sq. ft.

From the abovementioned information, you might start thinking these trivial thoughts as I have:

1. My, China is obsessed with trade and retail. Even with a whole horde of Chinese retailers conquering Divisoria and tiangges, they still have more to sell in their own country!

2. Wow, it looks like the Philippines has a booming economy. What with three of the largest malls in the world cramped in our teeny weeny island paradise.

3. What, no competition from America? Where's American capitalism when you need it?

Then I come to my senses and realize...

1. Well, China is relaxing their grip a bit, especially since the Olympics is at hand and they expect tourists to storm their malls. And yes, I still think they're obsessed businessmen. For the good of the country, of course.

2. Come to think of it, it's not the Philippines that has a booming economy. It's Henry Sy, the owner and developer of the SM super malls. He's the only one playing reality-based Mall Tycoon here. He's the sole reason the Philippines is on the list. Let's not fail to mention he's part Chinese, ergo he may well be an obsessed businessman himself.

3. I am stumped on the third issue. But I'm sure Americans will be doing something about this! China cannot beat them at this game! They invented the frikkin' game!

Let's stand by. I'm sure this will get down and dirty... And for that matter, since Henry Sy claimed that Mall of Asia was gonna be the biggest in Asia, (clearly it isn't), I'm sure he'll reclaim another part of the Pacific Ocean or the South China Sea to build the Mall of malls of the entire Universe. Next year, let's wait for the next rising building in the galaxy!

Labels: Mall of Asia, Malls

she told the story ... 12:00 PM

%that's me

Karrisa. A cat lover. A dog lover. Frustrated poet and writer. Cynic. Stardust traveller. Stubborn. Here and There. Maaaaaaaaad.

%ME LIKEY

~ Calla Lillies
~ Cats and Dogs~ ~ Mexicali Roast Beef Burrito and Chips Ahoy!~ ~ Chinese food and Fastfood~ ~ The Landmark and Mall of Asia~ ~ Eating and Napping~ ~ Tennis and Tennis Players :D~ ~ Music and Lyrics~ ~ Broadway and Jazz Hands~ ~ Musical Plays and Lea Salonga~ ~ Christopher Pike and Agatha Christie~ ~ Cryptograms and Text Twist~ ~ Art and Creativity~ ~ Love and Masochism~ ~ The Gladiator and Russel Crowe~ ~ Korea's Full House~ ~ My boyfie... Vincent~ ~

WISHLIST

~LG Strawberry Chocolate
~ Go to Hawaii
~ Go back to the Philippines