Harrison Plaza

Harrison Plaza was a major shopping mall in the Malate district of Manila, Philippines. Located at the corner of Adriatico Street and Ocampo Street, it became one of the defining commercial landmarks of the area after opening in 1976. The complex was developed on a roughly seven-hectare property leased from the City Government of Manila by the Martel family. It was widely regarded as the first modern, fully air-conditioned major shopping mall in the Philippines after the earlier opening of Ali Mall. The site had a complicated pre-commercial history. It had been associated with Fort San Antonio Abad, Harrison Park, and Ermita Cemetery. The cemetery was destroyed during World War II, after which the site was cleared and eventually made available for commercial development. Harrison Plaza’s opening reflected the emergence of enclosed, climate-controlled retail centers in the Philippines, offering consumers a concentrated mix of department stores, food outlets, entertainment, and services. A major fire forced the mall to close for renovations between 1982 and 1984. When it reopened, Harrison Plaza had expanded beyond basic retailing. Its facilities included a cinema, amusement rides, a fountain, a Catholic chapel, and later a hotel. The property also contained a jai alai fronton, an unusual entertainment and sporting attraction that operated until the sport was prohibited by the Philippine government. The former fronton was eventually converted into an SM Hypermarket outlet in 2010. At its commercial peak, the mall contained more than 180 retail shops, restaurants, service businesses, a supermarket, and four movie theaters. Its principal department-store anchors included SM Store and Rustan’s. During the 2000s and 2010s, Harrison Plaza increasingly faced competition from newer and larger developments operated by SM, Ayala, Robinsons, Megaworld, and other metropolitan developers. While rival malls received substantial modernization and expansion, Harrison Plaza underwent comparatively limited upgrading. Its aging facilities and surrounding urban conditions contributed to a perception of decline, even though the complex remained a recognizable shopping destination. SM Prime Holdings became involved in plans to redevelop the property during the 2010s. In 2016, reports described a proposed multicomponent project that could include business-process-outsourcing offices and residential towers. In April 2018, SM Prime finalized an arrangement to buy out the Martel family’s position in the lease and redevelopment agreement with the City of Manila. The stated objective was to replace the aging mall with a new shopping center accompanied by residential development. Tenants were formally notified in November 2019 that the mall would stop operating on December 31 of that year. They were given additional time, until January 31, 2020, to vacate their spaces. The building remained unused after closure and was fully demolished in October 2021. In April 2026, SM Prime announced a reported plan to invest PHP 6 billion in a new shopping mall on the original site, provisionally named SM Harrison Plaza, with projected completion in 2027 and a planned floor area of at least 200,000 square meters. This proposed successor is distinct from the original Harrison Plaza and represents a redevelopment of its former location. The original mall also appeared in popular culture as a filming location for the 2019 comedy-horror film The Mall, The Merrier, where it portrayed the fictional Tamol Mall.

The property associated with Harrison Plaza had been used for several historical purposes before becoming a retail site. It was linked to Fort San Antonio Abad, Harrison Park, and Ermita Cemetery. The cemetery was destroyed during World War II, and the site was later cleared of graves before being considered for commercial use. The Martel family leased the approximately seven-hectare property from the City Government of Manila and developed Harrison Plaza as an enclosed shopping complex. It opened in 1976 and was widely described as the first modern and fully air-conditioned major shopping mall in the Philippines after Ali Mall. Its development helped establish the enclosed mall as a significant retail and social format in Metro Manila. A fire severely damaged the complex in the early 1980s. Harrison Plaza closed for reconstruction from 1982 to 1984 and reopened with a broader mix of retail, entertainment, and community facilities. The expanded complex included a cinema, amusement rides, a fountain, a Catholic chapel, and, later, a hotel. One of its most distinctive attractions was a jai alai fronton. After the Philippine government banned jai alai, the facility was ultimately converted into an SM Hypermarket, which opened in that part of the property in 2010. At maturity, Harrison Plaza hosted more than 180 retail stores, restaurants, service outlets, a supermarket, and four movie theaters. SM Store and Rustan’s were among its prominent department-store anchors. The mall served as a central commercial destination for Malate and surrounding parts of Manila, combining everyday shopping with dining and entertainment. Its competitive position weakened during the 2000s and 2010s. Large developers including SM, Ayala, Robinsons, and Megaworld built newer metropolitan malls with larger footprints, updated facilities, and broader entertainment and dining offerings. Harrison Plaza received relatively few comparable upgrades, and both the mall and its surrounding area became associated with physical deterioration and urban decline. SM Prime Holdings began pursuing redevelopment of the property during the 2010s. Reports in 2016 described a proposed investment of PHP 39.44 billion for a mixed-use scheme that could include business-process-outsourcing offices and residential towers. The project involved cooperation with the City Government of Manila, which retained an economic interest in the property arrangement. In April 2018, SM Prime completed an agreement to buy out the Martel family from its contract with the city, clearing the way for a new shopping center and residential condominium development. The original mall’s closure was announced in November 2019. Operations ended on December 31, 2019, although tenants were allowed until January 31, 2020, to remove their goods and fixtures. The building then stood unused before being demolished in October 2021. A later redevelopment announcement described a new mall, SM Harrison Plaza, planned for the original site. SM Prime announced the proposed project on April 1, 2026, with a reported investment of PHP 6 billion, a target opening in 2027, and a planned floor area of at least 200,000 square meters. This future project is a successor development rather than a continuation of the original Harrison Plaza operation. The original complex also gained a place in popular culture when the 2019 film The Mall, The Merrier used it and its surroundings to represent the fictional Tamol Mall.

• 2026

  Proposed SM Harrison Plaza is announced

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  SM Prime announces a proposed replacement shopping center on the former site, with projected completion in 2027.

• 2021

  Original building is demolished

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The Harrison Plaza structure is fully demolished in October for site redevelopment.

• 2019

  Original mall closes

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall ends commercial operations on December 31 after tenants receive closure and relocation notices.

• 2018

  SM Prime secures redevelopment control

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  SM Prime finalizes an arrangement to buy out the Martel family’s position in the city lease and redevelopment contract.

• 2016

  Redevelopment plans are reported

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  SM Prime is reported to be considering a mixed-use redevelopment involving retail, offices, and residential towers.

• 2010

  Former jai alai facility becomes an SM Hypermarket

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The former jai alai fronton is repurposed as an SM Hypermarket after the sport’s prohibition.

• 1990

  Hotel facilities are added

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A hotel is added to the complex during the 1990s.

• 1984

  Mall reopens after renovation

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  Harrison Plaza resumes operations with expanded retail, cinema, leisure, and community facilities.

• 1982

  Fire forces a temporary closure

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  A major fire damages the complex and leads to a closure for renovation.

• 1976

  Harrison Plaza opens

  [1]Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org

  The mall opens in Malate, Manila, becoming one of the Philippines’ earliest major modern enclosed and air-conditioned shopping centers.

A pioneering enclosed and air-conditioned metropolitan shopping center that combined department stores, dining, entertainment, services, and leisure attractions in a central Manila location. In its later years, it was associated with an aging retail format awaiting comprehensive redevelopment.

• Retail · 1976

  Department-store retail

  The mall’s department-store offer was anchored by major Philippine chains, notably SM Store and Rustan’s. These anchors provided apparel, household goods, personal products, and general merchandise, while smaller tenants added specialty retail categories.

• Grocery retail · 2010

  Supermarket

  Grocery retail formed part of Harrison Plaza’s everyday-shopping proposition. The former jai alai area was later converted into an SM Hypermarket outlet, broadening the complex’s food and household-goods offer.

• Entertainment · 1984

  Cinema complex

  Following its 1980s renovation, Harrison Plaza included four movie theaters. The cinema helped position the property as an entertainment destination as well as a place for shopping and dining.

• Leisure and sport · 1984

  Jai alai fronton

  A jai alai fronton was one of the complex’s distinctive attractions after its reopening. It later ceased to operate after government restrictions on the sport and was ultimately repurposed as an SM Hypermarket.

• 2026

  Proposed launch of SM Harrison PlazaProduct launch

  Background

  SM Prime announced a successor shopping-center project for the former Harrison Plaza site.

  Action taken

  The company announced a planned PHP 6 billion investment in a new mall provisionally named SM Harrison Plaza, with projected completion in 2027.

  Aftermath

  The announcement marked a transition from the demolished original mall to a new redevelopment expected to include at least 200,000 square meters of floor area.

  Announced investment. PHP 6 billion (Announced April 1, 2026)

  Source

• 2019

  Closure of the original Harrison PlazaStrategy

  Background

  The property’s aging facilities and redevelopment plans led to the decision to end the original mall’s operations.

  Action taken

  Tenants were notified in November that operations would stop on December 31, with a grace period for clearing their premises through January 31, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The building remained dormant and was demolished in October 2021.

  Source

• 2018

  SM Prime takes control of the redevelopment arrangementM&A

  Background

  The aging mall had fallen behind newer metropolitan shopping centers and required comprehensive redevelopment.

  Action taken

  SM Prime Holdings finalized a deal to buy out the Martel family from its contract with the City Government of Manila.

  Aftermath

  The transaction enabled SM Prime to pursue a replacement shopping center with residential development above or alongside it.

  Source

• 2010

  Conversion of the jai alai frontonStrategy

  Background

  The jai alai fronton ceased to be viable after the Philippine government banned the sport.

  Action taken

  The former fronton was converted into an SM Hypermarket outlet.

  Aftermath

  The conversion shifted part of the complex from sports entertainment toward grocery and general merchandise retail.

  Source

• 1982

  Reconstruction after fireOther

  Background

  A fire severely affected the mall and required the property to close temporarily.

  Action taken

  The complex was closed for renovation and reopened in 1984 with an expanded tenant and entertainment mix.

  Aftermath

  The reopened mall included a cinema, amusement facilities, a chapel, a fountain, and other additions.

  Source

1. 1Harrison Plazaen.wikipedia.org