For years, people living in General Trias have had to travel to other parts of Cavite for some of the bigger SM malls.
That’s about to change.
SM City General Trias is now taking shape inside Riverpark, the massive township development rising in General Trias, Cavite. More than another neighborhood shopping center, the project is being positioned as one of the major commercial anchors of this rapidly developing part of the province.
And naturally, one question keeps coming up:
When exactly is SM City General Trias opening?
The short answer is that 2026 remains the expected opening period, with recent reporting pointing to the fourth quarter of 2026—but as of September 8, 2026, I have not found an official SM announcement giving a specific grand-opening date.
There are also differing completion dates in corporate documents, which I’ll explain below because it’s important not to turn a target date into a “confirmed” opening date.
Here’s everything we currently know about SM City General Trias, including its location, size, possible stores, construction progress, transportation plans and what the mall could mean for GenTri.
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SM City General Trias Quick Facts
| Detail | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Mall | SM City General Trias |
| Location | Riverpark North, General Trias, Cavite |
| Area | Barangay Pasong Camachile II/Pascam 2 |
| Developer/operator | SM Prime Holdings / SM Supermalls |
| Site | About 11 hectares |
| Phase 1 GLA | Approximately 43,000 sq.m. |
| Expected opening | Targeted for 2026; Q4 2026 has been reported |
| Exact opening date | Not yet officially announced as of September 8, 2026 |
| Groundbreaking | June 14, 2024 |
| Significance | First SM mall in General Trias |
| Cavite SM ranking | Announced as the 8th SM mall in Cavite |
| Features planned | Retail, restaurants, open spaces, entertainment, transport facilities and future expansion |
The General Trias city government confirmed that the project’s groundbreaking was held on June 14, 2024, attended by SM executives and city officials. The local government described it as one of the largest and most modern malls planned for the region.
When Will SM City General Trias Open?
This is the part most readers are probably looking for.
The latest answer: likely late 2026, but there is no confirmed exact opening day yet.
A July 16, 2026 report said the mall was progressing toward a fourth-quarter 2026 opening, which would put the target sometime between October and December 2026.
There is also strong corporate evidence that SM has been aiming to complete the project within 2026. In a 2026 SM Prime Holdings bond document, SM City General Trias was given a target completion date in the third quarter of 2026.
However, there is one complication.
A GT Capital first-quarter 2026 presentation listed a 2027 target completion date for SM General Trias while identifying Phase 1 as having approximately 43,000 square meters of gross leasable area.
So which one is correct?
The most reasonable interpretation is that different documents may be referring to different construction phases, completion milestones or updated project schedules. SM Prime’s own capital-expenditure document points toward 2026, while a GT Capital presentation points to 2027 for completion.
That is why I would not publish a specific date like “October 2026” or “December 2026” as confirmed unless SM officially announces it.
Current status as of September 8, 2026
For now, I would summarize it this way:
SM City General Trias is expected to begin welcoming shoppers around late 2026 if the current opening timetable holds, but the official grand-opening date has not yet been announced. Some development documentation still indicates that full completion could extend into 2027.
That’s less exciting than giving everyone an exact date, but it’s more accurate.
Where Is SM City General Trias Located?
SM City General Trias is being built inside Riverpark North, in the Pasong Camachile area of General Trias.
More specifically, the development is associated with Barangay Pasong Camachile II, also commonly shortened to Pascam 2, near Open Canal Road.
Riverpark itself is a huge mixed-use township being developed by Federal Land and Federal Land NRE Global.
The mall occupies roughly 11 hectares within the development and will become one of Riverpark’s major commercial anchors.
For people familiar with this part of Cavite, the mall’s location is particularly interesting because it places it close to the rapidly developing Open Canal–Daang Hari corridor and major residential communities around General Trias and Imus.
What Is Riverpark?
You can’t really talk about SM City General Trias without talking about Riverpark.
That’s because this isn’t a mall being dropped into an isolated piece of land.
Riverpark is envisioned as a large integrated township, with residential communities, commercial areas, offices, educational institutions, logistics facilities, parks and future transportation infrastructure.
The overall Riverpark estate spans approximately 600 hectares.
Among the major developments connected to the township are the UNIQLO Logistics Facility, residential projects such as Yume at Riverpark, commercial districts and a future 15-hectare Ateneo de Manila University campus, which is targeted to open around 2030.
That puts SM City General Trias in an interesting position.
It’s not just being built to serve today’s population.
The mall is being positioned for what this part of General Trias could become over the next decade.
How Big Will SM City General Trias Be?
Quite big.
Federal Land NRE Global describes SM City General Trias as an 11-hectare development and says it will provide substantial shopping options along with open and outdoor spaces and provision for future expansion.
A 2026 GT Capital presentation places Phase 1 gross leasable area at approximately 43,000 square meters.
Another SM-related securities document has referred to SM General Trias as having approximately 60,000 square meters of gross floor area. Gross floor area and gross leasable area measure different things, so those numbers aren’t necessarily contradictory.
What matters for shoppers is that this isn’t being planned as a small community mall.
From the beginning, SM and the General Trias government have talked about the project as a major regional mall.
What Will SM City General Trias Look Like?
Early artist perspectives show a large low-rise commercial complex with a curved contemporary façade, significant landscaping and large road and parking areas surrounding the mall.
The design also places more emphasis on open spaces and outdoor areas than the traditional fully enclosed mall format. Federal Land specifically mentions open and outdoor spaces as part of the development.
That makes sense given where SM’s newer developments are heading.
The modern SM mall isn’t simply about department stores anymore. Newer projects increasingly combine shopping with restaurants, gathering spaces, landscaped areas and entertainment.
For GenTri residents, that could turn the mall into as much of a weekend destination as a place to buy groceries.
What Stores Will Be at SM City General Trias?
This is another big question—and another area where we need to separate confirmed information from speculation.
There is no complete official SM City General Trias store directory yet.
As of this update, I haven’t found an official SM tenant directory containing the mall’s final list of stores, restaurants and brands.
That will normally become clearer as opening day gets closer.
However, we are starting to see signs of individual businesses preparing for the mall.
For example, recruitment listings have appeared specifically seeking employees for Fruitas at SM City General Trias.
A separate recruitment listing from Classic Savory also specifically identifies SM General Trias as the assigned location.
Those are fairly strong indications that both brands are preparing operations in the mall, although I’d still wait for the official mall directory before calling any pre-opening tenant lineup absolutely final.
What Stores Can We Expect?
Even though the complete tenant list isn’t out, the scale of the project tells us something about the type of mall SM is building.
Early planning information has included space for major anchor tenants, general retail stores, food establishments, entertainment facilities and cinemas. A transport facility is also part of the broader concept.
So expect the eventual directory to cover the normal categories you would find in a full-sized SM City:
Fashion, restaurants, fast food, cafés, groceries, electronics, beauty, health, banks, services, entertainment and family-oriented establishments should all be represented.
But I’ll avoid naming individual chains until they’re actually confirmed.
Because we’ve all seen this happen with new malls: a rumored tenant list circulates on Facebook, everyone gets excited, and then half the brands aren’t there on opening day.
Better to wait.
Will There Be an SM Store and Supermarket?
It would be very natural for a mall of this scale to include SM’s traditional retail anchors.
However, until SM releases the official directory and opening lineup, I would treat the exact anchor configuration as subject to confirmation.
The 2026 mall plans clearly position the development as a full-scale retail destination rather than a small specialty center.
So shoppers should expect the usual combination of large retail anchors and specialty tenants, even though the final names and formats still need official confirmation.
Will SM City General Trias Have Cinemas?
Everything we’ve seen so far points toward cinema and entertainment facilities being part of the project.
Early project information reported space allocated for a cinema and food court, along with retail areas and anchor tenants.
The final number of cinemas, screen formats and opening-day configuration have not yet been officially released.
So yes, a cinema is expected.
Whether we get standard SM Cinema screens, Director’s Club or other premium formats is something we’ll have to wait for.
What Restaurants Will Open?
This may eventually be one of the most exciting parts of SM City General Trias.
GenTri’s restaurant scene has been growing for years, particularly around Governor’s Drive, Manggahan, San Francisco and the city’s large residential communities.
A mall this size gives both national restaurant chains and smaller concepts another reason to enter the city.
So far, Classic Savory has surfaced through recruitment activity tied specifically to SM General Trias, while Fruitas has also advertised positions associated with the new mall.
More names will likely emerge as tenant fit-outs and recruitment accelerate.
A Note About UNIQLO
Here’s something worth clearing up because it could easily cause confusion.
There is already major UNIQLO activity at Riverpark, but that does not automatically mean a UNIQLO retail store has been confirmed for SM City General Trias.
UNIQLO opened a major logistics facility at Riverpark, which has been described as its largest logistics hub in Southeast Asia.
That’s a warehouse and supply-chain operation—not a shopping mall store.
Could UNIQLO eventually become a retail tenant in the mall? Certainly possible.
But until the store directory says so, those are two separate developments.
Parking and Transport Terminal
One feature that could make SM City General Trias particularly important is transportation.
Early project plans included more than 1,000 parking spaces and provision for a transport terminal.
GT Capital has also described an integrated transport terminal as part of the mall development.
That’s a big deal.
SM malls often become transportation hubs almost by accident. Once buses, jeepneys, vans and other public transport begin using a mall as a terminal, the mall effectively becomes a new regional center.
For GenTri, this could eventually make the Riverpark area much easier to reach even for residents without private cars.
However, specific bus, jeepney and UV Express routes for SM City General Trias haven’t yet been officially announced.
How Do You Get to SM City General Trias?
Before opening, the easiest way to think about the location is:
Riverpark North → Open Canal Road → General Trias
If you’re coming from the Imus/Daang Hari side, the Open Canal corridor provides one of the most logical approaches toward Riverpark.
If you’re coming from the interior of General Trias, routes will depend on your barangay and connections to the city’s main road network.
For motorists coming from Laguna, Silang or the CALAX corridor, connectivity is improving rapidly.
In May 2026, the Governor’s Drive Interchange of CALAX opened, extending the operational expressway into General Trias.
Another interchange—CALAX Open Canal Interchange—is intended to provide even more direct access toward Riverpark and has been targeted for completion in 2026. The separate Riverpark-General Trias Interchange has been targeted for 2027.
Once those road connections are fully operational, Riverpark becomes much easier to reach from different parts of Cavite and Laguna.
Is the CALAX Open Canal Interchange Open?
As of this article’s September 8, 2026 update, I would not assume that the Open Canal Interchange is already operational unless CALAX officially announces its opening.
The interchange has been repeatedly targeted for completion in 2026, while the already-open Governor’s Drive Interchange currently provides another General Trias connection.
This distinction will become very important for motorists once SM opens.
Construction Update
Construction has moved a long way from the groundbreaking ceremony in June 2024.
Early site photos showed earthworks, cranes and foundations. By 2026, the building had become much more visible, and SM’s own corporate planning continued to list General Trias among the company’s major mall developments scheduled around this period.
Another clue that the project is moving toward operations is recruitment.
SM Supermalls has advertised leasing-related positions specifically for SM City General Trias, while an August 2026 career announcement from Emilio Aguinaldo College promoted opportunities to join the SM General Trias team.
That’s the kind of activity you’d expect as a mall moves from pure construction toward tenant preparation and operational staffing.
Why Is SM City General Trias a Big Deal?
You might be thinking:
“Cavite already has plenty of malls. Why is another SM such a big story?”
The answer is location.
General Trias has experienced enormous residential and commercial growth, but the city itself has never had its own full-scale SM City.
This will be the first SM mall in General Trias and was introduced as the eighth SM mall in Cavite province.
For residents living around Pasong Camachile, Lancaster, Open Canal and nearby GenTri communities, it means many shopping, dining and entertainment needs could become significantly closer.
And unlike an isolated mall project, SM City General Trias sits inside an entire growth corridor.
Riverpark is adding homes.
Commercial lots are being developed.
UNIQLO has established its logistics facility.
Ateneo is planning a future campus.
CALAX connectivity is improving.
Put all of those together and it’s easier to understand why this mall matters.
Possible Impact on Jobs in General Trias
One of the most immediate effects will be employment.
When the project broke ground, General Trias officials specifically pointed to the mall’s potential to create new job opportunities for Gentriseños.
And we’re already seeing that happen before opening.
Recruitment is appearing not only for retail and restaurant workers but for mall operations and leasing positions as well.
Once tenants begin opening, expect demand for:
retail staff, cashiers, restaurant crews, supervisors, security personnel, maintenance workers, marketing staff, administrative employees and mall operations personnel.
For local job seekers, this could become one of the more important hiring developments in General Trias in 2026 and 2027.
What Will Happen to Traffic?
Now for the question every Cavite resident eventually asks:
What about traffic?
A mall this large will obviously attract a significant number of vehicles.
Open Canal Road and the surrounding corridors are therefore going to become increasingly important.
The good news is that Riverpark’s development is happening alongside major infrastructure investments, including new internal roads and CALAX interchanges.
Federal Land has also discussed a new east-west connector as part of the broader Riverpark access network.
Whether those improvements are enough to absorb opening-week traffic is another story.
If you’ve ever been to a major new mall on its first weekend, you already know the answer:
Maybe don’t schedule anything important immediately afterward.
SM City General Trias vs Robinsons GenTri
Once SM opens, General Trias will have two very different major shopping destinations.
Robinsons GenTri serves the northern side of the city around the Antero Soriano/EPZA-Bacao corridor.
SM City General Trias, meanwhile, will anchor the expanding Riverpark and Open Canal side of the city.
I don’t think this will simply become an “SM versus Robinsons” situation.
General Trias is geographically large enough that location will probably matter more than loyalty.
If you live near Tejero or Bacao, Robinsons may remain much more convenient.
If you’re closer to Pasong Camachile, Lancaster, Open Canal or Riverpark, the new SM could become your natural mall.
Will SM City General Trias Become One of Cavite’s Biggest Malls?
It’s definitely being positioned as a major provincial mall, although comparisons require some care because malls use different measurements—land area, gross floor area and gross leasable area.
The project occupies around 11 hectares, Phase 1 has been described as roughly 43,000 square meters of GLA, and another corporate filing refers to approximately 60,000 square meters of gross floor area.
What’s particularly interesting is that the site includes room for future expansion.
So the SM City General Trias we eventually see on opening day may not necessarily be its final form.
Frequently Asked Questions About SM City General Trias
Is SM City General Trias already open?
No. As of September 8, 2026, it remains an upcoming mall.
When is SM City General Trias opening?
Recent reporting points to a Q4 2026 target, but no exact official grand-opening date has been announced. Corporate documents contain different completion schedules, including a 2027 target in one GT Capital presentation.
Where is SM City General Trias?
It is located inside Riverpark North in the Pasong Camachile area of General Trias, Cavite, near the Open Canal corridor.
Is this the first SM in General Trias?
Yes. It is set to become General Trias’ first SM mall.
Will SM City General Trias have cinemas?
Cinema facilities have been included in project information, although the number and type of screens haven’t been announced.
What stores are confirmed?
A complete official store directory isn’t available yet. Recruitment activity tied specifically to the mall has appeared for businesses including Fruitas and Classic Savory.
Will there be public transportation?
A transport terminal has been incorporated into the development concept, but specific routes have not yet been announced.
Is there parking?
Yes. Early project information indicated parking capacity for more than 1,100 vehicles, although final opening-day capacity should be confirmed once SM releases its official mall information.
Final Thoughts: SM City General Trias Could Change This Side of Cavite
For people who have watched General Trias grow over the years, the arrival of SM City General Trias feels like another sign of how dramatically the city is changing.
GenTri isn’t simply expanding outward with more subdivisions anymore.
It’s developing entire new districts.
Riverpark is probably the clearest example.
A huge township.
New residential communities.
Commercial areas.
A major logistics facility.
Future university developments.
New expressway connections.
And right in the middle of that growth story is a new SM City.
The most important thing to remember right now is that the mall isn’t open yet, and an exact grand-opening date still needs official confirmation.
But the project is moving forward, recruitment activity is appearing, and late 2026 remains the period to watch.
Once SM finally puts an exact date on the calendar, expect interest to explode—especially when the first official tenant list, restaurant lineup and cinema details start coming out.
For GenTri residents, that opening day has been a long time coming.
And judging by the scale of what’s being built at Riverpark, SM City General Trias could become much more than another mall. It could become one of the new centers of everyday life in modern Cavite.
Last updated: September 8, 2026
