Ayala Center Cebu
Retailer / private label
UnclaimedA major Ayala Malls shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use complex in Cebu City, Philippines.
Last updated October 14, 2026
Overview
Ayala Center Cebu is a large mixed-use shopping and lifestyle complex in Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, Philippines. Owned and operated under the Ayala Malls portfolio, it is one of the principal retail destinations in the Visayas and serves as a commercial centerpiece of the Cebu Business Park development. The complex combines retail stores, restaurants, cinemas, leisure areas, offices, and residential components rather than functioning solely as a conventional enclosed shopping center. The mall opened in November 1994 and was the first Ayala mall established outside Metro Manila. Its opening followed the launch of SM City Cebu in 1993, placing the two major Philippine mall groups in direct competition for Cebu's growing urban and regional consumer market. For many years, Ayala Center Cebu was the only Ayala mall whose name directly used the Ayala designation, helping make the name closely associated with Cebu's upscale retail and business district. A defining feature of the original complex was its lagoon and landscaped open areas. In 2008, the lagoon area was transformed into The Terraces, a substantial dining and beverage expansion designed to make outdoor restaurants, gardens, and social spaces a more prominent part of the mall experience. The project reportedly cost approximately 600 million Philippine pesos, although that figure is treated here as a historical project estimate rather than a current financial disclosure. The complex subsequently underwent a larger retail and mixed-use expansion. More than 200 additional stores were planned across a four-level retail addition, with an initial group of outlets unveiled in December 2013. The expansion added approximately 36,500 square meters of gross leasable area and was associated with a reported project cost of 2.9 billion Philippine pesos. It also incorporated Park Point Residences, extending the development beyond retail into residential use. In 2015, Ayala Center Cebu Tower opened above the mall's west entrance. The tower introduced business-process-outsourcing office space and a retail podium anchored by a three-level H&M store and H&M Home. Another residential and retail component, The Alcoves, was launched in 2016 at the site of the former principal entrance. Its podium included a three-level south-entrance expansion anchored in part by Uniqlo. The retail portion of The Alcoves was completed in April 2021. The center attracts both local residents and visitors from the wider Cebu region. Reference material describes average daily visitation of more than 100,000 people, rising to approximately 160,000 on weekends. Its tenant mix has included department-store and supermarket operations, international fashion retailers, restaurants, food outlets, cinemas, service businesses, and specialty stores. The development's office and residential elements reinforce its role as an integrated urban destination within Cebu Business Park. A major redevelopment was announced for implementation beginning in the first quarter of 2024, with completion targeted for 2026. The plans include upgrades to interior areas and common spaces, improvements to parks and gardens, expanded dining and entertainment facilities, and a stronger mix of flagship, first-in-Cebu, and exclusive concept stores. Ground clearing for another expansion between Seda Hotel and an earlier expansion wing was reported in 2025. The planned work is expected to increase the overall gross floor area to roughly 280,000 to 300,000 square meters when completed, although the final figure and completion status require verification. Ayala Center Cebu has also experienced operational disruptions and safety incidents. A 2015 cinema ceiling collapse linked to a loose fire-sprinkler pipe connection injured nine people. In 2018, a major fire in the Metro Ayala Department Store building caused extensive damage and forced temporary relocation of supermarket and department-store operations before reconstruction. These events, to…
History
Ayala Center Cebu developed as a major component of Cebu Business Park and marked Ayala's first mall venture outside Metro Manila. It opened in November 1994, shortly after the opening of SM City Cebu, establishing a competitive two-group retail environment in Cebu. The project became an important commercial anchor for the business park and evolved from a primarily retail facility into a broader mixed-use destination. The original mall incorporated a lagoon and landscaped spaces that later became central to its identity. On October 30, 2008, Ayala Center Cebu opened The Terraces, a reported 600-million-peso conversion and expansion of the lagoon area into a dining, restaurant, and beverage district. The project increased the role of outdoor leisure and food service within the complex. A larger expansion followed in the early 2010s. The plan added more than 200 outlets across four retail levels, together with Park Point Residences. Forty outlets were unveiled on December 11, 2013. The reported 2.9-billion-peso project added approximately 36,500 square meters of gross leasable area and was described as completing the center's retail master plan at that stage. The complex continued to diversify in 2015 with the opening of Ayala Center Cebu Tower over the west entrance. The tower provided BPO office accommodation while its podium introduced a large H&M and H&M Home retail presence. In 2016, Ayala launched The Alcoves at the former main entrance. The development included residential space and a three-level retail expansion at the south entrance anchored in part by Uniqlo. The retail section of The Alcoves was completed in April 2021. The center's history also includes two significant incidents. On June 15, 2015, a ceiling at Cinema 5 collapsed during a BPO-company launch event. The reported cause was a loose connection in the cinema's fire-sprinkler system, possibly associated with damage from an earlier earthquake. Nine people were reported injured. On January 5, 2018, a fire began in a toy stockroom on the third floor of the Metro Ayala building. The blaze took two days to extinguish, caused substantial damage, and rendered the building unsuitable for continued use. The supermarket reopened in a temporary main-mall location in December 2018, while the department store later operated from temporary premises. The reconstructed permanent department-store building reopened on January 31, 2021. The center has remained a high-volume regional destination. Reference material describes more than 100,000 visitors on an average day and approximately 160,000 on weekends. Its offer has expanded across fashion, department-store retail, groceries, restaurants, cinemas, offices, and residential development. A major redevelopment planned from the first quarter of 2024 through 2026 is intended to modernize interiors and common areas, improve parks and gardens, upgrade dining and entertainment, and add flagship and exclusive retail concepts. Further ground clearing reported in 2025 indicates that expansion remains part of the site's long-term strategy. New A-Giant and A-Luxe cinemas were reported to have opened in November 2025.
- 2025
New cinema concepts reported
[1]A-Giant and A-Luxe cinemas were reported to have opened in November, replacing two former cinema rooms.
- 2024
Major redevelopment scheduled
[1]A three-year redevelopment program was scheduled to modernize the mall and strengthen its retail, dining, entertainment, and public-space offer.
- 2021
Rebuilt Metro Department Store reopens
[1]The permanent Metro Department Store building reopened after the 2018 fire and a period of temporary operations.
- 2016
The Alcoves launches
[1]A residential and retail component was launched at the former main entrance, with a podium including Uniqlo.
- 2015
Ayala Center Cebu Tower opens
[1]The complex added a BPO office tower and a retail podium anchored by H&M and H&M Home.
- 2013
Retail expansion outlets unveiled
[1]The first 40 outlets of a planned expansion adding more than 200 stores were unveiled.
- 2008
The Terraces opens
[1]The former lagoon area was converted into an expanded restaurant, food, beverage, and landscaped leisure district.
- 2002
Shopping-center award finalist
[1]Ayala Center Cebu was a finalist for Best Shopping Center of the Year in recognition associated with the Philippine Retailers Association and the Department of Trade and Industry.
- 1994
Ayala Center Cebu opens
[1]The mall opened in November 1994 as Ayala's first shopping center outside Metro Manila and became a centerpiece of Cebu Business Park.
Products and positioning
A large integrated lifestyle and regional shopping destination combining retail, dining, entertainment, landscaped public areas, offices, and residences in Cebu Business Park.
Dining and leisure district · 2008
The Terraces
The Terraces is Ayala Center Cebu's landscaped dining and restaurant expansion created from the former lagoon area. Opened in 2008, it added food, beverage, and social spaces that emphasize outdoor circulation and garden-oriented leisure. It helped broaden the mall's positioning from a conventional shopping venue into a lifestyle destination centered on dining and public space.
Office and retail development · 2015
Ayala Center Cebu Tower
Ayala Center Cebu Tower is an office-and-retail component built above the mall's west entrance. It accommodates business-process-outsourcing offices and includes a retail podium anchored by H&M and H&M Home. The tower extends the complex's role into employment and commercial real estate while adding large-format international fashion retail.
Residential development · 2013
Park Point Residences
Park Point Residences is a condominium component associated with the mall's major retail expansion. Its inclusion reinforced the mixed-use character of Ayala Center Cebu and connected residential accommodation with the center's retail, dining, office, and landscaped amenities.
Residential and retail development · 2016
The Alcoves
The Alcoves is a residential and retail component launched at the site's former main entrance. Its three-level podium expanded the south-entrance retail area and included Uniqlo among its identified anchors. The retail area was completed in April 2021.
Entertainment
Ayala Center Cebu cinemas
The mall's cinema offer forms part of its entertainment and leisure mix. In November 2025, A-Giant and A-Luxe cinema concepts were reported to have opened in place of the former Cinemas 3 and 4, indicating a substantial upgrade of selected screening facilities.
Controversies
2024
Jude Bacalso restaurant incident
A July 2024 dispute at the Ulli restaurant involved Jude Bacalso, who said a waiter addressed her as “sir.” A witness's online account described a prolonged confrontation and the incident became the subject of public discussion and backlash. Bacalso later apologized. Multiple complaints, including allegations of unjust vexation, grave scandal, grave coercion, grave threats, and slight illegal detention, were reportedly submitted to the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office. The available reference does not establish a final legal outcome.
Brand decisions
2024
Undertake comprehensive mall redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The aging complex required modernization and a refreshed offer to maintain its position among Cebu's major shopping destinations.
Action taken
Ayala scheduled a redevelopment covering interiors, common areas, parks, gardens, dining, entertainment, and the merchant mix, including flagship and exclusive concepts.
Aftermath
The program was targeted for completion in 2026, while additional expansion activity was reported in 2025. Final completion and resulting floor area require verification.
2015
Add office and international-fashion retail capacityStrategyBackground
The center was expanding beyond shopping to support office employment and larger-format international retail.
Action taken
Ayala opened Ayala Center Cebu Tower over the west entrance, combining BPO offices with an H&M and H&M Home podium.
Aftermath
The project increased the complex's office, fashion, and mixed-use capacity.
2013
Complete the retail master-plan expansionStrategyBackground
The original center required additional retail capacity and mixed-use components to support Cebu Business Park's growth.
Action taken
Ayala added a four-level retail expansion with more than 200 planned outlets, approximately 36,500 square meters of additional gross leasable area, and Park Point Residences.
Aftermath
The expansion broadened the center's tenant mix and reinforced its mixed-use role.
Reported project cost. PHP 2.9 billion (2013)
2008
Convert lagoon area into The TerracesStrategyBackground
The mall sought to strengthen dining, leisure, and outdoor public-space uses within its original layout.
Action taken
Ayala converted the lagoon area into The Terraces, a restaurant, food, beverage, and landscaped expansion.
Aftermath
The project became a prominent lifestyle and dining component of the complex.
Reported project cost. PHP 600 million (2008)
Recent events
- 2025
Further expansion ground clearing reported[1]
Other
Ground clearing was reported for another expansion area between Seda Hotel and an earlier expansion wing, with projected total gross floor area of approximately 280,000 to 300,000 square meters after completion.
- 2025
A-Giant and A-Luxe cinemas open[1]
Product launch · Product generation
New A-Giant and A-Luxe cinema concepts were reported to have opened in November 2025, replacing the former Cinemas 3 and 4.
- 2024
Ayala Center Cebu redevelopment begins[1]
Other
A major multi-year redevelopment program was scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2024, focusing on interiors, common areas, gardens, dining, entertainment, and the tenant mix.
- 2021
Metro supermarket and department store return after reconstruction[1]
Product generation
The supermarket returned to the main mall in December 2018, the department store operated temporarily inside the mall from October 2019, and the rebuilt permanent department-store building held its reopening in January 2021.
- 2018
Fire severely damages Metro Ayala building[1]
Other
A fire that began in a toy stockroom caused major damage to the Metro Ayala Department Store building. No injuries were reported because the fire began outside business hours, but supermarket and department-store operations were temporarily relocated.
- 2016
The Alcoves mixed-use component is launched[1]
Product launch
Ayala launched The Alcoves residential and retail component at the former main entrance, with a podium that included Uniqlo.
- 2015
Cinema 5 ceiling collapses during event[1]
Other
A ceiling at Cinema 5 collapsed during a BPO-company launch event. The incident was attributed to a loose fire-sprinkler pipe connection, and nine people were reported injured.
- 2015
Ayala Center Cebu Tower opens[1]
Product launch
The office-and-retail tower above the mall's west entrance opened with BPO offices and a retail podium anchored by H&M and H&M Home.
- 2013
Ayala Center Cebu unveils major retail expansion[1]
Product launch
The center unveiled the first group of outlets in a four-level expansion that was planned to add more than 200 stores and approximately 36,500 square meters of gross leasable area.
- 2008
The Terraces opens at Ayala Center Cebu[1]
Product launch
The mall opened The Terraces, a dining and beverage expansion created from the former lagoon area.
Sources2 sources
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