Maricopans gather to hear Edison Pointe business name-dropping

In arguably the most well-attended Maricopa Advocate Program event yet, representatives of the Edison Pointe development and Apex Motor Club gave details about their upcoming project Thursday night.

Casey Treadwell, leasing director for Vintage Partners, which is developing Edison Pointe, announced some of the businesses coming to the retail center. Some have long been rumored or have already filed paperwork with the city.

Those include Ross Dress for Less as the anchor clothing retailer, Burger King, Planet Fitness, Dunkin’ Donuts and PetCo. Treadwell said there are pizza franchises very interested in space in the development as well.

“We are going to build all the anchor spaces next to Fry’s. We are hoping to start in the next couple of weeks,” Treadwell said.

A pad by the Fry’s gas station is in escrow with Burger King. Dunkin’ Donuts will be built south of that. Letters of intent from unspecified eateries have also come to Vintage, Treadwell said.

One corner is planned as a full-service restaurant.

“If we miss on that, we’ll be very disappointed because it’s something we know the community wants,” Treadwell said.

He said it has been difficult educating retailers on the attributes of Maricopa. Many demand a population of 70,000 and consider Maricopa to be more than 20,000 light with a limited daytime employment.

“We were very, very frustrated,” he said.

Treadwell said Vintage typically does not release the names of companies until leases have been signed.

The MAP program at City Hall filled Council Chambers. The attendees also heard from Jason Plotke, president of Private Motor Sports, which plans to build Apex Motor Sports west of town.

Plotke gave an overview of what is described as a country club for sports car aficionados. The property, at the northwest corner of State Route 238 and Ralston Road, is expected to have a clubhouse, multi-configurable racetrack, sports car garage condos, tune-up shop and karting center for kids.

“It is a real neat attribute for the city of Maricopa to have some of the biggest car collectors and automotive enthusiasts in the world coming down here on potentially a daily basis,” Plotke said.

He said the Apex expects to break ground in five months and have a track laid by the end of the year.