Another tenant confirmed for Sonoran Creek Marketplace

The lineup of stores joining Sprouts Farmers Market at the new Sonoran Creek Marketplace is beginning to fill in, with the confirmed addition of another tenant.

Eight previously-announced tenants have been confirmed by developer Thompson Thrift.

Business owner Janell Freeman has announced she will open Neon Barre, a group fitness studio, in the shopping plaza on the west side of John Wayne Parkway at West Edison Road.

And a new dining concept for the city could soon be another addition at the center.

“We have a couple of other potential food tenants getting close, but nothing is official yet,” said Andrew Call, vice president of development management for the Southwest region of Thompson Thrift. “One of those would be a new concept to Maricopa.”

Call would neither confirm nor deny the new eatery in current negotiations is Mod Pizza, a build-your-own meal concept specializing in personal artisan pizzas and salads, which was identified in a city Facebook group as an imminent tenant. Mod did not return a call for comment.

Construction of the center is on target for completion in the third quarter of this year, with tenants likely opening early in the fourth quarter.

“This project is still expected to be completed this year,” Call said. “We think the first opening will be in the fourth quarter of this year, although it’s possible we may get a few in the third quarter. As for Sprouts, we’re planning on wrapping up that build in the third quarter.”

While the much-anticipated Sprouts might prove to be the first business in the center to open, there is no guarantee, he said.

“They could be first, but sometime smaller tenants can stock, staff and turn around in just about 24 hours,” he said. “When we get to the end of a project like this, it’s a toss-up as to who opens first.”

City Manager Rick Horst said Sonoran Creek will provide a huge benefit to the city in jobs, tax revenue and economic development. Upon completion, Sonoran Creek will consist of about 82,000 square feet of new retail. Horst said the development will create 282 new jobs with $10.4 million in annual wages and an annual economic output of more than $25.6 million.

“But for most people,” Horst said, “it will simply be a great addition to the city of Maricopa and mean a little less traffic on the 347 as they support local businesses in lieu of other communities.”

Call said four to six more tenants are being sought for the center, which has a capacity of 12 to 14 spaces, including a separate building that could house one large tenant or two to three smaller businesses.

Thompson Thrift’s research indicates Sonoran Creek will be a “significant piece of the economic development picture for Maricopa,” Call said. “It will spur new services and restaurants that are desperately needed, as well as more new retailers.”

As in similar projects, Thompson Thrift prefers to develop projects that fill a community need, Call said.

“When one corner gets developed, it spurs development not just across the street, but the area surrounding the new development. And something like a Sprouts tends to carry a bit of a flag that, once it gets planted, is a magnet for other retailers and other shops.”

TENANT LIST GROWING

Confirmed
• Sprouts Farmers Market
• Brake Masters
• Discount Tire
• Wynn Nail Salon
• The Joint Chiropractic
• State Farm (Vanessa McDill)
• Jimmy John’s
• Filiberto’s Mexican Food

Business owner announced
• Neon Barre

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This story appears in the April issue of InMaricopa magazine.