Papa John’s, McDonald’s in works near Walmart

A 13,000-square-foot retail center is under construction in front of the Walmart on Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway and there are preliminary plans for a McDonald’s next to the new retail shops.

Called The Shops at The Wells, the center offers eight or nine retail spaces from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet.

Leases have been signed with Papa John’s, Great Clips, Pacific Dental Services and a nail salon, said Bryan Lamond, director of leasing with North American Development Group in Paradise Valley.

“We are working on a couple of other deals and the project is coming together very well in a bit of a recovery,” he said.

Chris Chamberlain, director of development for North American, said his company is talking with three other businesses about leases and they expect to fill the building.

Chamberlain said he anticipated the new stores will be open before the end of the year.

“We are probably looking to late August to early September for the businesses to move in,” he said. “Then they begin their own internal build out, so we are looking at them opening in the third or fourth quarter.”