Major retailers eye Maricopa, not ready to commit

Major retailers such as Sears and Home Depot are looking at Maricopa as a potential area for company growth.

Just before Memorial Day weekend, Maricopa Mayor Christian Price, City Council members Henry Wade and Nancy Smith and interim Economic Development Director Denyse Airheart attended the International Council of Shopping Centers Regional Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. They met with many different companies and discussed what Maricopa had to offer.

“We met with several retailers, brokers and developers,” Airheart said. “Our goal is to establish a relationship with any contacts we have not met with in the past and introduce the City of Maricopa, [as well as] share our story and the community’s needs. Additionally, we meet with retailers that are considering the area as well. We share the latest developments and changes about the City and they provide an update.”

According to Airheart, the group met with Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores representatives. Price and company found out Sears Hometown primarily focuses on selling home appliances, tools, and lawn and garden equipment. They also learned the stores are owner operated, so Sears would be looking for individual investors that are interested in running and operating such a store if they were to come to Maricopa.

The group was also met with Home Depot personnel. Despite not opening a store in the United States outside of North and South Dakota in the last five years, Home Depot has begun to re-evaluate American markets again. Maricopa's growth over the last decadehas established it as a region to consider.