Sonoran Creek Marketplace breaks ground, plans Sprouts

It took two years to reach the point of breaking ground on the planned Sonoran Creek Marketplace. Developers expect it to be another year before the Sprouts-based complex opens.

Thompson Thrift Retail Group powered through challenges like coronavirus and the economic downturn and kept Sprouts Farmers Market on board as the anchor. In fact, at Thursday’s groundbreaking event, managing partner Ashlee Boyd thanked Sprouts for trusting the company.

“We don’t take that lightly,” he said.

Sonoran Creek Marketplace will be built on 19 acres along John Wayne Parkway between Edison Road and Hathaway Avenue. It is planned as 75,000 square feet of retail space. That includes the main building, designed for up to nine businesses, and four free-standing buildings.

Besides Sprouts, Thompson Thrift has signed leases with Jimmy John’s, Filiberto’s Mexican Food, State Farm Insurance, Wynn Nails & Hair and The Joint Chiropractic. There are also proposed leases with Discount Tire and Brakes Plus.

Other available retail space ranges from 1,260 square feet up to 21,950 square feet.

Mayor Christian Price said the ceremony was a chance to look at “how many people go into pulling a project out of the ground.”

Sonoran Creek received three permits for commercial shell buildings on the property, valued at $4.5 million. It is also permitted for tenant improvement or Sprouts and on-site improvement.

Thompson Thrift leaders praised the City for easing the process. Chris Hake, a senior vice president, call them “some of the best that we’ve worked with.”

“We have tried to streamline our departments to make everything pro-economic development,” Price said.

Boyd said the development will “fill a void in the marketplace that will enhance the experience of living in Maricopa.”