Shoppers thrilled as Sprouts opens long-awaited store

The long-awaited opening of Sprouts Farmers Market took place early Wednesday morning with about 100 people on hand to witness the grand opening and be among the first to shop at the city’s new grocery store.

The 23,000-square-foot, upscale supermarket opened at 7 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a mad rush to the door, with the first 200 shoppers receiving coupons for 20 percent off their initial purchase.

That motivated Sprouts fan Joyce Frenette to attend the event.

“I love Sprouts and I’ve been going out of town a long time to get to one,” she said. “They have the most delicious filet mignon. Normally … I couldn’t afford it but with the 20% off coupon I’m going to get a couple.”

The market, which will be open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, is the first business to open in the new Sonoran Creek Marketplace at Edison Road and John Wayne Parkway. The Maricopa store is the 365th store for Sprouts, which has stores in 23 states including 45 in Arizona. It is the only Sprouts in Pinal County.

The store has hired 90 workers so far and is still adding staff, according to store manager Shawn Stull.

The opening represents the culmination of a years-long wait by residents for more upscale retailers in the city. Shoppers at the opening expressed their joy at having a new grocery option in town.

“We’re really excited this here and excited to get some fresh produce and see our community grow and be a part of it,” said Sara Dumsa. “We’re excited for the organic aspect of what they have here and the fresh quality that will be here and to have another place that will give us more variety.”

Another shopper said she was excited for another reason.

“Their produce selection is far better than the other grocery stores in town,” said Roxanne Primeau. “There are other choices besides what you find at the typical grocery store. I think this is great for the community and it’s something the community needed for a very long time. I hope it’s the start of more things like this to come.”

City councilmember Rich Vitiello said the opening is a sign of greater things to come for the city.

“This will show, just like Big 5, that when that came it was a big, big deal,” he said. “The next three to nine months will show what other major retailers are going to come to town. And I think within the next year you will see two big (retail) names, and some restaurants that we all know.”

City manager Rick Horst confirmed there could be announcements soon of other stores coming to the city. “There is a significant amount of interest from a myriad of retailers at this time,” he said.

Mayor Christian Price agreed the opening is just the beginning of more upscale retailers opening in the city.

“It’s a catalyst. We already have additional grocers looking at the city because Sprouts decided to open,” he said. “That will become the catalyst for other businesses because they become an anchor and other businesses want to go around them and they work together.”

Sprouts spokesperson Kalia Pang said she expects the store to ingrain itself in the community quickly.

“Sprouts is an Arizona-based company and obviously we’re well-known around the state,” she said. “The Sprouts name is well known in Maricopa, and we’ve had people asking us to come to the city for quite some time. Our goal is to have Sprouts be the ‘go-to’ for people’s regular grocery shopping.”

Pang said the market’s layout is similar to most Sprouts stores, with fresh produce at center of store and a robust bulk food section near the front. She also said Sprouts will have a broad selection of what she termed “attribute items” – products that support vegan, plant-based, paleo, keto and other specialty diets.

Resident Jason Patton said the opening reflects the changing nature of Maricopa.

“We’re small but not that small anymore,” Patton said. “I moved here in October but it’s amazing the change it the city even since October, what the town has done and what is being planned.”