2026 January issue of InMaricopa Magazine

BUSINESS

Marketplace is completed and this project receives approval, Maricopa will have six grocery stores. 8 Global Water Resources Global Water Resources requested a continuance in its Arizona Corporation Commission rate case after submitting thousands of pages of additional documentation that regulators said could take months to review. The utility is seeking a 19.7% increase in water rates and an 8% increase in wastewater rates for Maricopa customers. During the hearing, more than a dozen residents spoke against the proposed increases, raising concerns about high monthly fees, water quality, and impacts on seniors and other fixed-income households. Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi called for fairness, transparency and a thorough weighing of evidence before any decision. 9 Good Donuts Maricopa’s original donut shop, which opened in 2015, reopened Dec. 22 under new ownership after closing briefly for interior renovations. The change was announced by the business on social media. 10 Hickman’s Family Farms The long-established, family-owned egg producer with major operations in Maricopa is being acquired by Mantiqueira USA, ending decades of family ownership and marking Mantiqueira’s entry into the U.S. egg production market. The Brazilian company is South America’s largest egg producer. The sale follows a difficult period for Hickman’s after avian influenza outbreaks earlier this year killed more than 6 million hens across its operations, triggering large-scale disposal efforts and increased regulatory scrutiny. Hickman’s leadership has said operations will continue under the Hickman’s name, with employees and customers expected to see continuity during the ownership transition. 11 PHX Surf PHX Surf plans to break ground in March on its long-awaited surf resort on Maricopa’s west side. The 40-acre development centers on a 137,000-square-foot surf lagoon and

on a 1¼-acre site near Honeycutt and Porter Roads. The Circle K subsidiary plans to convert the parcel from county general business zoning to the city’s general commercial zoning. The request marks Clean Freak’s first formal step since April 2024, when the company proposed a 130-foot wash tunnel, 18 vacuum stalls, three pay stations and two

BRIEF

1 7-Eleven Maricopa city planners discussed a

development review permit for a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station, advancing the company’s latest attempt to enter the local market. The plans call for a roughly 5,000-square-foot store with a fuel canopy and 12 gas pumps on 1½ acres fronting White and Parker Road. The proposal represents 7-Eleven’s second effort to build in Maricopa, following an earlier filing at John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Avenue that did not move forward. 2 Black Rock Coffee Bar Black Rock Coffee Bar submitted a new round of plans to the City of Maricopa, moving its proposed drive-thru café closer to approval. The paperwork includes a site map, landscape plans and a materials board for a 1,500-square-foot shop with two drive-thru lanes near John Wayne Parkway, next to the Sherwin-Williams paint store. Developers are also pursuing a minor development review permit, which is required for new or modified buildings under 5,000 square feet. 3 Circle K A planned Circle K convenience store and gas station near Home Depot took a key step toward construction when the Maricopa City Council approved a liquor license for the project. The council unanimously signed off on the request for the store at the northeast corner of Maricopa Casa Grande Highway and Stonegate Road, next to Jiffy Lube and Taco Bell. The Tempe based chain’s Maricopa location was first announced in February 2024 by then-City Manager Rick Horst. Plans call for a 5,200 square foot store with 16 fueling stations on a nearly 2-acre lot previously slated for Dutch Bros Coffee and Chili’s. Circle K expects to hire up to 24 employees. 4 Clean Freak Car Wash A proposal to clear the way for a new Clean Freak Car Wash in Maricopa was approved by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission

pre-wash stations. 5 Culver’s Culver’s of Maricopa is under new

ownership following a franchise transfer at the Sonoran Creek Marketplace location. The restaurant was previously operated by franchise holder José Tavares and is now owned by Jason Downey, an Arizona hospitality operator. Financial terms of the transfer were not disclosed. The ownership change comes more than a decade after Culver’s first announced plans to open in Maricopa, making it one of the city’s earliest national restaurant chains during an early wave of retail growth. Downey has said the restaurant’s existing menu and staff will remain in place while he works to expand Culver’s involvement in local schools, youth programs and community events. 6 Electrical District No. 3 ED3’s Apache Solar II project entered commercial operation, adding new solar and battery storage capacity to the district’s energy portfolio and helping ED3 meet its renewable energy target. The project adds 38 megawatts of solar generation and 38 megawatts of four-hour battery energy storage to ED3’s system. Along with the previously completed Box Canyon Solar project, Apache Solar II allowed ED3 to reach its goal of 100 megawatts of new renewable energy resources ahead of the district’s centennial milestone. 7 Fry’s Marketplace Fry’s Marketplace is working to build a second location in Maricopa, this time on the city’s east side. Plans call for a 24-acre Fry’s Marketplace development anchored by a roughly 121,000-square-foot grocery store, along with an associated fuel station and 725 parking spaces. Once the Aldi under construction at Southbridge

14 Southbridge Marketplace

Janaury 2026 | InMaricopa.com

InMaricopa.com | Janaury 2026