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5 A full crew was present in May for the opening of 5 Guys Burgers and Fries at North Verrado Way and West Roosevelt. 6 Just across the parking lot, the first customers line up for the opening of Panera Bread.
in Historic Downtown. The city's Downtown Specific Area Plan focuses on attracting locally-owned businesses, restaurants and specialty shops that create a unique identity distinct from larger shopping centers. Businesses such as The Heritage at Old Town, Viet Table and Good Roots are helping establish a growing commercial core centered on walkability, community events, arts and culture. City leaders see the dual-track strategy — national retailers in growth corridors and local businesses downtown — as essential to creating a balanced economy. Retail growth depends on transportation As commercial development accelerates, city officials say transportation improvements will be critical to sustaining momentum. The most significant project remains the planned widening of Interstate 10 between Citrus Road and Verrado Way, a project designed to accommodate increasing traffic generated by developments such as Verrado Marketplace. According to Orsborn, the freeway widening has already been designed, and a contractor selected by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Funding for the project has been approved by the state legislature’s budget proposal, which had support of Gov. Katie Hobbs. Shopping destination emerging The combination of new retailers, grocery stores, restaurants and mixed-use commercial centers is
helping reshape Buckeye's economic landscape. For decades, residents often traveled to Goodyear, Avondale or Glendale for major shopping trips. Today, city officials believe Buckeye is reaching a tipping point where it can become a retail destination in its own right. With new stores opening this summer, additional commercial projects in the pipeline and thousands of new residents arriving each year, Buckeye's retail sector appears poised for its most significant period of expansion in the city's history. Building reel anticipation One of the most anticipated openings still to come is the Harkins BackLot theater complex at Verrado Marketplace. While an opening date has yet to be announced, Harkins has stated that it will bring a 75,000-square-foot space with a luxury movie theater, a full-service restaurant and bar, a state-of-the-art sport viewing area, arcade games, a bowling alley and private areas for events. It will be the first new build of the “BackLot” concept in Arizona. “It’s about opportunity for our residence,” said Tennille Hiller, project manager with Buckeye Economic Development. Verrado Marketplace itself is going to have 750 jobs, that’s huge. “That’s a great opportunity, but it’s not just that,” Hiller said. “Large developments like this strengthen our tax base, and when you strengthen our tax base, we can reimburse the community with road infrastructure [and] public safety.
growth corridors along Roosevelt Street and Sun Valley Parkway. That growth ultimately means Buckeye has a better chance at keeping shopping dollars — and coveted sales tax revenue — within city limits. Retail momentum building across the city The city’s retail surge extends well beyond the Verrado interchange. A recently opened Fry's Food Stores location on Miller Road is already attracting additional commercial investment, while city officials are planning future retail growth corridors along Roosevelt Street and Sun Valley Parkway to serve rapidly expanding master- planned communities. A McDonald’s restaurant opened in June marking the most recent retail expansion that reflects a broader shift in Buckeye's development pattern that traditionally focused on residential growth. Once viewed primarily as a bedroom community, the city is increasingly attracting commercial projects designed to keep shopping dollars within Buckeye rather than sending residents to neighboring cities. Economic development officials have long identified retail recruitment as a priority because sales taxes provide one of the most important revenue streams for Arizona municipalities. Downtown seeks local flavor While national retailers are driving growth on the city's north side, Buckeye is simultaneously investing in a different type of retail experience
January/February 2026
InBuckeye.com
DOWNTOWN GIRL
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January/February 2026 | InBuckeye.com
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