Verrado Marketplace will transform Buckeye by 2026

This ain’t your mama’s flea market.

Phoenix developer Vestar in November broke ground on the $275 million Verrado Marketplace — a transformative, 500,000-square-foot development that promises to redefine shopping, dining and entertainment in the West Valley.

Established in 1888, the one-time quiet desert town of Buckeye has transformed from a modest agricultural community into one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Between 2000 and 2023, the city’s population surged more than 1,200%, reflecting its appeal as a desirable place to live and work.

This rapid expansion necessitated significant infrastructure and commercial developments to meet the needs of its burgeoning population, city leaders said.

Verrado Marketplace, slated to open in the spring of 2026 (delayed from late this year), will feature major retailers such as Target and Safeway, alongside the second-ever Harkins BackLot, an innovative entertainment concept by Harkins Theatres.

Movie theater of the future

Scottsdale-based Harkins Theatres in 2023 announced its new Harkins BackLot concept, a film studio-inspired entertainment venue with bowling lanes, a video game arcade, electronic darts and a sports bar featuring jumbo screens.

The first Harkins BackLot is set to open in the Norterra neighborhood of Phoenix in March, according to CEO Mike Bowers.

The second location, debuting at Verrado Marketplace, will combine a luxury movie theater with the entertainment venue in the same building, unlike the Norterra location where the BackLot and theater are separate.

Opening next spring with the marketplace, it will feature a “VR experience,” at least a dozen bowling lanes and a menu of “elevated” bar food like specialty burgers and flatbreads.

“We think it’s just a great complement to the movie theater experience,” Bowers said at the groundbreaking ceremony in November.

Filling up fast

Verrado Marketplace will also include a half-acre central lawn for community events, outdoor fireplaces and a sip-and-stroll program reminiscent of other Vestar properties like Tempe Marketplace and Desert Ridge Marketplace.

“We’re 70% leased already, focusing on the right tenant mix to serve the community,” said Vestar President and CEO David Larcher.

At the groundbreaking, Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn emphasized the importance of bringing upscale options closer to home.

“My wife and I dreamed of having date-night options nearby,” he said. “This is a game-changer.”

He shared excitement about exploring the new Harkins BackLot and having a meal at Salt Tacos y Tequila, a local favorite based in Glendale.

Tenants announced for the marketplace include Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Bath & Body Works, Ulta, Zara, Einstein Bros, BJ’s, Shake Shack and See’s Candy.

Buckeye’s rapid growth spurred infrastructure improvements, including new traffic lanes, signals and drainage systems to support accessibility and safety at the Verrado Marketplace site.

“This is the first of many projects that will keep our residents close to home for shopping, dining, and entertainment,” Orsborn said.

See also: Buckeye reacts: See what residents think of Verrado Marketplace groundbreaking

This article first appeared in the winter edition of InBuckeye Magazine.