Macy's, Cheesecake Factory, Trader Joe's most desired businesses in Goodyear

By Madeline Ackley
Twitter: @Mkayackley

Trader Joe’s, Topgolf, Cheesecake Factory, Macy’s. It’s what the people of Goodyear want, and they’ve been saying it for years. 

Those top favorites appeared again in the city of Goodyear’s 2021 retail survey, which gathers feedback from residents on the types of restaurants, retail and entertainment options they want in the city. 

The results released Wednesday closely mirror data collected in the 2019 and 2017 surveys, with more responses this year than in prior years.

But the data isn’t necessarily representative of Goodyear as a whole. 

Only 3,151 residents responded to the online survey – just over 3% of the city’s population. 

Respondents also tended to skew older.  More than half of those who took the survey were over the age of 45. Another 44% of respondents were between the ages of 25 and 44. 

Very few young people took the survey. Less than 2% of respondents were under 25.

Grocery

Those who did take the survey expressed the desire for greater organic and gourmet grocery options. 

The 2021 survey found the most requested grocery options were: Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts, WinCo Foods and AJ’s Fine Foods – similar to 2019 survey results.

 In 2019, the top five grocers on residents’ wish lists were Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, WinCo Foods, AJ’s Fine Foods and Aldi.

Aldi, as it turned out, was developing plans at the time to open a Goodyear location, and residents got their wish in November 2020.

Up to 19 businesses named by residents on prior surveys have since opened at least one Goodyear location, according to the city. 

While Goodyear's economic development department uses survey results in marketing materials shared with companies, it doesn’t mean those companies will end up in Goodyear.

Trader Joe’s, for instance, has been the top-requested grocer since the city began conducting the survey in 2017, and Goodyear has engaged in a persistent marketing campaign to entice the California grocery chain to open in Goodyear. 

Last Christmas, Goodyear’s Digital Communications Department released an 18-second animated video reiterating its desire for a Trader Joe’s. Sadly, the Southwest Valley remains a Trader Joe’s desert, and, barring a Christmas miracle, Goodyear will spend another holiday without its favorite grocery store.

Restaurant

The top-requested restaurants were similar this year, with some notable changes. 

This year, the city released the top-10 requested restaurants, but in 2019, only the top-five made the list. 

The Cheesecake Factory, BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Postino, Outback Steakhouse and Pita Jungle were favorites in 2021 and 2019. 

But this year, residents expressed the desire for more non-chain, local and independent dining options. This was rolled into one category and came in second place behind Cheesecake Factory. Big chains dominate the rest of the top-10 list. 

Raising Cane’s ranked sixth on the list of most-requested dining options in 2021. 

On Dec. 13, a use permit was approved by Goodyear City Council to allow the Baton Rouge-based fast-food chain to open a location at the Palm Valley Cornerstone commercial center on the northwest corner of Dysart Road and the I-10.

Retail 

The top-requested retail options are nearly identical from 2019 to 2021. Macy’s, Costco, Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack and Dillard’s topped both lists. 

Hobby Lobby, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ikea, REI, Stein Mart and Victoria’s Secret also made the top-10 list in 2021. 

The majority of most-requested retail options in both 2019 and 2021 cater to a customer base over the age of 30. 

Entertainment

Survey respondents requested more golf, bowling, arcade and theater options this year, similar to 2019 survey results. 

Topgolf was the most-requested entertainment option in 2019 and 2021, and Dave & Buster’s came in second both years. 

Indoor gun range and retailer Shooter’s World ranked fifth on the 2019 list. 

This year, Shooter’s World opened its first Goodyear location and is expected to become the first indoor gun range in the Southwest Valley. The range itself won’t be operational, however, until 2022.

All-time favorites

The survey also asked residents to name their favorite existing businesses restaurants and retail shops in Goodyear. The top responses this year were Target, Homegoods, T.J. Maxx, Walmart and Fry’s.

Target, Homegoods and T.J. Maxx were also the top favorites in 2019. 

Favorite existing restaurants in 2021 were Saddle Mountain Brewing Company, Oregano’s, Texas Roadhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and P.F. Chang’s.

Saddle Mountain Brewing, Oregano’s and Texas Road House were also favorites in 2019.

Madeline Ackley can be reached at mackley@iniusa.org or found on Twitter @Mkayackley.