Private development in downtown Queen Creek is booming
Town of Queen Creek
This long-time building at 21838 S. Ellsworth Road in downtown Queen Creek will be transformed into a new bar and restaurant called the Rusty Buckle Saloon.
Commercial development in Queen Creek’s Downtown Core is exploding, bringing with it future retail, restaurants and office space.
Development in the area has jumped from 4,000 square feet in 2024 to 230,000 square feet today.
Downtown Development Manager Jennifer Lindley unveiled the stats during a recent Queen Creek Town Council meeting where she also presented an update on all the projects planned, under construction and already opened in the area.
“This (Town Center Plan) has guided our vision for walkability, design, quality and the mix of uses in our downtown. The town has invested in this area over the years, leading up to what we’re seeing today,” Lindley told the council. “From the Downtown Core zoning overlay district to the strategic property acquisition to the design and construction of our new connector roadways, the vision and plan has helped set the stage for the private investment that we’re seeing in this area.”
The increased development has translated into about $200 million in private investment in the Downtown Core.
“This is a clear sign of confidence from our development and business community,” Lindley said. “Economic development is a marathon, not a sprint. It isn’t always about those quick wins. It’s a long-term strategy in order to create the sustainable development investment that we want. The planning, investments, vision and patience is beginning to take shape in Queen Creek.”
The following projects are currently in the works for downtown:
Homewood Suites – Expected to open in early 2027, the Homewood Suites is located on East Maya Road. When completed, the four-story hotel will have 124 rooms. It will be the town’s second hotel.
QC Accounting – The business at 22237 S. Ellsworth Road was a recipient of the town’s former façade-improvement program. It has since acquired property to the north of its location, and it has expanded to 5,000 square feet of office space. The expansion is expected to open soon.
The Sacred Pint – Now open, The Sacred Pint is on what was once the town’s first Circle K and went through several iterations over the years. The 2,587-square-foot taproom is located at 22020 S. Ellsworth Road.
The Perch Development – The 62,093 square feet of commercial development includes a brewery and additional retail/restaurant space. The Perch portion of the development, located on Munoz Street between Ellsworth and Ellsworth Loop roads, is scheduled to open in late 2026.
Circle K – Long seen as an eyesore in the downtown area, the old Circle K building has been torn down and is being replaced with a more modern design. Located at 21895 S. Ellsworth Road, the new store will be about 5,200 square feet.
The Switchyard – Located on about 8 acres of formerly town-owned land, the first phase of The Switchyard will include a mix of restaurant, retail and office space totaling just under 48,000 square feet. Phase two will include luxury multifamily housing. The first phase is set to open in the third quarter for 2026. Postino, Shake Shack and Snooze have announced locations in phase one. The Switchyard is located at Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo roads.
Rusty Buckle Saloon – The 8,930-square-foot bar and restaurant is in the permitting process and is set to open in mid-2026 at 21838 S. Ellsworth Road.
Magma Plaza – The old Magma Engineering at 20955 E. Ocotillo Road will be torn down to make room for an 8,500-square-foot commercial development. The project is still going through the permitting process.
The Matheson – Located on the southeast corner of Ellsworth Loop and Ocotillo roads, the completed development will bring 20,000 square feet of medical office space to the Downtown Core. It is expected to start the permitting process soon.
“I know locals that were born and raised here and so I’m sure it’s a little bittersweet sometimes to see some of those old spots change, but we really do appreciate it and we appreciate the investment from these companies and businesses that are willing to come into Queen Creek and just make it a beautiful and wonderful place to continue to raise our families and to live,” Vice Mayor Leah Martineau said.
Projects are also under development at 22036 S. Ellsworth Road — the former Grand Canyon Title building — and 22225 S. Ellsworth Road.
“We’re not able to announce (the projects) right now,” Lindley said and added that the town is working with the new property owners.
The town will also be launching a “growth campaign” that “aims to flip the narrative, diverting energy potentially away from frustrations and instead helping the community to view construction as a sign of progress and what’s to come,” Lindley said.
The initial campaign will include A-frame signs throughout the downtown area, social media and a press release to announce the initiative. Future elements may include banners, community giveaways and more to promote resident engagement and build excitement for the new projects, according to a staff document.
“One of the things that I’m really excited about is what I like to refer to as economic spillover because when all this activity happens in the downtown, it’s also happening along Ocotillo Road. It’s also happening along Ellsworth Road north of the downtown core,” Council Member Robin Benning said. “I’ve been on the council for almost 16 years. It is so exciting to see all our planning and all our hard work coming to fruition.”
Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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