Only 17% Built Out and Already Impossible to Ignore

By Justin Susan, Marketing Coordinator, City of Buckeye

For more than two decades, the northeast corner of Interstate 10 and Verrado Way was defined by what had not yet been built. The vacant land sat at the entrance to Verrado while neighborhoods took shape, Buckeye’s population climbed and residents continued asking for more shopping, dining and entertainment closer to home. Mayor Eric Orsborn, one of Verrado’s earliest residents, recalled driving past the site for more than 20 years while waiting to see what it might become.

In 2022, that future began to come into focus when Vestar and DMB Associates announced plans for Verrado Marketplace, a 500,000-square-foot retail and lifestyle destination. The vision extended beyond a traditional shopping center, with retailers, restaurants, entertainment and outdoor gathering spaces designed to serve Buckeye and the broader West Valley. A ceremonial groundbreaking followed in November 2024.

The transformation of that once-vacant corner reflects a much larger transformation taking place throughout Buckeye. That momentum earned Buckeye a No. 13 national ranking in SmartAsset’s study of America’s fastest-growing boomtowns, the highest among Arizona cities. The city’s population has grown from 6,537 residents in 2000 to an estimated 132,000 in July 2026, an increase of more than 125,000 people. Buckeye’s median age is 36, its average household income is $138,422, one of the highest in the West Valley, and 62.9% of adults have attended college or earned a degree.

Those numbers help explain why Buckeye is attracting increased attention from retailers, employers and developers. Verrado Marketplace is one of the clearest expressions of that momentum. Anchored by Target, Safeway and Harkins, with additional retailers and restaurants continuing to arrive, the development combines commerce with community through outdoor dining, a central lawn, and a live performance stage designed to serve Buckeye and the broader West Valley.

Behind that momentum is a deliberate and proactive economic development strategy shaped by a team that has helped guide Buckeye’s evolution from a smaller community into one of Arizona’s most dynamic growth markets. Through relationships with developers, brokers, businesses and regional partners, the department identifies market opportunities, supports site readiness, coordinates complex development projects and positions Buckeye for investment that strengthens the local economy. That strategy is reflected not only at Verrado Marketplace, but across the broader pipeline of projects taking shape throughout the city.

Today, Buckeye’s Economic Development Department currently tracks approximately 7.5 million square feet of project activity across the city. Development along Miller Road is expanding one of Buckeye’s most important commercial and employment corridors, while the planned Safeway at Festival Ranch will bring a long-awaited grocery anchor and additional services to northern Buckeye. Together, these projects show a city developing multiple centers of activity rather than relying on a single commercial district.

Residential development continues to support that expansion. Since 2017, Buckeye has issued more than 17,000 single-family and multifamily housing permits. The city issued 2,520 units in 2025 and projects approximately 2,300 additional units in 2026. More than 15,300 residential lots are either vacant and platted or currently under review, representing the potential for approximately 49,000 additional residents.

Growth at that pace is not meaningful on its own. A complete community needs jobs, infrastructure, healthcare, education, retail and entertainment to advance alongside housing. That is why Burlington’s two-million-square-foot distribution center, MayAir’s arrival as Buckeye’s first semiconductor supply company, the planned Safeway at Festival Ranch and Verrado Marketplace matter together. They show how employment, infrastructure and quality of life can grow in step with the population.

Verrado Marketplace is significant because it demonstrates what Buckeye’s market can now support. Its arrival strengthens the case for future retailers, gives employers another tool for attracting workers and encourages investment along nearby corridors. More broadly, it reflects Buckeye’s transition from a community known primarily for residential expansion into a city increasingly capable of supporting regional commerce, employment and entertainment.

Back in 2022, Verrado Marketplace was an announcement accompanied by renderings and the promise of what might rise from an empty site. In 2024, city leaders, developers and community partners gathered to break ground. By 2026, storefronts were opening and residents were showing up before sunrise, forming lines that wrapped around new stores. What once existed only in plans and renderings was becoming part of everyday life in Buckeye.

For years, the corner of Interstate 10 and Verrado Way was somewhere people drove past while imagining what might come next. Now, those same people are lining up to be part of Buckeye’s next chapter. With only 17% of Buckeye built out, this is only the beginning for a city still defining what comes next.

Verrado Marketplace announcement and early plans, 2022:
 https://www.vestar.com/vestar-to-develop-buckeye-retail-center-next-to-proposed-costco-hospitals/

Verrado Marketplace ceremonial groundbreaking, Mayor Orsborn’s quote, tenant list, amenities and 500,000-square-foot scope:
 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vestar-holds-ceremonial-groundbreaking-of-verrado-marketplace–unveiling-expanded-list-of-restaurants-and-retailers-to-join-in-2026-302312282.html

Verrado Marketplace anchor tenants, including Target, Safeway and Harkins BackLot:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2395/

Current Verrado Marketplace openings and development information:
 https://atverradomarketplace.com/

Verrado Marketplace community-gathering and lifestyle-center description:
 https://atverradomarketplace.com/about/

Harkins BackLot information:
 https://atverradomarketplace.com/tenants/harkins-backlot/

SmartAsset’s national boomtown ranking, placing Buckeye at No. 13:
 https://smartasset.com/data-studies/americas-new-boomtowns

Buckeye’s 2026 State of the City information, including Burlington, MayAir and Verrado Marketplace:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2926/2128

Burlington’s nearly two-million-square-foot distribution center:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2914/18?backlist=%2F

Festival Ranch Marketplace and its planned Safeway anchor:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2962/18

Miller Road infrastructure and roadway improvements:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/business-development/program-management-office/construction-projects

Buckeye’s retail-attraction efforts and projects under construction:
 https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2900/18