If you’ve driven around Eastmark, Signal Butte, Ellsworth, or the SR-24 corridor lately, you’ve probably noticed something…

Southeast Mesa is starting to look very different than it did even five years ago.

For a long time this part of Mesa was mostly housing first. Thousands of homes were built across Eastmark, Cadence, and surrounding communities, but the retail and restaurant scene hadn’t really caught up yet.

That phase is starting to shift.

Several large commercial projects are now underway or moving through approvals, and together they’re beginning to reshape how this whole area functions.

Here’s a breakdown of the biggest developments happening in Southeast Mesa right now.

Medina Station ... A Major New Retail Hub

One of the biggest projects currently under construction is Medina Station, located at Southern Avenue and Signal Butte Road.

This is a 64-acre mixed-use development that will bring a major retail center to east Mesa.

The anchors include:

• Target ... 148,000 square feet
• Dick’s Sporting Goods ... two-story location

Around those anchors you’ll see a growing list of restaurants and retail including:

• OHSO Brewery + Distillery
• Café Zupas
• Mission BBQ
• Hawaiian Bros Island Grill
• Five Guys
• Einstein Bros Bagels
• Handel’s Ice Cream
• Boot Barn
• V’s Barbershop
• Zara Nail Bar
• GoodVets Veterinary Clinic
• U.S. Bank

The project also includes multifamily housing with hundreds of apartment units, which helps support the retail and dining nearby.

Construction began in 2025, and the first openings are expected around summer 2026.

For residents in Eastmark, Augusta Ranch, and even parts of Queen Creek, this fills a retail gap that’s existed for years.

Hawes Crossing ... A New District Forming

Another project locals may not fully realize the scale of yet is Hawes Crossing.

This is a 1,100-acre master-planned district happening around Hawes Road and Elliot Road.

The vision here isn’t just housing ... it’s a full mixed-use district that will eventually include:

• residential neighborhoods
• apartments and townhomes
• restaurants and retail
• office and employment space

Retail that has been proposed or planned in the area includes things like:

• coffee shops
• quick-service restaurants
• neighborhood retail centers
• medical and wellness services

One of the multifamily communities inside Hawes Crossing broke ground in 2024 and is expected to open around summer 2026.

When projects like this start filling in, they usually become secondary lifestyle nodes ... places where people grab dinner, coffee, or run errands close to home.

EastMarket at Eastmark ... Grocery and Restaurants Arriving

Another retail project happening nearby is EastMarket at Eastmark, located at Ray Road and Ellsworth Road.

This center will bring a much-needed grocery anchor and additional dining options to the area.

Confirmed and planned tenants include:

• Sprouts Farmers Market
• fast-casual restaurant spaces
• coffee and café concepts
• health and wellness services
• boutique retail

This project is designed to function as a community gathering retail plaza for Eastmark residents.

Construction is underway with openings expected around 2026.

For many people living in Eastmark, this will finally mean not driving 10-15 minutes for groceries or dinner.

The SR-24 Corridor ... Future Regional Retail

One of the most important long-term commercial areas in Southeast Mesa is forming around the SR-24 freeway corridor.

That highway opened up development opportunities between Mesa, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley, and developers are already eyeing several intersections.

One of the most talked-about proposals is the Destination development near Signal Butte Road and SR-24.

Concept plans for this area have included large regional retailers such as:

• Walmart Supercenter
• Sam’s Club
• additional national retail chains
• fast-casual restaurants
• service and convenience retail

Because of the freeway access and surrounding population growth, that intersection is widely expected to become a regional shopping destination for Southeast Mesa and nearby communities.

Arizona Athletic Grounds Area ... Restaurants and Hotels Likely Next

Another area to watch is the district surrounding Arizona Athletic Grounds ... formerly known as Legacy Sports Park.

This massive youth sports complex already attracts millions of visitors each year for tournaments and events.

Because of that traffic, developers have discussed plans for Legacy Park, which could bring things like:

• restaurants and sports bars
• retail shops
• hotels and lodging
• entertainment venues

Projects like this usually grow around large sports facilities because families traveling for tournaments need places to eat, stay, and spend time between games.

Over time this area could evolve into a sports entertainment district for the East Valley.

Mesa Gateway Airport ... The Job Engine Behind It All

One of the biggest drivers behind all of this development is the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport corridor.

The area around the airport has attracted companies involved in:

• aerospace manufacturing
• aviation services
• logistics and distribution
• technology manufacturing

Large industrial and flex business parks continue to be built nearby to support these industries.

When employment centers grow like this, the surrounding areas usually follow with:

• restaurants
• hotels
• retail centers
• housing

So the airport corridor is quietly becoming a major economic hub for the Southeast Valley.

Why Retail Is Finally Catching Up

If you’ve lived in this area for a while, you probably remember the common conversation people had:

“There are a lot of homes out here ... but not many places to eat.”

The reason it took time is simple.

Retail usually doesn’t arrive until population density reaches a certain threshold.

Communities like Eastmark, Cadence, and Hawes Crossing have added thousands of homes over the last decade, and that population growth is what finally makes larger retail centers possible.

The Development Pattern Playing Out

Southeast Mesa is following the classic growth cycle:

1️⃣ housing first
2️⃣ grocery stores and daily retail
3️⃣ regional retail centers
4️⃣ employment hubs
5️⃣ entertainment districts

Right now, Southeast Mesa is moving from phase two into phase three.

What This Means for the East Valley

Over the next five to ten years, Southeast Mesa will likely continue adding:

• more regional restaurant brands
• larger retail centers
• hospitality near the airport
• additional job growth
• entertainment and lifestyle districts

Corridors like Signal Butte Road, Ellsworth Road, and Hawes Road will likely become the main commercial spines of the area.

For years, the East Valley conversation focused mostly on Gilbert, Queen Creek and Chandler.

But Southeast Mesa is quickly becoming a much bigger part of the story.

And if the pace of development continues, the entire corridor between Eastmark, Gateway Airport, and Queen Creek is going to look very different by the end of the decade.