Queen Creek Marketplace has been around long enough that I don't really think of it as one of the places in Queen Creek that's still changing a ton.

But apparently it is.

There are several new businesses on the way, some new construction still filling in, older spaces turning over and a few pretty good spots that are completely up for grabs.

So here's what I'm watching right now.

Barnes & Noble is probably the one we'll see first

Barnes & Noble is opening in November 2026 at 21546 S. Ellsworth Loop Road, and this location is going to have a café too.

They've already started hiring, so this one is getting pretty close.

I'm excited about it.

Queen Creek has gotten plenty of restaurants and drive-thrus. A bookstore with a café is just something different to have over here.

And based on how many people ask me about this one every time I mention it, I don't think I'm the only one.

JINYA Ramen Bar is still coming

If you remember hearing about JINYA forever ago, you're not imagining it.

This one was originally expected much earlier in 2026.

Obviously that didn't happen.

JINYA Ramen Bar is still coming to Marketplace, though, in a new space of around 3,000 square feet.

If you've never been, it's more of a modern ramen bar than a little grab-and-go noodle place. Ramen is obviously the main thing, but they also have small plates, rice bowls, cocktails, sake and other drinks.

I don't have a new opening date I'd trust yet.

So JINYA is still coming. It's just taking its sweet time.

Aubergine Kitchen is coming too

This is another one I'm looking forward to.

Aubergine Kitchen is more of a healthy fast-casual place with bowls, salads, wraps, smoothies, vegetables, proteins and a little Mediterranean influence.

If you've been to their location around Dana Park, you'll know what to expect.

This one is going into the newer part of Marketplace that's being built out, but I don't have an opening date yet.

Between Aubergine and JINYA, at least we're getting a couple restaurant options that we don't already have all over Queen Creek.

I'll take it.

LongHorn Steakhouse is planned near Olive Garden

This will be another full-size sit-down restaurant for Marketplace.

LongHorn Steakhouse is planned for a new building near Olive Garden, at around 5,700 to 5,800 square feet.

I think this one is probably a little farther out than Barnes & Noble and some of the other businesses on this list.

There's no opening date I'd put on the calendar yet.

But if you're wondering where it's going, look around that Olive Garden side of Marketplace.

That's the area to watch.

LaserAway is coming too

LaserAway is another one headed to Marketplace.

They're a national aesthetics/medical spa company that does laser hair removal, skin treatments, tattoo removal and other cosmetic treatments.

They already have locations around the Valley, including Gilbert, so this will be their Queen Creek location.

I haven't seen an opening date for this one yet either.

There's also more happening in the new building with JINYA

This is one of the pieces I'm still watching because I don't think we have every name yet.

JINYA is taking one of the spaces in a new building that's roughly 9,700 square feet total.

Aubergine is part of the newer construction happening around this area too.

But there are other suites that have either been leased or had lease activity, and I don't think everything happening over there has been announced yet.

There's also still some space available.

So I wouldn't assume JINYA and Aubergine are the last names we're going to hear in this part of Marketplace.

If I find something good, I'll update this.

What about the old Torchy's Tacos?

Still empty.

Torchy's closed its Queen Creek location in February 2026, and nobody has taken over the building yet.

This is actually one of the spaces I'm most curious about.

It's a freestanding restaurant building of around 4,400 square feet, so whoever eventually takes it isn't starting with an empty dirt pad.

It's also right in an established shopping center with a ridiculous amount of traffic already coming through.

I haven't found a replacement restaurant yet.

No secret name I'm sitting on.

It's still available.

But I would be surprised if that building sits empty forever.

And then there's Applebee's...

Technically, Applebee's is still supposed to be coming to Queen Creek Marketplace.

But I've been seeing Applebee's attached to this project for so long without much actually happening that I'm putting it in my:

I'll believe it when I see it category. 😂

I'm not putting it in the same group as Barnes & Noble, JINYA, Aubergine, LongHorn and LaserAway because those are actually moving.

If Applebee's finally does something, I'll let you know.

There's actually still quite a bit of Marketplace left to fill

This was probably the part that surprised me most.

Even with everything already at Marketplace and all these new businesses coming, there are still around 45,000 square feet of available or future-development space being marketed throughout the center.

Not all of that is an empty storefront someone can move into tomorrow.

Some of it is land for future buildings.

But there's still quite a bit left.

The old Torchy's is about 4,400 square feet.

There's also an 8,000-square-foot former home décor space available.

There are a couple smaller existing spaces.

And there are several future areas where Marketplace could eventually add more shops or restaurants.

Some of those future spaces are pretty substantial too, with individual areas in the 7,000-square-foot range.

So Marketplace definitely isn't finished.

I actually like the direction it's going

Queen Creek Marketplace isn't new anymore.

That's what makes what's happening now a little different.

We're starting to see older tenants leave and get replaced at the same time Marketplace is still building out pieces that were never finished.

Torchy's leaves.

Barnes & Noble comes in.

LongHorn gets a new restaurant.

JINYA and Aubergine bring a couple food options Queen Creek doesn't already have.

LaserAway adds something different on the service side.

And there are still several spaces where we don't know what's coming next.

I actually like this mix more than getting another five drive-thrus announced.

The ones I'm watching closest now are Barnes & Noble opening in November, JINYA finally getting open, LongHorn starting to take shape, whatever else gets announced around the new construction and especially that old Torchy's building.

That Torchy's spot feels like one where the right restaurant could be announced and move pretty quickly.

And Applebee's?

I'll check back on that one in another 10 years.