For a long time, living in Desert Ridge has meant having quite a bit nearby. We have shopping, restaurants, golf, entertainment, freeway access and one of the country’s most recognized medical institutions, all within a relatively small part of North Phoenix.

Even so, there have always been a few things residents wished were closer. Trader Joe’s probably topped that list.

Now Trader Joe’s is officially coming, Sprouts is preparing to open at CityNorth, new restaurants are being added, Mayo Clinic is planning another major expansion, and the Arizona Cardinals are building a new headquarters and performance center just north of the Loop 101.

At the same time, builders and developers are purchasing some of the remaining land surrounding Desert Ridge. Some projects are under construction, some have been announced, and others are still working their way through the planning and approval process.

It is a lot of activity in a part of Phoenix that already feels fairly established, and it raises a larger question: What will all of this growth mean for the people who already live here?

Trader Joe’s Is Officially Coming to Desert Ridge

After years of residents wishing, asking and occasionally passing along another rumor, Trader Joe’s has officially confirmed a new Phoenix location at Desert Ridge Marketplace.

The company lists the store as “Coming Soon” at 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 1030. Trader Joe’s has not posted an opening date on its website, although local reporting indicates that construction is underway in the former JOANN space.

For people who currently drive to Scottsdale Road, Shea Boulevard or another part of the Valley to shop there, this is the kind of addition that will have an immediate effect on everyday life.

It is also interesting that Trader Joe’s is moving into the Marketplace as CityNorth prepares to welcome another major grocery store less than a mile away.

Sprouts Opens at CityNorth in July

Sprouts Farmers Market has confirmed that its new CityNorth store will open on July 24, 2026.

The store is located at 20650 N. 56th Street, near 56th Street and CityNorth Drive. Sprouts is promoting a three-day grand-opening celebration running from July 24 through July 26.

This Sprouts will be particularly convenient for the neighborhoods on the west side of Desert Ridge, as well as the growing number of residents, employees and hotel guests expected throughout CityNorth.

The addition of Sprouts and Trader Joe’s does not simply give residents two more places to buy groceries. It is another indication that businesses expect significantly more people to be living, working and spending time in this area.

New Restaurants Are Joining Desert Ridge Marketplace

The restaurant scene at Desert Ridge Marketplace is changing too.

The center’s current directory includes several newer and coming concepts, including NADU Regional Indian, Kajiken Ramen, Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse and Globe in the Dark.

These are not four versions of the same familiar chain. NADU focuses on regional Indian cooking. Kajiken is known for abura soba, a Japanese noodle dish served without broth. Terra Gaucha brings the traditional Brazilian steakhouse experience, while Globe in the Dark is designed as a cocktail and dining concept.

Opening timelines can change during construction, permitting and staffing, so I would watch Desert Ridge Marketplace’s own directory and announcements for the most current dates.

Still, the direction is worth noting. Desert Ridge is gradually adding more varied dining options rather than simply repeating what is already here.

CityNorth Is Finally Taking Shape

People who have lived in Desert Ridge for a while may remember earlier versions of the CityNorth vision.

The original development was planned as a much larger urban center with residences, offices, hotels, restaurants and shopping. High Street opened as the first phase in 2008, just as economic conditions changed dramatically, and much of the larger plan stalled.

The current CityNorth plan is more than a rendering, although it is still being completed in phases.

According to the developer, the approximately 100-acre master plan includes more than 2 million square feet of office space, about 3,416 multifamily residences, approximately 1,000 hotel rooms, and additional retail and dining. Confirmed sites include Sprouts, Sunela apartments, Republic Services, AC Hotel by Marriott and Element by Westin.

Those overall numbers describe the planned buildout of CityNorth. They do not mean that every building has been constructed or that every portion of the plan will be completed at once.

That has always been part of the difficulty in talking about CityNorth. Over the years, residents have seen different concepts, timelines and development partners. The more useful question now is not whether the original vision will appear exactly as it once did, but which portions are actually moving forward.

Sprouts is real. The apartments are real. The corporate and hotel sites identified by the developer are real. The full buildout will continue to take time.

What About High Street?

High Street is technically the first completed phase of the original CityNorth development, and plans for additional construction around it have surfaced periodically.

A 2022 proposal for land west of the existing High Street buildings included a hotel, an office building and a parking structure. Because that proposal is several years old and I could not confirm a current construction schedule for it, it should be viewed as a prior development plan rather than a project that is definitely beginning now.

That does not mean High Street will remain unchanged. Its location between Desert Ridge Marketplace, CityNorth, the Loop 101 and the JW Marriott makes additional development likely over time. It simply means we should distinguish between plans that have been discussed and projects that are currently confirmed.

A Builder Has Purchased More Desert Ridge Land

K. Hovnanian Homes recently purchased approximately 53 acres of Arizona State Trust land near the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort.

The builder paid more than $71 million for the property following a competitive state land auction. It is seeking approval for a gated residential community called Tellaro, with plans for approximately 234 homes.

At the time of the latest reporting, the development was still moving through the city approval process. Construction could begin later in 2026 or in early 2027, assuming the necessary approvals are received.

That distinction is important. The land purchase is complete, but the proposed home count, design and construction schedule should not be treated as final until the development receives its approvals and the builder moves forward.

It is nevertheless another sign that homebuilders continue to place a high value on the remaining residential land around Desert Ridge.

The Arizona Cardinals Are Moving Their Headquarters North

One of the largest projects underway near Desert Ridge is the Arizona Cardinals’ new headquarters and performance center at Paradise Ridge.

The team broke ground in February 2026 on property located north of the Loop 101 and west of Scottsdale Road. The Cardinals purchased approximately 217 acres for $136 million and plan to use about 30 acres for their football facilities and business offices. The new headquarters is scheduled to open in 2028.

The facility is expected to exceed 250,000 square feet and include three outdoor practice fields, an indoor field, expanded training and sports medicine areas, locker rooms, meeting spaces and offices.

The Cardinals’ portion of the property will also serve as the anchor for a broader mixed-use development. Details for the remaining acreage are still evolving, so it would be premature to describe every possible use as settled. The team has said, however, that the larger site is intended to include additional development around its new headquarters.

Dignity Health has since announced plans for a medical campus at the same Scottsdale Road and Loop 101 site, adding another significant institution to the project.

This will not be a stadium or a place where home games are played, but it will bring the Cardinals’ year-round football and business operations into North Phoenix. That means employees, players, medical professionals, visitors and future development arriving in a part of the Valley that already sees considerable activity.

Mayo Clinic Is Preparing for Another Major Expansion

Mayo Clinic has been one of Desert Ridge’s most important neighbors since its Phoenix hospital opened in 1998.

Now Mayo is preparing for another major transformation of its campus.

In March 2025, Mayo Clinic announced a nearly $1.9 billion investment in its Phoenix facilities. The plan includes approximately 1.2 million square feet of additional and renovated space, including a new procedural building, an expanded Specialty Building and a redesigned arrival experience.

Mayo has also stated that the expansion will include 11 additional operating rooms and 48 additional hospital beds. Completion is anticipated around 2031.

For nearby homeowners, having Mayo Clinic close by has always been significant. Some residents work there, others moved to the area because they receive care there, and many simply appreciate having a major hospital and medical center nearby.

The expansion will strengthen Mayo’s presence, but it will also bring more employees, patients, visitors and traffic into the surrounding area. As with every part of this growth story, there is both an obvious benefit and a practical impact that residents will feel.

What Does All of This Mean for Desert Ridge?

Growth is rarely an uncomplicated story.

New stores and restaurants are welcome, especially when they give residents more choices close to home. New employers, medical facilities and professional sports operations can strengthen the local economy. Additional housing can meet demand and bring new investment into the area.

Growth also brings more traffic, more construction and more people competing for the same roads, restaurants and parking spaces. Residents will reasonably want to know how infrastructure keeps pace and how development affects the character of the neighborhoods they chose in the first place.

That may be the more interesting story unfolding around Desert Ridge.

The area is not being reinvented because it failed. It is growing because it worked. People wanted to live here, businesses wanted access to them, and institutions such as Mayo Clinic and the Arizona Cardinals saw value in making a long-term investment nearby.

For those of us who live and work in the area, the next few years will be worth watching. Desert Ridge has always offered more than many people realize. Soon, there may be quite a bit more to talk about.

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