Arrowhead Mall & West Valley Shopping Guide: New Stores, Dining, Openings, and What to Expect
By Marcus Vance
The departure of Sears left an cavernous multi-level void on the mall’s southern perimeter. For several years, industry analysts questioned whether Arrowhead Towne Center could repurpose more than 100,000 square feet without carving the space into generic storage or cut-rate discount storefronts.
Management responded by chasing experiential grocery anchors. The introduction of Asian supermarket powerhouse 99 Ranch Market fundamentally shifted regional foot-traffic patterns. By dedicating square footage to imported goods, live seafood counters, in-house bakeries, and hot-food counters, the wing draws regular daily shoppers rather than occasional weekend browsers. This setup creates recurring weekly foot traffic that traditional department store anchors failed to produce in their twilight years.
Complementing the international grocery push, high-end natural grocers, including Whole Foods Market, have steadily expanded their presence across the West Valley retail corridor. These additions validate Glendale’s rising median household incomes. Suburban consumers who once drove 25 minutes east toward Scottsdale for specialized culinary retail now find equivalent options within five miles of the Loop 101 interchange.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
