What's New in Fountain Hills: New Restaurants, New Stores, and a Road Project Worth Celebrating
If you've driven through town lately, you've probably noticed it too — Fountain Hills is in the middle of a genuinely exciting stretch. Between new places to eat, a grocery store residents have been asking for, and a road project that's finally nearing the finish line, there's a lot to catch you up on. Whether you already call Fountain Hills home or you're considering it, here's what's coming.
Sprouts Farmers Market Is Coming to Four Peaks Plaza
This is the one I hear about the most from clients and neighbors: Sprouts Farmers Market is opening its first Fountain Hills location at Four Peaks Plaza. The new store will be just over 23,000 square feet and will carry the fresh produce, bulk foods, vitamins, and specialty groceries Sprouts is known for.
The town's own economic development director has said residents have been asking for a specialty grocery store like this for years, so it's a nice example of what patience and the right partnership between the Town Council and a property owner can produce. It's a genuine quality-of-life upgrade, and it's the kind of amenity that matters to buyers looking at Fountain Hills, too — having more of your everyday errands close to home makes a real difference.
Dairy Queen Is Working Its Way Back
Longtime residents remember the Dairy Queen on Saguaro Boulevard, and there's good news: plans have been in place to bring it back, with the Town's Planning & Zoning approving a drive-thru expansion for the site. It's gone through a bit of a permitting journey — the permit for the drive-thru has been extended as the project moves forward — but it's a welcome sign that a hometown favorite is on its way back to where it belongs.
And Finally — Shea Boulevard Is Almost There
If you commute in or out of town on Shea Boulevard, you already know this one intimately. The widening project has been underway for a while now — through the one-lane stretches, the patience, the occasional detour — and it's genuinely nearing completion. The Town has been scheduling the final overnight closures needed to finish the work, which is usually the last step before a project like this wraps up for good.
It's been a long process, but a wider, improved Shea Boulevard is going to make a real difference for how easily Fountain Hills connects to the rest of the Valley — which matters not just for daily life, but for how the town continues to grow.
The Big Picture
None of these things are enormous on their own, but put together, they tell a pretty clear story: Fountain Hills is growing thoughtfully, adding the kinds of everyday conveniences and infrastructure that make a town easier — and more desirable — to live in. As someone who works in this market every day, I love watching it happen.
If you have questions about how any of this might affect your home's value, your search for a new one, or just want to talk through what's changing in your neighborhood, I'm always happy to chat.
Jenn Stricker | The Pellegrini Group | MCO Realty | www.jennstricker.com