The year 2026 has brought long-awaited openings to the Valley, from gas stations and chains like Buc-ee's to supermarkets including Trader Joe's.
Some of these grocery stores are expanding in metro Phoenix, while others, such as Seafood City, have opened their doors in Arizona for the first time.
The California-based supermarket chain, which specializes in Filipino ingredients, food and desserts, was met with a large number of fans lining up in the heat during the grand opening.
Here's a list of grocery stores that have opened in metro Phoenix, along with others still coming soon.
Vallarta Supermarkets
Vallarta Supermarkets opened its first-ever Arizona location earlier this year in January. The store is located at 59th Avenue and Camelback Road in Glendale.
The family-owned
Latino grocer is known for its authentic Latino food and immersive shopping experiences. The Glendale location spans 49,000 square feet.
A new location of the grocery store is in the works and will be in South Phoenix at 26 E. Baseline Road, at the intersection of Baseline Road and Central Avenue. It will open in early 2027, according to a news release.
Buc-ee's
While not technically a grocery store, the travel center has a cult following. The first Buc-ee's in Arizona opened on Monday, June 22, with much fanfare.
Fans waited in lines outside the building hours before the store opened at 6 a.m. and then flooded the store to get a taste of all things Buc-ee's.
News of the travel center opening in Goodyear was confirmed on March 13, 2024. It was originally expected to open by the end of 2025; however, that date got pushed back, with the groundbreaking occurring on May 14, 2025.
The location is said to bring more than 200 jobs, paying well above minimum wage, to the area and will occupy 74,000 square feet with 120 fueling stations. It will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Seafood City
North America's largest Filipino Asian supermarket opened in Chandler on Thursday, July 30, at 9 a.m.
The massive 66,000-square-foot grocery store features a curated assortment of items from across the Philippines, Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam and beyond, making Seafood City one of Arizona’s "most diverse market destinations." There is a 10,947-square-foot food hall, the largest Filipino-Asian Food Hall in Arizona and seating for more than 300 guests.
Now that the store is open, President Matt Go said that the work doesn't stop; they're going to continue developing to what the Chandler market needs, continue training their employees to get better and better service, watch their product selection and be involved with the community.
They also still have the crab market in the store, which has yet to open. Go said it will be ready in a couple of months.
Sprouts
Two new Sprouts Farmers Markets opened in metro Phoenix in July. The new locations are the chain's 49th and 50th locations in Arizona.
One is in Phoenix and is part of the grocery store's new corporate headquarters at 56th Street and Deer Valley Drive. The other is in Buckeye at Verrado Way and West Roosevelt Street.
More Arizona grocery stores opening in 2026
While you can visit the supermarkets already open, there are also many more to look forward to in 2026 and beyond.
Aldi
In January, Aldi announced that it would open 10 new stores in metro Phoenix in 2026 and a total of 40 through 2030. So far, the chain has made good on three of them, with more locations in the works.
Aldi has 18 locations in metro Phoenix. Here are seven new locations that the chain has announced in the last year but have not opened yet:
- Buckeye: 19605 W. Indian School Road
- Cave Creek: Intersection of North 51st Street and East Carefree Highway
- Peoria: 6817 W Peoria Avenue
- Phoenix: 4727 E Bell Road
- Maricopa: Intersection of John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Avenue
- Mesa: 4433 E Main Street; Southeast corner of Power and Elliot roads
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's continues to expand in metro Phoenix, with multiple locations in the works.
Trader Joe's is opening a new central Phoenix location at Arcadia Crossing. The shopping center is at 44th Street and Thomas Road and was expected to open in December 2026.
Trader Joe's is opening itsfirst north Phoenix location at Desert Ridge Marketplace. There are already three other Trader Joe's locations in Phoenix, but none as far north as the new location. The opening date for this location had not yet been announced.
Costco
The favorite warehouse store is also continuing to expand in the Valley.
The first Costco on tribal land is planned to open in January 2027 near Indian School and Pima roads.
A Costco Business Center and 15-pump gas station is coming to Chandler, with an expected opening date at the end of 2026.
Osaka Marketplace
A specialty Japanese grocery store will open its first location outside of California in north Phoenix. Osaka Marketplace will move into the shopping plaza at the intersection of Union Hills Drive and Seventh Street.
It is expected to open in the second half of 2027.
Whole Foods
Whole Foods will open in the Village at Prasada in Surprise. A timeline for the opening had not yet been announced.
Whole Foods will also be opening its first Glendale location. The grocer will be located next to Arrowhead Towne Center and occupy a space that formerly housed a Big Lots, according to city documents. Improvements to the building's exterior to ready it for Whole Foods were approved in August 2025, city documents show.
Whole Foods will take over a former Fry's building at the northeast corner of Indian School and Miller Road near Old Town Scottsdale. Scottsdale approved Whole Foods’ application to renovate the building in July 2024, but an opening date has not yet been announced.
Arizona Republic reporter Reia Li contributed to this article.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Every new grocery store opening in Phoenix and where it's going
