The final phase of Southbridge Marketplace is officially under construction, bringing Aldi and a slate of new restaurants and services to Maricopa’s busiest commercial corridor.

Thompson Thrift, the developer behind the 20-acre center at John Wayne Parkway and Honeycutt Avenue, confirmed construction began last week on the 56,000-square-foot second phase. Shell completion is expected by the end of next year, with Aldi scheduled to open in early 2027.

City documents reviewed last month show Aldi occupying a 20,664-square-foot building with roughly 20,000 square feet of attached shops and another 15,700 square feet of retail space across four outparcels. Signed tenants include a drive-thru Panera Bread, Tropical Smoothie Café, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Club Pilates, European Wax Center and She Nails Lounge.

Thompson Thrift and Forest Creek Ventures, the site’s Indiana-based ownership partners, said additional leases are being finalized for four inline spaces and two pad sites.

“Southbridge Marketplace is helping shape Maricopa’s next chapter as a thriving, connected community,” said Dan Sink, president and chief financial officer of Thompson Thrift. “We are proud to partner with Forest Creek and the city to bring more dining, shopping and service options that enhance everyday life for residents and support the area’s continued growth.”

The first phase of Southbridge delivered Lowe’s Home Improvement, which opened in August. That store spans 139,000 square feet and is one of the largest single retail developments in city history.

“With Lowe’s now open, we are excited for the next phase and the tenants we are working with,” Andrew Call, vice president of development management for Thompson Thrift’s southwest region, foreshadowed in an August interview.