When we reported on the new development called Legacy at Porter, we found out we were about to be lousy with duplicated businesses. Expect a second Goodwill, a second Chipotle and a second Jersey Mike’s subs.  

It got us thinking. A little journalistic mind meld, a thought experiment over here at the Honeycutt Road office. 

Which duplicate business would you most like to see? We, as journalists, need to keep our opinions to ourselves (although the only correct answer is Dutch Bros — yeah, we’re still hot about that), so we asked our loyal readers and Facebook commenters to weigh in.  

Which business proposed for the Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway retail corridor needs a second location the most?  

The results are in:

Starbucks narrowly won the poll of 700 of our readers with 27.7% of the vote. It was a photo finish against Panda Express at 27.1%. 

Chipotle earned a fifth of the votes, while Jersey Mike’s, Goodwill, Wendy’s and O’Reilly Auto Parts rounded out the rest, each receiving under 10%. 

We gave our best efforts to gauge enthusiasm for the duplicate locations. For the haters, it was meant to be an exercise in picking the lesser of seven evils, so to speak. 

Y’all did not like that. We apologize for not including a “none of the above” option, which seemed to be in greater demand than any of the businesses at issue. 

Most of the public response reflected frustration rather than support. More than 100 comments flooded the accompanying Facebook post with most voicing opposition to the idea of duplicating existing businesses. 

“Maricopa – the city of duplicates,” said Chandler resident Sasha Bost.  

“Stop with the damn second locations and bring in new business… we already have double of more things than we need,” said Glennwilde resident Jeromi Hill.  

Despite the poll’s clear instruction to pick one of the listed options, 30 free-wheeling Facebook folk simply responded, “none.” The rule breakers are listed below:  

Legacy on Porter, the 6½-acre retail center slated to rise across from Walmart, is expected to break ground in early 2026. According to plans from Phoenix-based Legacy Development Partners, the site will feature Maricopa’s first Swig, a Utah-based soda chain known for “dirty sodas” and cookies, as well as an unnamed ice cream shop. 

A “prime drive-thru endcap” remains available for lease. Senita entrepreneur Jason Martin told us Tuesday he was planning to open a new concept called Orlie’s Taproom at the Legacy plaza. The Facebook crowd seemed much more content with this news. 

“We don’t need repeats!” shouted Desert Passage resident Patty Schranz into the Facebook void. “This town is less than 3 miles to anywhere so why the heck do we need repeats? Let’s bring something new like Salad and Go.” 

Other alternatives poured in: In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Target, WinCo, Costco and sit-down restaurants topped wish lists. Others proposed non-retail solutions, including more grocery stores, a second hospital or family-oriented entertainment (we’ve already announced all three of these things in 2025). 

While we await details on new food spots laying down roots in Maricopa, one thing is clear: Maricopa residents are … hungry for change. 

Happy Memorial Day!