Donning hard hats and neon visibility vests, city officials and staff got a sneak peek at Southbridge Marketplace’s progress last week.

Indiana-based developer Thompson Thrift hosted an open house Friday at the construction site on the northeast corner of Honeycutt Avenue and John Wayne Parkway. This is the final phase of the development and will bring a hodgepodge of retail, restaurant and service-based businesses to Maricopa.

Senior Development Associate Carson Thrift told InMaricopa his team is excited by the buzz generated from future tenants and Maricopa residents.

“We’re always excited to see that. It seems like everyone’s chomping at the bit, so that makes us very excited,” he said.

That includes excitement from national retailers, like Aldi.

“If you have a national grocery chain that gets excited about a market, that says something,” Thrift said.

Thrift said they are currently “in some conversations” with a drive-thru restaurant along Honeycutt Avenue, but did not name a restaurant. Last year, a source with access to the Arizona Commerce Authority told InMaricopa that spot may be filled by Chick-fil-A.

But the best part, Thrift said, is knowing how eager Maricopa is for the opening.

“When the community really buys in and is excited about everything developing, it lets us know that we’re developing in the right market, and we’re doing the right things,” Thrift said.