How to watch Arizona high school baseball: ALA-Queen Creek vs May 5Data SkriveAmerican Leadership Academy - Queen Creek is hosting Saguaro High School at 3:50 p.m How to watch Saguaro vs. ALA-Queen Creek baseballSaguaro and ALA-Queen Creek will match up on Monday, May 5, at 3:50 p.m. AZT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country Follow your favorite team and never miss a game Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school baseball streaming live plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America Watch ALA-Queen Creek vs. Saguaro on NFHS Network! All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at NFHS Network and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU AZ — A juvenile was taken to a hospital after being hit by a car while riding an e-bike near a park Wednesday night Queen Creek police say it happened at Mansel Park near Sossaman and Ocotillo roads Officials say the juvenile suffered life-threatening injuries Report a typo Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor exacted revenge using a big sixth inning to turn back Queen Creek on Saturday a bases-loaded walk and a two-run hit in the sixth en route to a 6-5 win in the first round of the state baseball tournament looked like it would drop into the losers bracket whose walk-off hit in the 10th inning beat O'Connor 7-6 for the 2024 title at Diablo Stadium had a two-run homer in Queen Creek's four-run third inning But starting pitcher Cody Stoller shook off that inning solo home run by leadoff batter Jet Berry in the top of the seventh before getting Reynolds to fly out to end the game "I let him be a hero last year," SDO coach Jeff Baumgartner said "I can't let him do that two years in a row O'Connor moves into the winners bracket to face top-ranked Tempe Corona del Sol plays host to Sunnyside on May 6 at 4 p.m. Reynolds blooped a single in his first at-bat before his homer gave Queen Creek a 2-0 lead said he didn't try to pitch around Reynolds the last time I'm going right at them to try to get them out," Stoller said "He already had two hits and he probably wasn't going to get another one Small ball has always been part of Baumgartner's coaching philosophy to try to put pressure on the defense It worked out well last year to beat Brophy twice to get to the final After SDO cut the deficit to 4-2 in the fifth on Aiden Woolwine's two-run single the Eagles led off the bottom of the sixth with a single by Stoller Dylan Turnquist and Jaylen Jimenez laid down bunts to load the bases 9 batter Brent Sollars ripped a two-strike two-run single that gave O'Connor a 5-4 lead Sollars tried to bunt but wasn't able to lay it down before his big hit leadoff batter Jacoby Noble executed a bunt that he beat out to score what turned out to be a very big insurance run for a 6-4 cushion "We were trying to get to the next guy to see if he can do the job," Sollars said "My job right there was to get the bunt down "That's kind of the name of the game around here To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert Land Advisors Organization’s homebuilding team recently completed the sale of 218 single family final platted lots in Queen Creek within the Borgata at San Tan Heights to Taylor Morrison Homes for $21 million which is located at the southwest corner of Thompson Road and Hunt Highway in Queen Creek is just over 131 acres in size Bret Rinehart and Greg Vogel with Land Advisors Organization’s Homebuilding Team who represented the seller Borgata at San Tan Heights LLC (Christopher Bennett) This purchase will kick off the second phase of the 270-acre Borgata at San Tan Heights community in North Pinal County along the southern border of Queen Creek The community is nestled next to the eastern boundary of the San Tan Regional Park offering topographical variations and premium views for its 411 homesites  Homes in the first phase are currently being constructed by Shea Homes and Tripoint Homes Queen Creek is the future home of LG Energy Solution’s $5.5 billion Stand-Alone Battery Manufacturing Complex (LGES) and has been experiencing significant growth since the LGES announcement in March 2023 With the LGES project well underway and on schedule to complete and commence production in 2026 the facility’s workforce and other population growth trends are prompting the need for more homes the State Route 24 corridor in Queen Creek is prepared for LGES supply chain providers and other businesses to expand or relocate to the area Copyright © 2025 AZ Big Media  |  All Rights Reserved  |  Site by Blufish William "Owen" Hines will spend 17 years in prison for his part in the "Gilbert Goons" attack that killed Preston Lord and for a drunken driving crash that left another teen with traumatic brain injuries The 19-year-old was sentenced May 2 to 12 years in prison for manslaughter in Lord's attack at a 2023 Halloween party in Queen Creek He got another five years for aggravated assault in the drunken driving case Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott McCoy said the prison terms would be consecutive and include 456 days for time served followed by at least three years of probation "It is my sincere hope that what we do here today is the first step for all of you on the road to healing," McCoy said at the end of a nearly three-hour hearing in a courtroom packed with Lord's family Other victims of Goons beatings were there who all addressed the court and asked for the maximum sentence of 21 years Their statements were followed by a video montage of Lord McCoy said he was forced to weigh Hines' willingness to take responsibility his age and his history of addiction against his willingness to engage in repeated assaults and the substantial pain he caused "I don't know that I've seen anyone more anxious to plead guilty," McCoy said He noted Hines had many chances to correct his behavior after run-ins with the law but still participated in Lord's beating death McCoy at times seemed to struggle as he delivered the sentence pausing several times as he talked through his decision Lord used the words 'tragic' and 'senseless,'" McCoy said "If ever there was a case that was tragic and senseless dressed in an orange jumpsuit and flanked by his lawyers "There isn't one day that goes by when I don’t think about that night.” He read a written statement that was directed to his victims and their families as much as it was to the judge the teen he hit while speeding through a red light that he hoped God would continue to take care of him "I pray that recovery has been swift," Hines said "And you still will one day be able to do the things that you want to do to the fullest extent Follow your dreams and never stop fighting." He told the Lord family that Preston was an outstanding man; "a kind soul senselessly taken from this world." "He didn't deserve not one of those kicks or punches," Hines said adding it would be wrong to ask Lord's parents for forgiveness but instead referred to his struggles with addiction that began when he was 15 and first found solace from the bottle Hines' parents spoke on his behalf and called him remorseful and compassionate They said they were determined to help him become a man people could be proud of "His actions do not reflect his heart," his mother "Owen in his soul is not the person who kicked Preston He is the person who immediately stopped and was begging the others to stop He is the young man who is living with his remorse and shame and pain." Five of Preston Lord's relatives and a lawyer representing the family gave emotional testimony describing the teen's potential as a gifted student a classroom leader and an athlete who went out of his way to help people "There are no words that can truly capture the pain of losing our son," Preston's stepmother She said Hines needed to understand the magnitude of his actions "I want you to feel the weight of the pain you have caused," Ciconte said "I hope that every day for the rest of your life you remember his name spoke about how proud he was of his son and how his world had been shattered said Hines' actions undermined his words of contrition He said Hines was only remorseful because he got caught "His crocodile tears when he changed his plea to guilty to manslaughter and to the other attacks really mean nothing to me or to his victims and their families," Reich said Nick Lord said he was not disappointed by the sentence but said he would never be satisfied; that no sentence would ever be long enough "I'm not going to say that I am pleased," Nick Lord said "We have accepted the terms" of the plea deal Nick Lord said his family was bracing itself for the next cases and making sure the other six defendants accused in his son's beating are held accountable "I am prepared to do whatever it takes to see this thing through," he said He said Hines' sentence was "OK" and that he would "accept it." He said there were more important things to do now including ensuring the passage of Preston's Law which would make criminal sentences tougher for people found guilty of participating in group attacks Reich said Gilbert officials also need to be held accountable for turning a blind eye to a string of attacks by the Goons for more than a year before his grandson was killed Hines avoids first-degree murder and kidnapping chargesHines and six others were initially charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Lord's death Hines agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter during a settlement conference in March. He told McCoy that he was haunted by his role in the killing He said he was in the throes of multiple addictions — drugs alcohol and hallucinogens — when he and other Goons punched kicked and stomped Lord and left him lying in the street Hines also pleaded guilty in connection with two other nonfatal Goons attacks in 2022 and for hitting another car and injuring Zazick while driving under the influence in 2023 Prosecutors with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office dropped a kidnapping charge against Hines in Lord's death They also recommended supervised probation in the two Goons beating cases in Gilbert one at an In-N-Out Burger and the other at a house party The plea deal does not require Hines to testify against other people accused of attacking Lord Lawyers for the Lord family confirmed after Hines entered his guilty plea that there was no agreement requiring him to cooperate with prosecutors McCoy sentenced him to at least three years' probation following his release from prison for the beating cases He could be 36 years old when he gets out of prison Lord and his friends crossed paths with Goons at a chaotic Oct party that drew hundreds of teens from across metro Phoenix to an upscale suburban neighborhood The two groups of teens were unknown to each other The Goons targeted Lord's friends as they were leaving Lord was knocked to the ground with a punch to the face — then his attackers descended on him He died two days later from traumatic brain injuries without ever regaining consciousness According to a Queen Creek police report Hines told a friend on the night of the attack that he kicked Lord in the stomach He told the friend he felt bad and questioned why the others accused of beating Lord kicked him in the head A December 2023 investigation by The Arizona Republic tied Lord's killing to the Goons a gang of teenagers who recorded their blitz-style attacks on teens in parks and parking garages outside fast-food restaurants and at house parties went unchecked by authorities for more than a year The Republic has documented 18 attacks involving 95 people in Goons assaults since November 2022 Mesa and Pinal County began making arrests tied to the beatings in January 2024 The Queen Creek Police Department, which led the homicide investigation, began making arrests in March 2024. A Maricopa County grand jury indicted Hines along with Treston Billey and Talyn Vigil in connection with Lord's death The others charged in Lord's killing have all pleaded not guilty But Meisner and Sherman have requested settlement conferences in their cases scheduled for May 29 and 30 The screen showed Meisner's father was among those watching remotely Robert Anglen is an investigative reporter for The Republic. Reach him at robert.anglen@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X @robertanglen Elena Santa Cruz is a criminal justice reporter for The Republic. Reach her at elena.santacruz@gannett.com. Follow her on X @ecsantacruz3 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPHOENIX (AZFamily) — The first of seven defendants to cut a deal with prosecutors in the murder of Queen Creek teen Preston Lord learned his punishment on Friday afternoon Judge Scott McCoy sentenced 19-year-old William Owen Hines to 12 years in prison for Lord’s death He was also sentenced to an additional five years (with credit for 456 days already served) after pleading guilty to vehicular aggravated assault in a separate case The two sentences will be served consecutively and no parent should ever have to endure the pain of burying their child especially under horrific circumstances,” said Nick Lord “William Hines has shown us through not just one that he is unfit for society,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a statement “The fact that he inflicted harm on other victims did not give him pause as he continued his escalation that ended in the death of Preston Lord Previously released court documents detailed that the stipulations of the plea agreements for manslaughter and one of the aggravated assault cases came with a sentencing range of 10.5 to 21 years in prison Prosecutors were seeking the maximum penalty against Hines Hines took part in the deadly beating of 16-year-old Lord at a Halloween party in Queen Creek on Oct. 28, 2023. Lord died two days later at the hospital. After Hines pleaded guilty in March he admitted to kicking Lord at least once during the attack He said during the hearing that the events “horrified” him speaking about the pain that has followed the death of her son “No parent should ever have to bury their child No family should ever have to endure this level of suffering I want you to understand the magnitude of what you have done I want you to feel the weight of the pain you have caused I hope that every day for the rest of your life you remember his name his face and the life you cut short,” said Ciconte Hines admitted to police that he was “drunk two or three times before he started to back off “One day I have a happy and healthy 16-year-old son One day I was helping Preston with homecoming I was choosing the one he’d be buried in,” Autumn Curiel Queen Creek police recommended charges in December 2023, and county prosecutors indicted all seven on murder and other charges in March 2024 All of the crimes were committed while Hines was under the age of 18 Hines was sentenced to three years of probation on the two other aggravated assault cases prosecutors filed documents detailing Hines’ extensive criminal history and the cases he pleaded guilty to The documents state that his first run-in with the law occurred on Nov when he was caught shoplifting and sent to juvenile court He has since completed diversion in that case The victim asked Hines’ group to leave before they attacked him Hines claimed he thought his punches “missed the victim,” but later pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault Then, on Dec. 2, 2022, 10 days after that assault, documents describe Hines’ involvement in a fight at an In-N-Out in Gilbert He was arrested and claimed he was drunk and “swung at some random guy,” prosecutors said He also stated that people wanted to fight his friend group because they had a “reputation.” Video showed Hines running up to the victim as he was pinned against a vehicle He entered a guilty plea in connection with this aggravated assault case as well Hines and three other people stole jewelry and a safe during a house party Hines had been arrested twice as a minor and was involved in at least four crimes Hines had dropped out of high school,” prosecutors wrote Prosecutors went into detail about a crash Hines was involved in on July 6 Investigators say Hines was driving drunk in Gilbert when he attempted to turn left on a red light The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the collision and spent several days in the ICU Hines initially denied drinking but then later admitted he had “five or six Twisted Teas” before he got behind the wheel This marks the third case where Hines pleaded guilty to aggravated assault The drunk driving crash was just three months before the beating that led to Lord’s death Documents describe how Hines and six other suspects chased and attacked Lord and his friend group the charge of first-degree murder was reduced to manslaughter “There is no question that Hines chose to participate in this blitz-style attack that engulfed Preston before he could escape Hines and his friends transformed what should have been a happy memory in Preston’s high school years into a terrible loss of life that Preston’s family friends and the community continue to struggle with,” prosecutors wrote Prosecutors claimed a common factor in the crimes Hines was involved in was alcohol use showed a seemingly drunk Hines telling people “I am buried out of my mind,” while holding a pistol Other videos posted within the following two hours showed Hines driving drunk while holding a bottle of Tito’s Vodka a Snapchat showed Hines chugging a bottle of Jose Cuervo while behind the wheel Prosecutors say there is also evidence that Hines consumed and sold homemade alcohol while in jail Hines claimed to the court that he had “been sober for over a year.” However prosecutors say some of the jailhouse calls regarding alcohol happened after he entered his plea agreement Hines has not remained sober and is not yet committed to overcoming his addictions,” prosecutors wrote The state recommended that the judge sentence Hines to the maximum available term in prison Below is an excerpt from documents filed in court this week: Preston was not allowed to finish high school enjoy existing friendships and build new ones milestones and memories that Preston had to look forward to are gone.” Six other suspects are still charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in Lord’s death and are awaiting trial Meisner and Turner were also charged with aggravated robbery are accused of being part of other East Valley attacks involving young people that are unrelated to Lord’s death The bill has already cleared the state Senate and is awaiting a final vote in the House See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description Vestar a leading privately held shopping center owner and manager in the United States announced today that several new retailers will be joining Queen Creek Marketplace Perspire Sauna Studio and Jinya Ramen Bar are set to open in the next 12 months dining and wellness experiences to the East Valley FOOD NEWS: 10 celebrity chef restaurants to try in Arizona THINGS TO DO: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here the renowned American fashion retailer that carries women’s began this February and is projected to open in May 2025 Also slated to open soon is Perspire Sauna Studio Construction is underway and the infrared sauna and red-light therapy studio will be ready to welcome its first guests in April innovative toppings and small plates will join Queen Creek Marketplace in early 2026 These highly anticipated additions will complement the diverse selection of retail dining and lifestyle options already available at Queen Creek Marketplace the new retailers will provide even more variety for locals and visitors all in the heart of the fast-growing Queen Creek community “We take great pride in selecting tenants who are in-demand for this area especially those that are either new to the Southeast Valley or underrepresented in the region,” said Angie Kory “By focusing on the needs and desires of the community we’re creating a destination that resonates with local residents and aligns with their unique tastes and expectations.” Perspire Sauna Studios and Jinya Ramen Bar will join other recent openings at the shopping center The open-air lifestyle center is home to Target Dave & Buster’s and Harkins Theatres As one of the largest shopping centers in Queen Creek and the Southeast Valley Queen Creek Marketplace has experienced significant growth since its inception in 2008 restaurants and service providers to meet the needs of this rapidly expanding region For more about Vestar’s portfolio, visit vestar.com ARIZONA REAL ESTATE & HOUSING NEWS 4:45 AM | Updated: 11:54 am BY DAVID VEENSTRA PHOENIX – A homebuilder finalized the purchase of 218 single-family lots in Queen Creek a real estate company announced on Thursday The 131-acre parcel was purchased by Taylor Morrison Homes for $21 million. The lots are located in the Borgata at San Tan Heights community, which is near the southwest corner of Thompson Road and Hunt Highway The recent acquisition is the first step of creating the second phase of the 270-acre Borgata at San Tan Heights housing community located in north Pinal County near the southern border of Queen Creek Homes in the first phase are currently being built by Shea Homes and Tripoint Homes The community also sits next to the eastern border of San Tan Regional Park Bret Rinehart and Greg Vogel with Land Advisors Organization’s Homebuilding Team oversaw the sale Borgata at San Tan Heights LLC (Christopher Bennett) Follow @veenstra_david Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here ARIZONA RESTAURANT NEWS 4:45 AM | Updated: 1:44 pm BY SERENA O'SULLIVAN PHOENIX — Three new restaurants are coming to Queen Creek Crossing this year: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse ONO Hawaiian BBQ and The Habit Burger Grill That’s according to retail real estate company Vestar, which is behind the Queen Creek Crossing shopping center The massive retail space is located at the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Queen Creek roads on a 31-acre property that features 300,000 square feet of retail space The soonest opening will take place on March 24 That’s when BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse will start serving its deep-dish pizzas although the exact day hasn’t been specified This family-owned fast-casual restaurant chain serves a variety of Hawaiian-inspired dishes The restaurant with the latest opening is The Habit Burger Grill which is known for foods like the portabella Construction of the Queen Creek Crossing chain location is currently underway Vestar officials expect it to open by the end of the year said she’s excited to see the new restaurants open in the East Valley “These new dining options will not only enhance the variety of choices for our visitors but also solidify Queen Creek Crossing as a prime dining destination perfect for family outings or casual meet-ups with friends and coworkers,” Kory said in a Monday news release 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BJ’s Restaurants (NASDAQ: BJRI) today announced the opening of its restaurant in Queen Creek The new BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse opened yesterday The restaurant is approximately 7,000 square feet seats approximately 240 guests and features BJ’s extensive menu award-winning handcrafted beer and famous Pizookie® dessert contemporary décor provides the perfect environment for all dining occasions Current hours of operation are from 11:00 a.m to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11:00 a.m “We are excited to open our newest restaurant in Queen Creek “The Queen Creek location joins our seven other high-performing restaurants in the Arizona market.” we opened our doors to the local community prior to our grand opening a portion of the proceeds from food and alcohol purchases as well as any voluntary donations from the local community are donated to the BJ’s Restaurants Foundation About BJ’s Restaurants Foundation BJ’s Restaurants Foundation (the “Foundation”) is a registered 501(c)(3) qualified non-profit charitable organization principally dedicated to supporting charities that benefit children’s healthcare and education with a primary focus on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation the Foundation supports volunteer efforts of BJ’s team members across the country as they help give back to the communities in which our restaurants do business Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer Certain statements in the preceding paragraphs and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute “forward-looking” statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby those regarding our anticipated comparable restaurant sales capital expenditures and share repurchases as well as the success of various sales-building and productivity initiatives cost savings initiatives and the number and timing of new restaurants expected to be opened in future periods These “forward-looking” statements involve known and unknown risks uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those projected or anticipated Factors that might cause such differences include but are not limited to: (i) any inability or failure to successfully and sufficiently raise menu prices to offset rising costs (ii) any inability to manage new restaurant openings (iv) wage inflation and competitive labor market conditions which may result in staffing shortages (v) the impact of any union organizing efforts at our restaurants and our responses to such efforts (vi) increases in minimum wage and other employment related costs including compliance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and minimum salary requirements for exempt team members (vii) the effect of credit and equity market disruptions on our ability to finance our continued expansion on acceptable terms (viii) food quality and health concerns and the effect of negative publicity about us due to food borne illness or other illnesses or other reasons where a substantial number of our restaurants are located (x) restaurant and brewery industry competition (xi) impact of certain brewing business considerations (xii) consumer spending trends in general for casual dining occasions (xiii) potential uninsured losses and liabilities due to limitations on insurance coverage (xiv) fluctuating commodity costs and availability of food in general and certain raw materials related to the brewing of our craft beers and energy requirements (xvi) government regulations and licensing costs (xviii) inability to secure acceptable sites (xx) the success of our key sales-building and related operational initiatives (xxi) any failure of our information technology or security breaches with respect to our electronic systems and data and (xxii) numerous other matters discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its recent reports on Forms 10-K The “forward-looking” statements contained in this press release are based on current assumptions and expectations undertakes no obligation to update or alter its “forward-looking” statements whether as a result of new information For further information, please contact Tom Houdek of BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. at (714) 500-2400 or ICR at (332) 242-4370 or at InvestorRelations@BJRI.com Location: Ironwood Road and Pecos Road in Queen Creek             Description: The future LG Energy Solutions plant is underway with construction along Ironwood Road south of the State Route 24 exit The battery manufacturing facility is expected to produce cylindrical batteries for electric vehicles according to a news release from the company in April “Thanks to the support from the state and local partners, our Arizona facility is now preparing for a successful completion, stepping up our commitment to localizing operations and charging the future of electrification hand in hand with our partners and employees,” said Richard Ra, the president of LG Energy Solution Arizona in a written statement on April 9. The roof of the building was finished and the concrete on the factory building was 85% complete in December Several other detached buildings at the site are also under construction Phase one of the plants is a $3.8 billion investment from the company LG Energy Solutions is expected to hire 2,800 employees The company commenced training its launch team members at a new workforce training center which was established under Arizona’s Future48 Workforce Accelerator program in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority History of Site: The area has been part of the town’s planning area since 2008 and was identified as an employment district the town annexed 4,100 acres of state trust land LG Energy Solutions purchased 320 acres in 2022 with the option to buy an additional 320 acres at a later time The company aimed to start sample production in the middle of 2026 and commercial production by the end of the year LG Energy Solutions temporarily paused development of phase two of its Queen Creek plant while moving forward with the other phase Like this story? Get more East Valley news straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free weekly East Valley Newsletter Is there something under construction you'd like to tell us about or find out more about? Contact the reporter. Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom ARIZONA BUSINESS 6:14 AM | Updated: 12:32 pm PHOENIX — A new Mountainside Fitness location is coming to Queen Creek according to a Wednesday announcement from commercial real estate company JLL The Phoenix office of JLL completed the land acquisition on behalf of the Scottsdale-based health company which currently has around 150,000 members The single-story Queen Creek Mountainside Fitness The fitness chain has multiple new locations that are under construction or are planned to be constructed across metro Phoenix Mountainside Fitness operates 21 health clubs across metro Phoenix Its new Queen Creek location will sit at the northwest corner of Combs and Gantzel roads in the same area intersection as various restaurants and grocery stores It’s also close to American Leadership Academy Ironwood and Combs Traditional Academy Mountainside Fitness CEO Craig Cote said the town of Queen Creek will benefit from the new fitness facility “Queen Creek is the perfect location for us to do what we do best, which is to support the health and wellness of metro Phoenix’s growing population with an outstanding health club environment at an affordable price,” Cote said in the news release In addition to its daily group fitness classes Queen Creek Mountainside Fitness Center will also offer locker rooms and a childcare program “We’ve been doing this successfully for almost 35 years and will continue that tradition as we add Queen Creek and the San Tan Valley to our Mountainside family,” Cote said 11:59 AM | Updated: Mar 21 PHOENIX — Shoppers in Queen Creek will soon be able to try on jeans slurp down a ramen bowl and relax in a sauna at the Queen Creek Marketplace Vestar, the marketplace’s owner and manager, announced Tuesday that three new retailers will join the 900,000-square-foot shopping center in the East Valley by early 2026 Construction of one of the three new retailers — J.Crew Factory — began in February Shoppers will be able to buy clothing from the famous American fashion retailer after its opening in May Another upcoming retailer currently undergoing construction is Perspire Sauna Studio which will offer red-light therapy and an infrared sauna It’s expected to be open to the public in April The third retailer Vestar announced on Tuesday is Jinya Ramen Bar a Los Angeles-based ramen brand that simmers its broth for 20 hours and is known for innovative toppings and small plates The Japanese eatery will open at Queen Creek Marketplace in early 2026 Ellsworth Loop Road is also home to a variety of other retailers There’s also a Dave & Buster’s as well as Harkins Theaters It’s one of the biggest shopping centers in Queen Creek “We take great pride in selecting tenants who are in-demand for this area especially those that are either new to the Southeast Valley or underrepresented in the region,” Kory said in a Thursday  news release “By focusing on the needs and desires of the community we’re creating a destination that resonates with local residents and aligns with their unique tastes and expectations.” The town of Queen Creek wants a two-story family friendly A request for proposals has a developer leasing land on the Horseshoe Park and Equestrian Centre with the restaurant providing a view of the main competition arena located about 40 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix is among the nation’s fastest growing communities The town says within 10 miles of Horseshoe Park Proposals for the restaurant are due by 3 p.m A pre-bid non-mandatory meeting will take place at 1:30 p.m 10 at Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre 20464 E A Queen Creek shopping center has entered its next phase of development with a slate of new businesses from a vegan cinnamon bun bakery to a Valley-favorite breakfast spot signing leases that bring Vineyard Towne Center one step closer to a grand opening which is expected to take place in the fall "With nearly 100% of the Vineyard Towne Center now leased we’re confident that we are bringing a vibrant destination for both residents and visitors," said Taylor Alvey The restaurants and businesses expected to open their doors in the coming months include the first Arizona location of the highly-anticipated Georgia-fried chicken chain Zaxbys. Here's your guide to everything open and coming soon to Vineyard Towne Center in Queen Creek The San Diego-based coffee chain opened its first Arizona location in February 2024 with a bright Better Buzz is known for its "Best Drink Ever," an Americano with Better Buzz's special creamy vanilla powder The location in Vineyard Towne Center is expected to open this March Details: betterbuzzcoffee.com Café Rio Fresh Modern MexicanExpected opening: Open now Café Rio is a fast-casual Mexican chain based in Salt Lake City that offers bowls Details: 37584 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. 602-830-0703. caferio.com. Chunk Cookies features all kinds of cookies from chocolate chip to Biscoff cookie butter Details: 200 Combs Road, Suite 106, Queen Creek. 480-361-3798, chunkcookies.com. made an appearance on Shark Tank and now boasts over 100 locations in the U.S Details: 37584 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 103, Queen Creek. 480-901-1277, cinnaholic.com. The fast-food restaurant known for its burgers (with buns baked fresh at bakeries) fries and shakes is set to open this summer Details: fiveguys.com The classic fast-food chain operates a dine-in and drive-thru location at Vineyard Towne Center Details: 37632 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. 520-723-4063, mcdonalds.com. Pickles offers a full hot and cold sandwich menu with highlights like "The G.O.A.T," which has ham Details: 37666 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 108, Queen Creek. 480-590-4485, mrpickles.com. Details: 200 W. Combs Road, Suite 109, Queen Creek. 480-590-8806, nekterjuicebar.com. This popular Hawaiian barbeque chain restaurant is headquartered in California and has locations across Arizona and California The menu features entrees like spicy marinated Island Fire chicken Details: onohawaiianbbq.com. Over Easy has been tempting Valley residents with their pancakes when the first location opened in central Phoenix The breakfast and brunch restaurant now has 17 different locations in Arizona Details: 37584 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 107, Queen Creek. 480-284-8175, eatatovereasy.com. With an expected opening date in the spring this fast-casual Thai restaurant will bring soups curries and noodles to its second Queen Creek branch Details: tc2go.com. The Georgia-based fried chicken restaurant is set to open in Vineyard Towne Center this summer salads and sandwiches with the secret Zax sauce Details: 37666 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. zaxbys.com This running store sells specialized running shoes Details: 37724 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 102, Queen Creek. 480-687-3082, cadencerunningcompany.com. Details: 37724 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 105, Queen Creek. 480-588-7541, crownonebeauty.com. The expected opening date of Mattress Firm is fall 2025 Details: mattressfirm.com. The pet supply store is set to bring its collection of adorable animals in fall 2025 Details: petco.com. Sprouts specializes in produce and organic foods Details: 37666 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. 520-614-0304, sprouts.com. One of the major stores at Vineyard Towne Center Details: target.com. The cell phone store will open in fall 2025 Details: 37724 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 104, Queen Creek. 480-212-0813, academybank.com. Details: 200 W. Combs Road, Suite 101, Queen Creek. 480-526-5306, dentistsofqueencreek.com. This beauty shop offering waxing services has locations across the Valley Details: 37724 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. 602-805-0095, waxcenter.com. This hair studio offers both membership and single services Details: 37724 N. Gantzel Road, Suite B-100, Queen Creek. 480-805-9828, keepitcut.com. LifeQuest is a physical therapy and chiropractic firm with additional locations in Chandler and Gilbert Details: 37584 N. Gantzel Road, Suite 105, Queen Creek. 480-257-3177, lifequestarizona.com. This credit union is expected to open in February Details: macu.com. this healthcare clinic offers primary care Details: mydrnow.com. This nail salon offers manicures and pedicures artificial and gel nails and other beauty services Details: 200 Combs Road, Suite 104, Queen Creek. 480-307-6745, zaranailbarvtc.com. Café Mollie was about to close. They went all in on Vietnamese coffee — and it paid off Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram BY PAYNE MOSES opened its eighth Arizona location in Queen Creek on Monday The latest rendition of the Valley-based concept is located in the QC District off of Rittenhouse and Ellsworth roads Besides serving eggs in every conceivable way Eggstasy boasts 11 different pancake variations including stacks of Nutella red velvet and lemon ricotta for guests to satisfy their sweet tooth said he is excited to join one of the fastest growing communities in the state “We’re dedicated to adding value to this thriving town and our team has worked hard to create a fun and modern vibe centered around our fresh and family-friendly menu,” Verros said in a press release The locally-sourced joint also offers crepes salads and other breakfast and lunch essentials like yogurt parfaits One of the best solutions for brunch aficionados is the GC Angus Skirt Steak and Eggs which includes three eggs (served however the guest likes) and choices of hash browns or fruit and toast or pancakes with basil olive oil drizzled on mozzarella and tomato slices Eggstasy’s drink lineup is just as bold and wide-ranging the restaurant features a full-service bar with specialty coffees like nitro brew Customers can also pick from an expansive list of mimosas and cocktails on Mondays through Fridays and 7 a.m.-3 p.m The restaurant offers online ordering for pickup and/or delivery Reservations for parties with six or more people can be made online Follow @pwmoses11 Queen Creek’s Target is expected to open its doors this fall along with several other shops and restaurants The popular retailer will be located at Vineyard Towne Center along Gantzel and Combs roads Phase 2 of the project is underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2025 The exact date of Target’s grand opening is expected to be announced in the spring Vineyard Towne Center spans 23 acres and has a mix of retail shops said the development was nearly 100% leased Coming soon to Vineyard Towne CenterVestar announced several shops were slated to open their doors throughout the year That includes the San Diego-based coffee chain Better Buzz Coffee expected to open in March Thai Chili 2 Go will open later in the spring Queen Creek residents can expect the state’s first Zaxby’s Verizon and Mattress Firm will open in the fall The master developer of the Vineyard announced several Phase 2 tenants had opened its doors in January including Sprouts Farmers Market and Nekter Juice Bar Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @maritzacdom Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInQUEEN CREEK AZ (AZFamily) — The Queen Creek couple who hosted a Halloween party in the neighborhood where Preston Lord died in 2023 has agreed to pay his family This ends a civil lawsuit alleging the couple failed to supervise and keep party-goers safe The amount they settled for is undisclosed It’s been over a year since a Halloween party in Queen Creek took a deadly turn. “There has got to be 250 kids here were not used to this,” said one 911 caller from that night Just days after the brutal attack on Preston Lord Arizona’s Family talked exclusively to Roberto Correa “The party didn’t even last two hours when I started realizing there was just too many people here,” he said which attracted many high schoolers to the neighborhood “My daughter did not know more than half the people that ended up showing up to our house It was not supposed to be an open party,” he reiterated His mom spoke publicly for the first time last week ambitious teenager with his whole life ahead of him He is what we are most proud of in this life Had our son had the opportunity to defend himself when he was violently assaulted He could have lived out all of his hopes and dreams,” she said tearfully stating the couple should have supervised the teens and refrain from serving alcohol to minors The lawsuit alleged the Correas were inside the house during the party, and alcohol was “readily available” to the teens. Neighbors who called 911 that night made similar claims. “Somebody just threw up in my front yard,” they said “I think there’s underage drinking going on.” The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said there was no evidence the Correas provided the teens with alcohol or encouraged people to drink and declined to prosecute them. When Arizona’s Family spoke with Correa days after the attack he said he broke up the party that night without knowing Lord had been attacked on the street outside his home “Seems like it was just a hideous crime by some delinquents that were not invited,” Correa said The criminal case against the seven suspects charged with Lord’s murder is set to go to trial this summer Queen Creek Olive Mill Arizona’s only family-owned and operated olive mill has proudly earned multiple accolades at the 2025 New York International Olive Oil Competition (NYIOOC) The mill brought home Silver Awards for four of its Extra Virgin Olive Oils – its highest number of wins in a single year Competing on the world stage against top-tier producers Queen Creek Olive Mill’s oils were celebrated for their exceptional quality The awarded selections include the Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil “We are thrilled to have won four silver awards for our exceptional extra virgin olive oils this year a testament to the dedication and skill of our incredible team,” said Founder and President John Rea Widely regarded as the most prestigious competition in the industry the NYIOOC attracts thousands of entries each year from olive oil producers around the globe the Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil earned its second consecutive Silver Award This oil is made from olives grown in the mill’s two medium-density groves featuring Arbosana and Koroneiki varieties praised for its versatility and harmonious blend of fruitiness and pungency adds another accolade to its history of recognition following a Gold Award in 2017 and a Silver in 2019 The Delicate Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Arizona Extra Virgin Olive Oil also garnered attention for their distinctive flavor profiles and commitment to showcasing the best of Arizona agriculture “I’m so proud of all of our hard work and passion, which have truly paid off in creating these outstanding products,” Rea added. Learn more or shop the award-winning collection at queencreekolivemill.com and website in this browser for the next time I comment The Phoenix office of JLL announced today that it has completed a land acquisition on behalf of Mountainside Fitness The acquisition will soon bring a new Mountainside Fitness health club to Queen Creek a community recently ranked as the third fastest-growing large city in the United States Mountainside Fitness currently operates 21 high-end health clubs across metro Phoenix Its new Queen Creek location will sit at the northwest corner of Combs and Gantzel roads Frys and numerous nationally recognized quick serve restaurants.  The site is bookended by two educational campuses American Leadership Academy Ironwood and Combs Traditional Academy with more than 131,000 residents within a five-mile radius “Queen Creek is the perfect location for us to do what we do best which is to support the health and wellness of metro Phoenix’s growing population with an outstanding health club environment at an affordable price,” said Mountainside Fitness CEO Craig Cote “We’ve been doing this successfully for almost 35 years and will continue that tradition as we add Queen Creek and the San Tan Valley to our Mountainside family.” Totalling approximately 42,000 square feet in a single story the Queen Creek Mountainside Fitness will offer state-of-the-art equipment and more than 70 daily group fitness classes with on-site amenities including high-end locker rooms and an elevated childcare program This is the latest location announcement by Mountainside Fitness which is adding multiple new facilities now under construction and slated to open throughout Arizona in the near future The Queen Creek Mountainside Fitness is scheduled to open in December 2025 JLL Managing Director Regan Amato represented Mountainside Fitness in its Queen Creek land acquisition Rommie Mojahed of CRE8Advisors represented the land seller “This is an exceptional position within a sprawling and underserved submarket offering outstanding demographics and significant exposure to over 40,000 cars per day,” said Amato “In addition to dedicated visits from its members Mountainside will benefit from the synergistic traffic of nearby retailers making it a natural fit for both Queen Creek and San Tan Valley residents alike It will be a great addition to an already amazing community.” JLL is a market leader employing more than 600 of the region’s most recognized industry experts offering office multifamily investments and development services and related services within the real estate leasing the Phoenix team completed almost 50.5 million square feet in lease and sale transactions, with a total transaction volume of more than $2.8 billion It managed almost 18 million square feet of space and directed 36 projects through Project and Development Services and inclusion (DEI) is dominating our government became the first municipality in the state to ban the town government from implementing the discriminatory ideology Queen Creek’s city council unanimously passed a new ordinance that ensures taxpayer dollars will not be spent on policies that further race- and sex-based discrimination Queen Creek’s move comes as the Goldwater Institute continues to spearhead the nationwide campaign to challenge taxpayer-funded discrimination we want to focus on things that unite us like individual success and achievement not things that divide us like political ideology,” Queen Creek Councilman Travis Padilla said at a council meeting this week noting that the ordinance allows the town to focus on equality of opportunity DEI initiatives are supposed to promote fair treatment and full participation for everyone the ideology teaches that there are two categories of people “oppressor” and “oppressed,” and that public institutions must atone for “systemic racism” by treating people differently depending on their skin color But under Resolution #1611-24 the town is required to hired based on merit rather than affirmative action (The town will “not require nor support any affirmative action policies or practices,” the ordinance says.) Moreover the ordinance prohibits the town from contracting with outside organizations to implement DEI trainings the ordinance explains that the town will “not compel an applicant or employee to endorse any statement that provides preferential treatment to or discriminating against any individual as a condition of hire This resolution comes just months after the Goldwater Institute exposed neighboring Gilbert for mandating DEI trainings for all new employees while weaponizing the power of the government to spy on the online speech of town employees and elected officials These practices cost taxpayer in Gilbert over $1 million just in salaries for the Office of Digital Government employees and went unnoticed by many in the community Queen Creek stands in stark contrast to the localities like Gilbert who have fully embraced divisive and dangerous ideologies on the taxpayers’ dime It’s welcome news that Queen Creek has decided to stand apart among Arizona municipalities in promoting merit-based hiring practices while keeping divisive and corrosive DEI policies and trainings out of the town This is a huge win for the residents of the town who can now be confident that their elected officials and town staff are focusing on actual town business not obsessing about identity politics like so many of their neighboring communities have been doing for far too long Austin VanDerHeyden is the Director of Municipal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Join the Goldwater Institute as we defend and strengthen freedom in all 50 states the Goldwater Institute has been in the liberty business — defending and promoting freedom and achieving more than 400 victories in all 50 states Our attorneys defend individual rights and protect those who cannot protect themselves Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" We are grateful for your support of the Goldwater Institute’s efforts to advance and defend liberty throughout the United States we’ve been defending the rights of Americans to live their lives free from government interference And Goldwater is unique in that we direct our efforts to the 50 states where we introduce and advance innovative ideas that expand freedom And we fight in courtrooms and capitals nationwide to defend individual liberty we scored over 50 policy and litigation victories defending liberty We seek to restore the presumption of liberty; that people are free to act without first asking permission from the government Will you join us as we fight to preserve and advance liberty throughout the country As we seek new and innovative ways to defend freedom in all 50 states And there’s great news: Thanks to a generous Goldwater supporter join us in fighting to advance liberty and score real wins for freedom from coast to coast “This country has grown great and strong and prosperous by placing major reliance on a free economy…Private property hard work-these have been our greatest tools.”