Vallarta Supermarkets is planning to open its first Phoenix location in South Phoenix, according to a report on the city’s website.
The story said the project is “an adaptive reuse, transforming a currently vacant space into a full-service, culturally rich grocery store. The placement of this grocery store will help address a food desert in the South Mountain Village.”
Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington said, “Access to fresh, healthy food is a fundamental part of a thriving community, and for too long, this part of our community has gone without it. The opening of Vallarta Supermarkets near Central and Baseline is a major step toward reducing food insecurity for thousands of families.”
The store is expected to open in early 2027.
Busy locale
The Latino and family-owned supermarket will be located close to the light rail stop at Central Avenue and Baseline Road, which has become the second-busiest light rail station in Phoenix and the third-busiest light rail station in the entire system since opening in June 2025, the city said.
“When elected, I promised to use my position to advocate for investments in South Phoenix, and today we are confronting a food desert head on, with a tangible solution that actually works with daily life,” Washington said. “Being able to stop for fresh groceries on your way home without needing a car makes a real difference for families.”
Cesar Gonzalez, COO of Vallarta Supermarkets, said, “We at Vallarta Supermarkets are thrilled to bring our first Phoenix location to South Phoenix and become part of such a vibrant and deserving community.
“The fact that this site serves an area long recognized as a food desert was not lost on us during our site selection process. We are excited to partner with the City of Phoenix and local residents to deliver a grocery experience unlike any other, one that expands access to fresh, healthy food while creating meaningful jobs and opportunities for the community.”
Part of a broader effort to address food access
The Phoenix City Council also recently approved the 2030 Food Action Plan, which will continue to support access to fresh and healthy food in areas To address food deserts, which the report said “are a result of the social inequities, often exacerbated by historical disinvestment and systemic racism.”
The plan will prioritize communities and geographic areas of Phoenix that experience disproportionate challenges related to accessing food and participating in the local food system, it said.
“I’m grateful to Vice Mayor Hodge Washington for her work to improve access to food in our community,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “This supermarket is exciting news, and will bring fresh and healthy food to new neighborhoods in alignment with the City’s Food Action Plan.”
Arizona targeted for growth
Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Santa Clarita, California, Vallarta Supermarkets operates 64 stores in California and one in Glendale, Arizona. The company has identified Arizona as a key growth market and plans to open 10-15 locations across the Phoenix metro area over the next decade.
The South Phoenix Vallarta store will offer residents several specialty departments in addition to traditional grocery departments. The specialty departments include:
- An in-store food court, La Cocina, featuring ready-to-eat Latino dishes;
- A full-service seafood department, featuring a ceviche bar (La Pescaderia);
- A traditional meat counter with custom cuts and pre-marinated meats (Carniceria);
- Housemade tortillas prepared daily, and an authentic Latin deli and fresh cut fruit creamery (Tortilleria y Cremeria);
- A made-to-order juice bar, featuring wellness shots and traditional aguas frescas (La Isla Juice Bar); and
- An in-store bakery and coffee bar.