After 20 years of waiting, commercial developments are popping up quickly in Marana’s Gladden Farms community.
Last winter, the sprawling master-planned community welcomed a 125,000-square-foot Fry’s grocery store at 11350 W. Tangerine Road that includes an in-store Starbucks and McDonald’s.
In July, the corner of Tangerine and Lon Adams Road will welcome Southern Arizona’s first outpost of the 10-year-old fast-casual chain Thai Chili 2 Go.
It is one of a handful of chain restaurants and retailers that include Domino’s Pizza, Jersey Mike’s Subs and the UPS Store opening at the Gladden Farms Commercial Center.
Marana Town Manager Terry Rozema said a daycare, another burger joint and a credit union are expected in the next year or so.
The Fry’s store’s opening last November came nearly 17 years after it was first proposed around 2007. Those plans, though, were put on hold courtesy the 2008 recession and were largely ignored until late 2023.
Akshat Sethi launched Thai Chili 2 Go in Chandler in 2015 and it has grown to 16 Phoenix area locations. The Marana location is expected to open the first week of July, according to spokeswoman Erin Banger, who said it will be the company’s first location outside of the greater Phoenix area.
Banger, who is in charge of brand marketing, said the company loves the Gladden Farms area and likes moving into retail complexes anchored by grocery stores and other amenities where residents tend to frequent. She also added that the business wants to be active in the community through school fundraisers.
Thai Chili 2 Go’s menu includes five different curries including the popular red, green and yellow with varying levels of spiciness, rice and noodle dishes including the go-to pad thai and a handful of soups and appetizers.
All items on the menu are dairy-free and include curries, soups, and noodle and rice dishes. Customers can request additional proteins, go vegan or gluten free. Prices range from $4-$15.
Thai Chili 2 Go is the only fast-casual Asian restaurant in Gladden Farms. The next nearest alternative is Panda Express about 3 miles away on North Sandario Road.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
