Ground has been broken in the heart of the Gila River Indian Community, for what's set to be a game-changer for residents, a full-service grocery store. The Sacaton Market, taking shape southeast of Phoenix in Sacaton, is more than just a supermarket — it's a symbol of progress on tribal land and a strike against the area's status as a food desert.
The market's development is courtesy of a partnership between the Wild Horse Pass Development Authority and the tribe itself. It is expected to fill a significant void left by a gas station — previously the main source of food and groceries for many locals. According to a Phoenix Business Journal interview, Kendall Foster, assistant general manager of business operations at Wild Horse Pass Development Authority, explained that the new store will quadruple the size of the existing facility, significantly enhancing the community's access to a variety of food and household goods.
This isn't just any grocery store. Foster told ABC15, "The increased size will allow for fresh produce, a bakery, and more offerings in general." There's a deliberate push to prioritize Native American-produced food and goods, though the community plans to maintain established partnerships with other food distributors to keep shelves stocked.
The addition of a fueling station and laundromat alongside the market underscores an effort to offer comprehensive services to the Gila River Indian Community. Meanwhile, Alcorn Construction has been tasked with building the project. Lt. Gov. Monica Antone said, "This is something that's been wanted for a very long time," revealing a collective aspiration for growth and improved quality of life.
The Sacaton Market is a beacon of development in the Gila River Indian Community — an investment in the tribe's economic, physical, and emotional well-being. Foster, a Gila River tribe member and a seasoned professional with experience working for other tribes before his current role sees the project as more than just a building. "It will not only impact the physical health of the community by putting better food in the area but also the financial health of the community, and the emotional health of members because they see new and uplifting developments where they live," he stated in the Phoenix Business Journal.
