Goodyear, one of Arizona's burgeoning cities, is gearing up for a major downtown transformation, as revealed in their latest "Growing Goodyear" podcast episode titled "GSQ is Here". The city of Goodyear is buzzing with anticipation over the variety of new businesses and restaurants set to open in the GSQ area. In an interview with the podcast, George Getz, the President and Co-CEO of Globe Corp, shared, "We have a number of restaurants and retail that are going in and each one is different, each one is interesting with a focus on local."
Adding to the excitement, Getz noted that residents will soon witness these developments taking shape. "Many of these businesses will be opening between now and the fall so residents are going to start seeing some activity there pretty quick," he stated. This freshness offered by GSQ marks a significant shift in strategy from the original intent to build a traditional regional mall—an idea conceived in the early 2000s but later reshaped following the financial crisis of 2007.
According to Getz's revelation on the podcast, the heart of Goodyear was destined for a different kind of growth, stating, "The mall was ready to begin construction in 2007, but then the great financial crisis happened. Looking back, it’s a good thing the mall wasn’t started because the nature of retail and regional malls has changed." This pragmatic pivot to creating a walkable downtown hub reflects the evolving consumer preferences and the changing nature of retail—a subject that GSQ is seemingly embracing head-on.
"Growing Goodyear," hosted by Tammy Vo and Jordan Byrd, delves into local matters of consequence, painting a portrait of the city through stories and interviews that highlight Goodyear's unique fabric. As the city's soundscape broadens with the launch of GSQ, Goodyear residents and prospective visitors can tune into the conversations via platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Amazon Music.
