Surprise Economic Development

Today we celebrated the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Men's Wearhouse in Surprise!

The event brought together community leaders, business partners, and veteran advocates to welcome the newest location at 16340 W. Waddell Rd., Suite 104.

A special highlight of the celebration was the participation of Dan and his service dog, Dandy, representing K9s For Warriors. Through Men's Wearhouse's "Threads of Valor" program, customers and employees have contributed more than $2.1 million during the 2025–2026 program year, helping bring the initiative's lifetime support of veteran organizations to an impressive $18.5 million.

Thank you to the Men's Wearhouse leadership team for hosting this special event:
• Jenette Gutierrez, Store Manager, who had the honor of cutting the ribbon alongside the Men's Wearhouse team
• Wendy Isaac, Zone Vice President – West
• Alfonso Matagarza, Senior Zone Outreach Manager – West
• Laura Baniewicz, District Manager – Northern Arizona

We also appreciate the support of:
• Councilmember Johnny V. Melton, City of Surprise Government
• Nick Robello, Director of Marketing, SimonCRE
• Cliff Yoder, Business Development Specialist, West Valley Regional Chamber
• Dan and Dandy, K9s For Warriors

Congratulations to Men's Wearhouse on this exciting milestone.

Men's Wearhouse Ribbon Cutting Explore this photo album by City of Surprise, Arizona on Flickr!

As part of West Valley Small Business Week, the City of Surprise Government and Spark Surprise AZ were proud to host “Hidden Talent: Small Business Hiring for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities” at Spencer's Place.

The event brought together partners from the city, across the region, and throughout the state including nonprofits, social service organizations, small business owners, and community leaders for an important conversation around inclusive hiring, workforce development, and expanding employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.

We are especially fortunate to have Spencer's Place here in City of Surprise as such a strong success story and example of what inclusive hiring can look like in action. Their impact continues to demonstrate the value of creating opportunities that benefit both employees and the broader community.

Attendees also heard firsthand from the Spencer’s Place team about the real-world benefits of inclusive employment and how it strengthens workplace culture, expands talent pipelines, and builds lasting community impact.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. Events like these continue to strengthen collaboration, innovation, and community impact across Surprise and the West Valley.

As Economic Development Week wraps up, we’re looking ahead at what’s next for Surprise.

The completion of Elm Street at Surprise City Center marks a major milestone and a catalyst for future development. Envisioned as our future downtown main street and central gathering place, Elm Street is already beginning to take shape as a vibrant, active district.

With new retail and restaurant destinations opening and community events like the Desert Fall Festival and Sunday Market bringing people together, there is strong early momentum building in the area.

These efforts reflect a long-term vision for a dynamic downtown that supports local businesses, attracts visitors, and enhances quality of life for residents. Stay tuned for the next great addition to Elm Street in the coming year!

Today we welcomed J.Crew Factory to Prasada North with a Grand Opening meet-and-greet, celebrating the brand’s official debut in Surprise. The new store is now open to the public and will continue its grand opening sales throughout the weekend, inviting the community to stop by and explore.

We’re proud to support continued retail growth in our city and thank J.Crew Factory for choosing Surprise as part of its expansion.

The Surprise Economic Development team was represented by Kris Cassens, Economic Development Coordinator-Senior.

J.Crew Factory
16390 W Waddell Rd, Suite 100
Surprise, AZ 85388