Mesa City Council gives go-ahead to Fiesta Mall redevelopment

By Brandon Brown

Mesa’s Fiesta Mall is slated to be the next Valley mall to be renovated into a mixed-use development after getting approval Dec. 9 from Mesa City Council.

The zoning changes will allow the 80-acre site located on the southwest corner of Southern Avenue and Alma School Road to be home to multifamily housing, retail shops, restaurants, office space and recreational amenities. Mesa's Planning and Zoning Board previously approved the rezoning back in October.

Verde Investments, which is owned by Valley businessman Ernest Garcia II — the biggest shareholder of Tempe online vehicle retailer Carvana Co. and the wealthiest person in the state — is leading the redevelopment efforts. Garcia spent years amassing the nine parcels that make up the former Fiesta Mall site.

“We’ve worked closely with Mesa’s planning team and leaders to craft a redevelopment plan that reflects the community’s values and aspirations,” David Leibowitz, a spokesperson for Verde Investments, said in a statement. “This approval paves the way for a thriving, dynamic destination that will boost Mesa’s economy, create jobs and help address the Valley’s housing shortage.”

Plans for the former mall, which is now being called Fiesta Redefined, call for up to 4,000 new housing units, up to 1.85 million square feet of retail and commercial space and over 500,000 square feet of open space, which could include walkable, bike-friendly, and pedestrian-focused amenities. Verde has not laid out a timeline for when the project will be completed.

Verde has compiled a team for the project that includes Scottsdale law firm Berry Riddell LLC as its land-use attorney, Texas-based Nelsen Partners, which has an office in Scottsdale, as the architect, and Mesa-based Hubbard Engineering as the civil engineer. Nelsen has worked on several high-profile projects in the past few years, including the ongoing redevelopment of Paradise Valley Mall.

Fiesta Mall was built in the 1970s and was a hit with local shoppers, playing a major role in the Valley’s retail economy in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. But as fewer consumers frequented shopping malls with the rise of online shopping, Fiesta Mall struggled and eventually every store on the site closed by 2019. Demolition of the mall started in July 2023.

The city of Mesa has routinely pointed to the redevelopment efforts of Fiesta Mall as “optimal uses of real estate within the city.”

Final Thoughts:

The transformation of Mesa’s Fiesta Mall into “Fiesta Redefined” is more than a redevelopment—it’s a renewal of community spirit and opportunity. For those moving to Mesa from out of state, this mixed-use project signals a city on the rise, blending innovation with accessibility. With plans for vibrant housing, dynamic retail, and inviting green spaces, Fiesta Redefined will likely become a cornerstone for living, working, and recreation in the Valley. As Mesa continues to evolve, this redevelopment symbolizes its commitment to meeting the needs of a growing and diverse population.