Daily News 8-26-2026

The Phoenix office market continues to show signs of resilience in 2026, outperforming many major Western markets as vacancy declines, investment activity remains healthy and medical office properties emerge as a particularly strong segment. According to CommercialCafe’s July 2026 national office report, Phoenix recorded an office vacancy rate of 16.9%, down 60 basis points from a year earlier. That puts Phoenix below the 17.7% national vacancy rate and makes it one of only two major Western markets — along with Los Angeles — with vacancy below the…»

Two Valley cities are in the top 10 for small business growth, with one of those singled out as one of the best for job growth, according to a new analysis. A report from human resources technology platform Blink ranked Glendale and Scottsdale at Nos. 8 and 9, respectively, among U.S. cities “with the most booming main streets” — a description generally meant to capture cities’ downtowns and similar local business hubs in terms of both economic activity and local engagement. The study’s authors said they focused on retail and food/hospitality…»

A new industrial park in Avondale is the latest bet that Phoenix’s Southwest Valley can evolve beyond its roots as a simple storage and shipping hub into a logistics powerhouse. Phoenix-based Creation Equity recently began construction on Avondale Tech Center, a nearly 700,000-square-foot development aimed at advanced manufacturing, research and development, and assembly users. The project reflects a growing push by developers to attract higher-tech tenants to west Phoenix cities that have historically been dominated by…»

As ALDI enters its 50th year in the United States, the discount grocer is accelerating its expansion in Arizona, with plans to open 10 new stores in the Phoenix market by the end of 2026. The company expects to add a total of 40 new stores across the market by the end of 2030, significantly expanding its existing Valley footprint. The Phoenix expansion is part of ALDI’s plan to open more than 180 stores across 31 states in 2026. By the end of the year, the company expects to operate nearly 2,800 stores nationwide, moving closer to its goal of 3,200 locations…»

Data center developers in Phoenix are pressing pause on projects in the face of significant local backlash that has led to regulatory and zoning changes, the Phoenix Business Journal reported. Some of the delayed projects include facilities by developers Vermaland LLC and LPI Co., both in Pinal County. Arizona boasts 160 data centers, according to Data Center Map, with Phoenix home to 149 of them. Last year, the city ranked top among data center markets by sales volume. Developers delaying data center build-out in the region mirrors a national trend…»