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!

"School's Out"... and we're ready to rock. 🤘🎸

Today, the City of Surprise Economic Development team was pleased to host representatives from Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers and share a preview of Spark Surprise AZ, our soon-to-open business development hub on Elm Street.

Thank you to Jack Pladdys, CEO; Randy Spencer, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Artistic Engagement; and Mark Savale, Teen Center Regional Director, for spending time with us.

Jeanine Jerkovic, Economic Development Director, and Mike Hoover, Assistant Economic Development Director, enjoyed the opportunity to connect and explore ways organizations like ours can continue supporting the next generation of creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

From future rock stars to future business owners, we're excited about what's ahead.

Groundbreaking Success in Surprise!

Today, we celebrated the groundbreaking of Gold Medal Swim School, an exciting addition that will provide family-focused recreation opportunities for our community.

We were honored to be joined by Gold Medal Swim School Owner Mike Walker, along with City of Surprise leadership include Mayor Kevin Sartor , Jeanine Jerkovic, Director of Surprise Economic Development, Mike Hoover, Assistant Director of Economic Development, and Kasey Peterson, Administrator of Surprise Parks and Recreation.

Special thanks to our project partners for helping bring this vision to life:
• Justin Gregonis, Managing Partner, Upward Architects
• Scott Puente, Project Manager, Upward Architects
• Paul Komadina, Partner, Alexander Building Company
• Tim Dulany, Senior Vice President, Kidder Mathews
• David Gertson, Territory Manager, Makita U.S.A., Inc.

This project represents continued investment in the City of Surprise and our commitment to creating opportunities that enhance quality of life for residents of all ages. We look forward to welcoming Gold Medal Swim School to our community and watching generations of swimmers build confidence, skills, and a love for the water.

Location:
Gold Medal Swim School
16517 W Cactus Rd
Surprise, AZ 85388

Web Address: https://goldmedalswimschool.com/surprise/



https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCW5hx

Gold Medal Swim School Groundbreaking Explore this photo album by City of Surprise, Arizona on Flickr!

Welcome to the Surprise business community, Graze Craze Surprise !

We were excited to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of Graze Craze.

Owner Tonja Curtis had the honor of cutting the ribbon alongside the Graze Craze team, as friends, partners, and community leaders gathered to mark this exciting milestone.

A special thank you to Kris Cassens, Senior Coordinator of Surprise Economic Development , and Raoul Sada, President & CEO of the Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, for joining the celebration and supporting local business growth.

Congratulations to Tonja and the entire Graze Craze team! We wish you continued success and look forward to seeing your business thrive in Surprise.



They are located at 15278 W Bell Rd, Suite 102, Surprise, AZ 85374.

https://orders.grazecraze.com/order/graze-craze-surprise-az

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCVPA8

Graze Craze Ribbon Cutting Explore this photo album by City of Surprise, Arizona on Flickr!

✂️🎉 We're rolling out the welcome mat for one of the newest additions to Surprise!

Today, we joined La-Z-Boy for a special pre-launch ribbon cutting celebration, welcoming their newest location to our growing retail community. Store Manager Jamie Lethin joined West Valley Regional Chamber Business Development Specialist Cliff Yoder for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, with Surprise Economic Development Senior Coordinator Kris Cassens helping mark the occasion.

La-Z-Boy's official Grand Opening takes place Wednesday, June 3 at 10:00 a.m. Guests can enjoy food trucks from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and enter raffles for a chance to win a free recliner and other exciting prizes.

Check out pics from today's event here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCVAhg

We’re excited to welcome La-Z-Boy to Surprise and look forward to seeing them serve residents for years to come. Be sure to stop by and help celebrate their Grand Opening!

Thai Chili 2go celebrated its ribbon cutting ceremony today in the City of Surprise, marking its 19th Arizona location! This fast-casual Thai restaurant chain brings fresh flavors, quick service, and a growing local presence to our community.

The ribbon cutting featured Steve Hernandez, General Manager of Thai Chili 2Go, alongside Jeanine Jerkovic, Surprise Economic Development Director.

Attendees also included Ryan Sommerfeldt, VP of Finance, Harry Katz, Director of Operations, Zach Wethington, Director of Training, Ansh Mago, Project Manager, and Amrit Banger, Brand Marketer representing Thai Chili 2Go. Also in attendance was Mike Hoover, Assistant Director of Economic Development for the City of Surprise, and Cliff Yoder, Business Development Specialist with the West Valley Regional Chamber.

Visit the new location at:
16324 W Pat Tillman Blvd, Suite 101
Surprise, AZ 85387

Webpage: https://tc2go.com



https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCUFKn

Thai Chili 2Go Ribbon Cutting Explore this photo album by City of Surprise, Arizona on Flickr!

We had a great time at the West Valley Regional Chamber’s Annual Meeting, reflecting on a year of impact and looking ahead to the priorities shaping our region’s future.

The morning highlighted the Chamber’s continued momentum, recognized the leaders helping drive progress across the West Valley, and marked an important milestone in its ongoing growth. We were also honored to hear from Governor Katie Hobbs.

Congratulations to Fine Fittings, recipient of the Mayor’s Excellence Award, presented by EPCOR and our Director, Jeanine Jerkovic. Owned by Ben Smith and Marina Portillo, this Surprise-based, family-owned boutique provides compassionate, personalized care to women at every stage of their health and beauty journey. From mastectomy products to wigs and esthetic services, their mission-driven work restores confidence and dignity while making a meaningful impact in our community.

We were proud to join partners including Jodi Tas, Director of Government Relations, and Nick Kupper from the Arizona House of Representatives to celebrate the people and businesses helping the West Valley thrive.

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