Plans are underway to transform a currently vacant 120,000 square-foot retail space that was once a part of the Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix into an entertainment venue.
The space was previously occupied by retail giant Sears, which as part of a nationwide closing of stores in 2018 moved out of the mall located near the intersection of Thomas Road and 75th Avenue.
Now a repurposing of the space is being spearheaded by the brothers Melchor and Pedro Marques, owners of the Phoenix-based AM radio station KSUN.
The brothers, who have established one of the most popular Spanish language radio stations in the country, want to repurpose the Sears space as a Latino-themed entertainment center.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, the former Sears store will be “replicate some of the features of the popular Latin-themed Aztec Theater in San Antonio.”
The Sears space is comprised of two levels, each measuring 60,000 square feet. Plans call for building a stage on the lower level, with the upper level used for any number of special events.
The Desert Sky Mall was opened in the fall of 1981 and to date houses more than 130 individual stores.
The Marques brothers, who purchased the Sears space for a reported $7.1 million, plan to begin work on creating the new entertainment venue no later than early 2024 with a rough completion date of either late next year or early 2025.
By Garry Boulard
