Sahuarita Embraces Discount Retailers as Town's Retail Mix Evolves

Economic development director sees benefits in discount stores filling vacant spaces

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Sahuarita, Arizona is welcoming the arrival of more discount retailers like Five Below, Burlington, and Boot Barn as the town's retail landscape continues to evolve. The town's economic development director sees no downside to these stores filling vacant spaces, viewing them as an important part of the retail mix that keeps products moving and prices low for consumers. An industry expert agrees, calling the secondary market of off-price and discount stores "an incredibly important part of the retail mix."

Why it matters

Sahuarita's embrace of discount retailers reflects a broader trend in retail where these stores are playing an increasingly vital role. They provide an outlet for major retailers to offload excess inventory, keep prices down for consumers, and prevent retail leakage to neighboring communities. As Sahuarita's population and economy grows, the town sees discount stores as a natural part of the retail evolution, paving the way for larger national chains down the line.

The details

Five Below has submitted plans to open a new location in a former Jo-Ann Fabrics space, joining other discount chains like Dollar Tree, Ross Dress for Less, and T.J. Maxx that have already established a presence in Sahuarita. The town has also seen the recent arrival of Burlington, which filled a vacant Big Lots! store, and Boot Barn, which took over a former 99 Cents Only location. Sahuarita's economic development director sees these discount retailers as filling a need and serving a different customer base than the town's larger national chains.

  • In January 2026, Five Below submitted plans for tenant improvements to open a new location in Sahuarita.
  • In February 2025, the former Big Lots! space was filled by the discount retailer Burlington.
  • The 99 Cents Only store that closed in 2024 was recently filled by the western-wear chain Boot Barn.

The players

Victor Gonzalez

Sahuarita's economic development director who sees no downside to discount retailers filling vacant spaces in the town.

Dale Rogers

A professor at Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business who has been producing annual data on the size and importance of the secondary market of off-price and discount retailers.

Five Below

A national discount retailer that has submitted plans to open a new location in a former Jo-Ann Fabrics space in Sahuarita.

Linda Michaelis

A Green Valley resident who was shopping at the Burlington discount store in Sahuarita, stating she looks at quality over prices.

Gloria Schmitt

Linda Michaelis' mother, who commented on the cleanliness and organization of the Burlington store compared to the Dollar Store.

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What they’re saying

“We're not immune (like) any other city or town when it comes to retailers and discount retailers, specifically national discount retailers. We're just a part of Five Below's massive growth over the last couple of years and into the next coming years.”

— Victor Gonzalez, Sahuarita Economic Development Director (Green Valley News/Sun)

“They're an incredibly important part of the retail mix. If you look at total U.S. brick-and-mortar retail, it's somewhere in between 10% and 20% of GDP.”

— Dale Rogers, Professor, Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business (Green Valley News/Sun)

“Burlington has departments for everything. Everything is clean and organized. Of course, we came from the Dollar Store and that was a mess.”

— Gloria Schmitt (Green Valley News/Sun)

What’s next

The town will continue to monitor the growth of discount retailers in Sahuarita and evaluate how they fit into the overall retail landscape. As the community evolves, officials will work to attract a mix of national chains, specialty stores, and discount outlets to meet the diverse needs of local consumers.

The takeaway

Sahuarita's embrace of discount retailers reflects a broader shift in the retail industry, where these off-price stores are playing an increasingly vital role in keeping prices low, reducing waste, and providing consumers with access to a wide range of products. As the town's population and economy continue to grow, this diverse retail mix is seen as a natural part of the community's evolution.