Home Care In Chandler, AZ

Chandler Fashion Center is positioned to become the East Valley’s premier dining destination with a project that elevates the center’s culinary and retail mix inside and out. Today Macerich (NYSE: MAC) – one of the nation’s leading owners, operators and developers of one-of-a-kind retail and mixed-use properties in top markets — announced that the center is launching a redevelopment initiative to reinvigorate the dining and entertainment district near the Harkins Theatres on the south side of the property.

LOCAL NEWS: Walmart pays record $152 million for Luke Field building

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: Want more news like this? Get our free newsletter here

“Chandler Fashion Center has a long history as a vibrant hub in the East Valley community,” said Monica Greenman, General Manager of the shopping center. “As we approach our 25th year of operations, we’re affirming our continued focus on creating a welcoming gathering space where guests come to indulge in the community’s best food, entertainment and shopping.”

As part of the redevelopment project, Chandler Fashion Center will introduce a new mix of vibrant full-service restaurants and crave-worthy fast-casual concepts with expanded patios for all-season dining. The new dining lineup includes iconic Taiwanese restaurant brand Din Tai Fung, globally renowned for its handcrafted Xiao Long Bao or soup dumplings. With its signature exposed dumpling showcase kitchen and authentic flavors, Din Tai Fung promises an unforgettable hospitality experience, set to open in 2027. Additional culinary brands will be announced in early 2026.

Additional highlights include a remodeled lower-level lawn and event area, designed to host a range of events, from live concerts and family-friendly gatherings to community celebrations. A new interactive splash pad will bring playful energy by day, transforming into a beautifully illuminated water feature at night. Guests can enjoy new shaded retreats surrounded by lush landscaping, cozy fire pits and comfortable lounge seating – all thoughtfully curated to create a welcoming, garden-inspired atmosphere that invites visitors to relax, connect and stay awhile.

In the meantime, the first step toward creating this engaging new courtyard gathering area will be an inviting walking path that provides access from the east parking lot located between the new restaurants and Macy’s. Construction is slated to begin in January and is expected to result in minimal interruptions to shopper experience.

Chandler Fashion Center is continually evolving, bringing shoppers what they want, including the opening of Scheels in 2023 and more recently, prominent high-end brands such as gorjana, TravisMathew and Vuori. Soon, J.Crew Factory will add a new option for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, and Johnny Rockets will bring its classic flavors to the center’s food court, with an opening planned in early 2026.

Additionally, Chandler Fashion Center will welcome Seafood City, a first-to-market Filipino grocery store with a vibrant selection of in-house restaurants that will serve Pan-Asian savory dishes, bakery treats and popular street foods. Attractions will include live tanks of fresh fish and crustaceans, complimentary cook-to-order service and a one-of-a-kind catch-and-cook experience.

“As a retail hub serving a broad geographic region of the East Valley, Chandler Fashion Center continues to attract a strong mix of retailers that appeal to its dynamic shopper base,” said Kim Choukalas, Senior Vice President, Leasing for Macerich. “As we continue to attract more of today’s most desired brands, we’re also conscious of a trend among shoppers who enjoy spending a day shopping their favorite stores, then winding down with a memorable meal. This project marries the lines between shopping and dining, creating a wholistic entertainment experience.”

The project at Chandler Fashion Center is just the latest example of Macerich’s ongoing investment in high-performing properties in Phoenix. An enhancement project is expected to begin in January at Scottsdale Fashion Square, elevating the Palm Court, blending the central gathering space with the center’s signature luxury aesthetic. The project follows the 2018 debut of the original luxury wing at Scottsdale Fashion Square and 2022 expansion of the luxury experience into the center’s south wing.

Macerich’s retail real estate credentials in Arizona are unparalleled: The company dominates the retail landscape in Arizona with seven regional shopping centers in the Phoenix metro area. In all, Macerich’s Arizona portfolio comprises over 7 million square feet and includes the most iconic and high-performing retail properties in the Southwest, including Arrowhead Towne Center, Chandler Fashion Center, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Fashion Square. These shopping centers and their retailers employ thousands of people and generate millions of dollars in revenue for their communities.

Stockdale completes its second multifamily acquisition in the Phoenix metro area in just three months, building on its November purchase of the 266-unit Quincy at Kierland in North Scottsdale.

has acquired Avant at Fashion Center, a 355-unit luxury mid-rise apartment community in the Phoenix submarket of Chandler, AZ for $110.25 million.

Avant at Fashion Center is located at 555 South Galleria Way in the heart of the Price Road Corridor, one of top employment hubs in the greater Phoenix metro. According to The City of Chandler, the Price Road Corridor accounts for 749 total businesses and more than 42,000 jobs. Residents can also take advantage of numerous retail amenities including the Chandler Fashion Center which is located only a block away. With immediate access to the interchange of Loop 202 and Loop 101, two of the most traveled thoroughfares in the Phoenix MSA, residents benefit from quick, convenient access to key employment hubs throughout the East Valley, including Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, and downtown Phoenix.

"Chandler is one of the strongest employment markets in Arizona while also offering a high quality of life for its residents," said Stockdale Managing Director Samuel Palmer, who along with Managing Director Chase Jensen leads the company's multifamily platform. Strategic, modest upgrades will allow us to position the asset competitively against newer, more expensive properties in the area and capitalize on current market demand."

"This area is experiencing a rapid supply cutoff, unlike much of the Phoenix Valley where substantial new inventory is still on the way, which positions this location more favorably," added Jensen.

Built in 2017, Avant at Fashion Center features a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom units housed in seven, three- and four-story buildings on a 11.4-acre site. The units offer luxury finishes including vaulted ceilings, designer baseboards, French door refrigerators with water and ice dispensers, dark wood cabinetry, and in-unit washers and dryers. Residents also enjoy a wide array of resort style amenities including a large swimming pool with an expansive deck featuring poolside loungers and cabanas, covered social areas, stainless steel barbecue grilling stations, a resident lounge, and a two-story fitness center.

IPA's Steve Gebing and Cliff David marketed the property for sale on behalf of the seller.

About Stockdale Capital PartnersStockdale Capital Partners is a vertically integrated real estate investment firm with a 30-year history of investing in commercial real estate across multiple asset classes throughout the U.S. The company is an owner-operator specializing in the redevelopment and repositioning of real estate assets with expertise in revitalizing urban properties of all types. The firm currently manages approximately $3.0 billion in gross AUM on behalf of several discretionary, comingled closed-end and open-ended funds. For more information, please visit our website at www.stockdalecapital.com.

In a move that expands Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ presence in the Valley’s film community, Michael Pollack is hosting the opening night and weekend of the Chandler International Film Festival.

The festival runs from Friday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 1, at a handful of East Valley theaters and features a diverse lineup of films from around the world, along with Q&As, networking events, and red carpet moments.

READ MORE: Here is the outlook for Phoenix’s 2026 housing market

LOCAL NEWS: Want more stories like this? Get our free newsletter here

Pollack, owner of Pollack Tempe Cinemas, said the Chandler Film Festival’s inclusivity was a draw, not money. Local film festivals strive for exposure, not profits.

“It was strictly about offering filmmakers something that would allow them to compete if they’re fortunate enough to go to a national or international market,” Pollack said.

“A lot of these filmmakers don’t have the opportunity to go to Cannes or Sundance. If they win a few festivals around the country, it sometimes gives them a better way to compete and to get in and show their winners.”

The 10th annual Chandler International Film Festival features more than 150 films at locations including Pollack, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Regal Cinemas Gilbert, with the awards ceremony at Chandler Center for the Arts on Feb 1.

“The 10th anniversary of the Chandler International Film Festival brings even more for filmmakers and audiences to experience by expanding to multiple locations around the Valley,” said Mitesh Patel, CIFF president and founder of the festival.

“By expanding to multiple theaters, more people and more films will be able to be included in the festival.”

Aside from the film screenings, the public can have morning coffee chats with filmmakers and actors, attend nightly after?parties in Downtown Chandler, participate in workshops led by industry professionals such as directors and producers, and cap off the weekend with an awards ceremony.

Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ festival highlights include:

The nonprofit Chandler International Film Festival lineup will span genres from romance to horror to historical fiction, featuring directors from around the world.

The collaboration aligns closely with Pollack Tempe Cinemas’ mission to keep film accessible and community-driven. The theater is the only independent cinema in Arizona.

“Our goal has always been to make filmgoing affordable and enjoyable for everyone,” Pollack said.

“Partnering with the Chandler Film Festival gives us another way to do that — by opening our doors to stories and filmmakers that reflect our community’s diversity. It’s not about exclusivity; it’s about inclusion. We want people to feel that Pollack Tempe is a place where anyone can experience great cinema, whether it’s a Hollywood hit or an indie gem from around the world.”

Pollack said he hopes the partnership will inspire others, such as local filmmakers who see their work on the big screen for the first time, or audience members to discover a film that moves them in a new way.

“It’s about connection. We want to help build a community where film can thrive in Arizona,” Pollack said. “I find movies inspirational and, I should say, entertaining. To me, there is still no better experience than seeing a movie on the big screen.”

Chandler International Film Festival

The Chandler International Film Festival runs from Friday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 1, at venues such as the Pollack Tempe Cinemas, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Regal Cinemas, Gilbert. Full festival passes start at $265 for General Admission and $550 for VIP. For more information, visit chandlerfilmfestival.com, check the Facebook page @ChandlerFilmFest, or the Instagram page @ChandlerFilmFestival.

For information about Pollack Tempe Cinemas, visit pollacktempecinemas.com and chandlerfilmfestival.com.

PHOENIX — The woman at the center of a high-profile Chandler animal cruelty case was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison on Thursday, authorities said.

April McLaughlin, who also goes by Sydney McKinley, was sentenced to 3.5 years for fraud involving her mother and two years related to animal cruelty, with the terms to be served concurrently.

She also received seven years of probation, was ordered to pay restitution to her victims and was banned from owning animals, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

The fraud charge stems from McLaughlin’s reported theft of more than $160,000 from her elderly mother’s bank account and charging of more than $20,000 to her mother’s credit card.

McLaughlin previously pleaded guilty to four counts after facing dozens of charges.

She is getting credit for the two years she already served while awaiting trial, ABC15 reported.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said prosecutors asked for a longer prison term, but McLaughlin’s status as a first-time felony offender played a role in the eventual sentence.

“While some counts were dismissed as part of the plea agreement, under Arizona law, simply having more charges does not necessarily mean more prison time for a first-time felony offender like McLaughlin,” Mitchell said in a statement.

Chandler woman’s animal cruelty case dates back to 2023

Fifty-five dogs were seized from McLaughlin’s home near Cooper and Pecos roads in September 2023.

McLaughlin was taking care of many of the animals as part of her nonprofit rescue organization for dogs with disabilities, the Special Needs Animal Welfare League.

Some of the dogs taken from her home were in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized. The Arizona Humane Society rehomed the surviving dogs with former owners, rescue partners or by adoption.

In the wake of McLaughlin’s arrest, Chandler lawmakers updated the city’s animal cruelty laws.

CHANDLER, AZ (AZFamily) — The Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) Governing Board has approved the majority of the district’s “Staffing for Enrollment” proposal that could lead to more than 100 job cuts.

The plan was presented to the board on Wednesday. The district said that, due to a 3% decline in enrollment, it may eliminate 2.2% of its staff to save $12 million. Right now, CUSD has about 5,430 staff members.

Chandler Unified School District Superintendent Franklin R. Narducci said during Wednesday’s meeting that there’s been a steady drop in students since 2023, citing lower birth rates, fewer people able to afford homes in the Chandler area and competition with charter schools.

CUSD financial officer Lana Berry said she expects the district will lose more than 1,100 students this upcoming school year.

Ultimately, the board approved portions of the proposal that include administrative cuts, reductions to various department budgets, a shift in some funding sources and adjustments to roles such as deans, coaches and other specialist roles. Previously established guidelines would also be used to determine staffing needs for schools based on enrollment.

The approved parts of the plan would result in a $10 million reduction.

Regarding other portions of the plan, board members requested more information and alternative suggestions on possible cuts to tech positions in elementary schools and media specialist roles in elementary and junior high schools. The district is still looking to achieve another $2 million in reductions.

A big concern among teachers is whether this plan stretches the staff too thin.

“I feel like what they’re going to be asked to do is too much for a single person to do because they’re going to be doing essentially the work of three people in the time of one. And I’m very concerned about the sustainability of that,” said one teacher. “I also worry that some families will say, I want a librarian at my school, and they’ll leave and go to charter schools.”

CUSD, which is the second-largest district in Arizona, would still ensure schools maintain a 24:1 staffing ratio, the lowest in the East Valley, and continue to offer competitive salaries and benefits to retain top talent, the district said.

“This proposal is about preserving the excellence our community expects,” said a district spokesperson in a prepared statement before the meeting. “By adjusting our staffing to match our current student population, we ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently while preserving position opportunities for every current CUSD employee.”

The Chandler Education Association, a union representing some educators in the East Valley district, issued an emailed statement opposing the plan before Wednesday’s meeting.

“Arizona public school districts are in an unfortunate and critical position due to the state legislature’s historical underfunding of public education, coupled with nearly $3 billion in taxpayer-funded spending on Arizona’s fraud-ridden ESA voucher program. Our state’s neglect of public education is leading to unnecessary enrollment declines — forcing districts to make dire decisions like cutting beloved staff and closing community schools,” said Laurel Miller, a 26-year teacher who serves as the union’s president.

Chandler Unified noted, however, that current staff would have access to job opportunities in the upcoming year.

An online copy of the presentation is available for the public.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? .

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send with a brief description.