Sacaton Market

Community thrives when people have places to connect, access to fresh food, and spaces that reflect their culture. That idea shaped RSP’s design for Sacaton Market, a 24,000-SF grocery store, fueling station, and community hub on Gila River Indian Community land southeast of Phoenix. The project restores access to fresh food in what had become a food desert and strengthens a growing network of civic and economic development across the region.

The market expands grocery space in the community four-fold and offers locally sourced products, a bakery, deli, hot food bar, and outdoor seating. It also includes a dedicated area where local vendors and artisans can sell their goods, creating an active environment that supports local enterprise and strengthens social ties.

RSP’s design draws inspiration from the surrounding farmland and the Hohokam tradition of “making the desert bloom.” The architecture uses durable, climate-appropriate materials such as board-formed concrete and corrugated metal to create visual rhythm and resilience. A shade canopy supported by elegant dual columns defines the market’s front porch, offering a comfortable place to gather and share a meal. The landscape features native plantings, bioswales, and a rain chain that collects and directs water across the site, recalling the ingenuity of traditional desert irrigation systems and celebrating the enduring relationship between community and land.