Featured in Phoenix Business Journal on May 7, 2026.

A Scottsdale-based company has teamed up with a new developer to build a $60 million grocery-anchored retail center in Carefree.

Empire Group of Companies owns 24.7 acres the land at the northeast corner of Cave Creek Road and Carefree Parkway, where it is working on Craig's Crossing — a 120,000-square-foot retail center that was previously named Carefree Quarter.

Empire Group had been working with Diversified Partners LLC — but it changed partners due to an issue with delivering on tenants, Carefree economic development director Steve Prokopek said in an April 7 meeting.

Now Empire Group has turned to Scottsdale-based real estate firm SimonCRE to develop the empty parcel of land into a bustling retail center that will bring a major source of sales tax revenue to the town that has a population size of fewer than 4,000 people. SimonCRE has completed more than 300 projects in 24 states, according to its website, including The Village at Prasada.

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