San Tan Village off the 202 & Williams Field Rd. is a new Outdoor Mall style shopping center.
The upside for me here is that the lay-out is reminiscent of an urban environment which is something I miss from Boston & NYC. The shopping center is mostly arranged like city blocks, with store fronts and streets intersecting throughout. Some "street" sections are closed off and feature water play areas and outdoor seating areas.
While I'm walking around here I can imagine for brief moments that I'm in a retail area in a downtown back east. Just for brief moments.
The downside is that it is nearly 100% corporate, as Malls typically are. You can find all the usual suspects here and perhaps 1 or 2 locally owned or independent businesses. You will not find a Bourgeois Pig or a Cafe Graffiti or any unique and interesting shopping and dining here with the possible exception of Blue Wasabi.
There are misters nearly everywhere but they seem to be turned off at random times when I wish they were on.
I think the planners really missed the boat with this shopping center. They should have put condos/apartments over the stores instead of business lofts and they should have brought in more independent and unique local business.