Chandler Fashion Center has announced a significant redevelopment initiative designed to elevate the property as the East Valley’s premier dining and entertainment destination. Led by Macerich, one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of retail and mixed-use properties, the project will reimagine the dining and entertainment district near Harkins Theatres on the south side of the center, introducing new restaurants, expanded outdoor gathering spaces, and enhanced community-focused amenities.
The redevelopment coincides with Chandler Fashion Center’s approach to its 25th year of operations and reflects an ongoing effort to position the property as a social hub for dining, shopping, and entertainment. “Chandler Fashion Center has a long history as a vibrant hub in the East Valley community,” says Monica Greenman, general manager of the shopping center, in a press release. “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.”
A central component of the project is the introduction of a refreshed dining lineup that blends full-service restaurants with fast-casual concepts, many featuring expanded patios designed for year-round outdoor dining. Among the most anticipated additions is Din Tai Fung, the internationally recognized Taiwanese restaurant known for its handcrafted xiao long bao, or soup dumplings. The Chandler outpost will include the brand’s signature exposed dumpling kitchen and is slated to open in 2027. (Additional restaurant announcements are expected in early 2026.)
Beyond dining, the redevelopment will transform the property’s lower-level lawn into a flexible event and gathering space capable of hosting live concerts, family-friendly activities, and community celebrations. Plans also include a new interactive splash pad that will serve as a playful daytime feature and convert into an illuminated water installation at night. Shaded seating areas, landscaped gardens, fire pits, and lounge-style furnishings are intended to create an inviting courtyard environment that encourages visitors to linger…