(Photo by Vestar Development)

A rendering of the renovated entrance at Desert Ridge Marketplace in north Phoenix.

One of Phoenix’s largest outdoor shopping centers is undergoing a $15 million makeover.

When Desert Ridge Marketplace opened in 2001, the open-air shopping project was considered innovative. An Urban Land Institute study described it as Arizona’s first retail development “to combine the elements of a power center, a mall and a neighborhood grocery center to create a 'power village.'”

The 110-acre development, located at the intersection of Tatum Boulevard and Loop 101, in the master-planned community of Desert Ridge, features a mix of restaurants, stores and entertainment venues.

In addition to new furniture and landscaping, a stage area for live music and other events is being renovated. The developer says new tenants, including chef-driven restaurants concepts, will move in, but no names have been announced.