Former Fry's Building in Gilbert Gets New Life as Redeemer Bible Church Plans New Campus

After sitting vacant for years, one of Gilbert's most recognizable empty buildings is finally getting a new purpose.

Redeemer Bible Church has officially purchased the former Fry's grocery store located at the northeast corner of Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive for $10.15 million, paving the way for a new church campus in the Val Vista Lakes area.

The acquisition includes the 61,753-square-foot former grocery building and approximately 5.5 acres of land. The neighboring retail shops were not included in the transaction and will continue to operate separately.

For many Gilbert residents, the vacant Fry's has been a constant reminder of a large commercial space waiting for its next chapter. While there had been speculation over the years about potential retail, entertainment, or mixed-use redevelopment, the property will instead be transformed into a place of worship and community gathering.

Redeemer Bible Church currently operates another campus roughly a mile away near Guadalupe and Greenfield Roads. As the congregation has continued to grow, the church has been searching for a larger facility to better serve its members and expand its ministries.

The existing grocery building provides a substantial footprint that can be renovated into worship space, classrooms, offices, children's ministries, and other church-related functions without requiring an entirely new building from the ground up.

This project also highlights a growing trend across Arizona and the country, where former grocery stores and large retail buildings are being repurposed for new uses as shopping habits evolve. Rather than remaining vacant, these buildings are finding new life as churches, entertainment venues, medical facilities, fitness centers, and other community-serving spaces.

While renovation timelines and opening dates have not yet been announced, the purchase represents a significant investment in the Val Vista Lakes area and finally answers the long-standing question of what would become of the former Fry's property.

We'll continue following the redevelopment plans and provide updates as renovation work and permitting move forward.