Just Blaze Opened Second Retail Store in Phoenix
The urban art retailer expanded to a 1,700-square-foot site in downtown to reach new customers.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Just Blaze opened a new satellite location on Central Avenue north of Roosevelt Street on October 2, 2026. The 1,700-square-foot shop sells urban art supplies and streetwear to a new downtown customer base.
Why it matters
The expansion marks a shift for the retailer as it moves from its 5,500-square-foot Camelback Road flagship into a smaller, higher-density urban footprint. The owner is leveraging proximity to a light rail station to capture foot traffic in the Roosevelt Row area.
The new 1,700-square-foot store represents a significantly smaller footprint than the company's 5,500-square-foot Camelback Road flagship. The shop is the first dedicated art supply retailer to open in the Roosevelt Row area in over a decade.
The players
Just Blaze
An urban art and lifestyle retailer that has operated in the Phoenix valley since 2005.
The details
The store occupies a previously vacant property situated directly next to a light rail station to maximize access for downtown commuters. To facilitate community engagement, the operator is utilizing the facility's parking lot as a dedicated space for art shows and recurring events. This strategy contrasts with the brand's established suburban model by prioritizing high-turnover inventory like tattoo supplies and disposable vapes.
Timeline
2005: Just Blaze opened its first location.
2010: The business relocated to its flagship Camelback Road store.
October 2, 2026: The Roosevelt Row store held its grand opening.
October 31, 2026: The inaugural art show featuring customized model trains concludes.
Market Landscape
The opening marks the first dedicated art supply retailer to launch in the Roosevelt Row arts district in more than ten years. It signals a move by established suburban retailers to capture downtown foot traffic by repurposing vacant property near public transit hubs.
Operators considering satellite expansions should look at utilizing smaller, underutilized footprints near public transit to minimize overhead costs. Factor the necessity of community-focused events, such as the retailer's use of its parking lot for art shows, into your site planning to drive traffic.
The takeaway
Retailers can effectively reach new customer segments by scaling their physical footprint to suit specific high-traffic urban corridors. Operators should track the success of events like the inaugural train art show to gauge whether local community programming boosts regular daily sales.
Further reading
Explore more local retail news in the Phoenix Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Phoenix New Times.
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