The south end of town is moving fast, and this St. George Utah Real Estate update from Realtor Mike Sheffield around Exit 2 shows just how much is taking shape. From Costco and expanding retail at SunRiver Commons to new restaurants, apartments, entertainment, medical services, and infrastructure in Desert Color, this corridor is becoming one of the biggest growth stories in Southern Utah.

There is a lot of dirt moving right now, but there is also a lot more than dirt. New buildings are open, major projects are working through approvals, and the commercial pieces around I-15 are beginning to connect with the growing residential communities nearby. If you are considering a home, investment property, business location, or commercial opportunity, the Exit 2 area deserves close attention.

Costco Is the Big News at Exit 2

The headline project is the Costco on an approximately 18-acre site near Moto United and Marine United. The project has already moved through key steps, including a city incentive agreement and Planning Commission approval of the site plan and building design. Final city approval and land closing were still ahead at the time of this update, while construction drawings were being prepared.

The proposed store is expected to be at least 160,000 square feet, making it larger than the current Costco location. Plans also call for nearly 800 parking stalls and 30 fuel stations. If the process continues as planned, the anticipated opening window is February or March 2026.

That is a major addition for St. George Utah Real Estate on the south end of the city. A large membership retailer like Costco does more than provide another place to shop. It becomes a regional draw, supports nearby retail demand, and adds another everyday convenience for residents in Desert Color, SunRiver, St. George, and surrounding communities.

It is important to keep the wording accurate here. The Costco project was still in the approval and pre-construction process, not open for business. But the scale of the plans and the approvals already completed make it one of the most significant commercial projects to follow in this area.

Moto United and Marine United Continue Building Momentum

Right next to the proposed Costco site, Moto United has opened and expanded its footprint for ATVs and other motorsports offerings. That is a natural fit for Southern Utah, where access to outdoor recreation is a huge part of the lifestyle.

Marine United was still under construction and is expected to bring boats and marine-related inventory to the same area. The exact opening schedule was not yet clear, but the building was visibly taking shape.

These projects help show why St. George Utah Real Estate near Exit 2 is not simply residential expansion. The area is developing into a place where retail, recreation-oriented businesses, hospitality, services, and housing can grow together.

SunRiver Commons Adds Restaurants, Retail, and Hotels

Across the freeway, SunRiver Commons is continuing to fill in. Smith’s had opened in the area, creating an important grocery anchor for the south side of St. George. That kind of daily-needs retail often sets the stage for additional restaurants and service businesses to follow.

Several projects were underway or being planned around the commons:

• Del Taco had gone vertical and was making strong progress, with an expected opening within the next few months.

• In-N-Out was still working through final planning and layout details with the city, with no confirmed opening date at that point.

• Infrastructure work was underway for more of the SunRiver Commons retail area.

• Additional restaurant and retail leases were reportedly in discussion.

• Les Schwab was expected to begin construction soon, with a potential opening by the end of the third quarter or in the fourth quarter.

• Home2 Suites was progressing through the city process and was expected to begin construction during the summer.

• Mojave Crossing, planned as a hotel with office and retail space, was awaiting city approval.

This is the kind of commercial buildout that can change how a part of town functions day to day. More grocery options, restaurants, hotels, automotive services, and retail mean fewer trips across town for people living in nearby neighborhoods. It also creates more opportunities for businesses seeking visibility close to the interstate.

For buyers evaluating St. George Utah Real Estate, proximity to amenities matters. The same is true for sellers. As commercial services continue to arrive, the convenience story around south St. George gets stronger.

Desert Color Is Adding Everyday Amenities

Crossing back over the freeway into Desert Color, there has been a noticeable wave of commercial activity. Several businesses had already opened, and more were preparing to join them.

At the commercial corner, Swig had opened, along with Intermountain Golf Cars, offering a range of golf carts that are becoming more common throughout Southern Utah neighborhoods. Nearby, Peachwave Frozen Yogurt was scheduled to open February 14, timed with the Parade of Homes activity in the area.

Maui Med Spa was being built out for its second location and was targeting a May opening. Pizza Hut had recently opened, while Jersey Mike’s signage had gone up with an anticipated opening in the coming months. Chipotle was also expected in the area.

More tenant spaces were still being worked on, including discussions around a future grocery store. That is a key piece to follow. Grocery access is one of the biggest drivers of day-to-day livability in a master-planned community, and it would be another meaningful addition for residents in this section of St. George Utah Real Estate.

Entertainment and Healthcare Projects Are in the Pipeline

Desert Color is not just adding quick-service retail. The area is also positioning itself for entertainment, healthcare, and larger community-serving uses.

Near BigShots Golf, The Break Sports Bar and Grill, a concept coming from Northern Utah, was working through construction drawings and getting closer to starting vertical construction. The project is expected to be a strong fit next to an existing entertainment destination.

Megaplex Luxury Theaters and bowling were also in pre-construction planning. There was no confirmed groundbreaking date yet, but it is another major project to keep on the radar. A theater and bowling facility could become a real gathering place for residents throughout the south end of St. George.

Intermountain Health was also expected to break ground sometime during the year. Healthcare access is an important part of the broader St. George Utah Real Estate conversation, especially as new neighborhoods continue to grow farther south and west.

Black Mountain Drive was being widened near BigShots as well. Road improvements may not be the most glamorous update, but they matter. Better access supports commercial growth, helps accommodate traffic, and improves the connection between residential areas and the businesses coming online.

The View at Desert Color Brings More Residents to the Area

One of the most immediate housing updates was The View at Desert Color apartments. The project had gone live on January 20 and was expected to welcome its first residents on April 1.

New apartment residences add more than housing options. They also bring a consistent base of nearby customers for restaurants, grocery stores, medical services, and retail. That is one reason the commercial growth and residential growth at Exit 2 are so connected.

For anyone tracking St. George Utah Real Estate, this is the bigger picture to understand: commercial projects are not arriving in isolation. They are responding to new rooftops, and new housing becomes more attractive as services, jobs, recreation, and dining come closer.

What This Growth Means for Buyers, Sellers, and Commercial Clients

The Exit 2 corridor is changing from an emerging edge of town into a more complete part of the St. George market. It is still early in the buildout, and timelines can always shift as projects work through approvals, financing, construction, and leasing. Still, the direction is clear.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• For home buyers: Communities near Exit 2 are gaining more convenience, including groceries, restaurants, retail, entertainment, healthcare, and interstate access.

• For home sellers: The expanding amenity base can become an important part of how a home’s location is presented to potential buyers.

• For investors: Growth in housing, apartments, retail, hotels, and infrastructure points to an area worth monitoring closely.

• For business owners: The corridor is creating opportunities for service, retail, restaurant, office, hospitality, and commercial users looking to be near a growing population base.

Location always matters, but context matters too. A property’s value proposition is shaped by what is around it today and what is realistically coming next. That is why local insight is so important when making decisions around St. George Utah Real Estate.

Keeping an Eye on South St. George

There is a lot to be excited about at Exit 2. The proposed Costco is the biggest headline, but it is only one part of a much broader shift. SunRiver Commons is adding major retail and hospitality projects. Desert Color is expanding its commercial core, entertainment options, infrastructure, medical services, and apartment housing. All of it is building momentum for the southern end of town.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, evaluate an investment, or search for commercial real estate in Southern Utah, Mike Sheffield is the real estate agent to have in your corner. He can help you look beyond a listing and understand how current development, planned amenities, and local market conditions may affect your move.

For help with St. George Utah Real Estate, connect with Sunny STG Real Estate, contact Mike Sheffield at [email protected], or call or text (435) 222-3080. Whether it is a home, land, investment property, or commercial opportunity, the right local guidance makes a difference.