Sam Fox is one of the country’s most prolific restaurateurs. His Scottsdale-based company has three dozen restaurants spread across six states representing 11 different brands, including True Food Kitchen, Blanco Tacos + Tequila, and Culinary Dropout.
It’s no surprise Phoenix and Scottsdale are Fox’s most popular destinations with eight restaurants apiece. But the East Valley trails far behind with just two – a Sauce Pizza & Wine at Downtown Ocotillo in Chandler and another at Dana Park in Mesa.
It looks like that will change next summer, when Fox plans to open a Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar in Gilbert’s downtown historical district. Zinburger, which offers a dozen different burgers, already has a location in Phoenix and two in Tucson.
“We think downtown Gilbert is a great market,” Fox marketing director Anita Walker tells MXSW. “And though we don’t have a final lease yet, we are planning on opening a Zinburger in this area next year.”
Multiple sources say the Zinburger will be located in a new development on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Vaughn, just north of Oregano’s. The site currently is a vacant lot that hosts the weekly Gilbert Food Truck Food Court.
Zinburger will join a tight cluster of restaurants that also includes Romeo’s Euro Cafe, Joe’s Real BBQ, Liberty Market, The Farmhouse, Postino, Joyride Taco House, and SoCal Fish Taco Company.
