The doors of Petersen’s Ice Cream barely were open this week when MXSW readers already were asking, “What’s opening next in downtown Gilbert?”
Who can blame them? In the last nine months, Zinburger, Lo-Lo’s, Barrio Queen, Snooze, Pomo Pizzeria (pictured), and Petersen’s all opened on the same block, more or less.
The tiny “downtown” stretch of Gilbert Road already had Joe’s Real BBQ, Liberty Market, Romeo’s Euro Cafe, The Farmhouse, SoCal Fish Taco, Postino, Joyride, and Oregano’s.
Well, there are still more restaurants coming, although you’re going to have to wait several months. Here are three to watch for:
Gio Osso is chef and owner of Virtù, one of the Valley’s top fine-dining restaurants. He’s also a Gilbert resident, and the still-developing concept for his second restaurant is “West Coast-inspired food” influenced by his Italian background, according to Phoenix New Times.
Nico, named after Osso’s son, will be a more casual, family-friendly kind of place next to Pomo in the new Heritage Marketplace. A December opening is being targeted.
This longtime north Scottsdale favorite opened a second location in Arcadia in early 2013, and its third will be a 3,600-square-foot, second-floor space in Heritage Marketplace.
Besides 40 different sushi rolls, the restaurant also offers bento boxes, yakisoba, and udon bowls.
The owners are still fine-tuning the Gilbert blueprints, so they’re looking at opening at the end of the year at the earliest.
Carlos Santana, Toby Keith, Julio Cesar Chavez… Celebrity-themed restaurants have a lousy history in the Valley.
Will Bentley, a county music star who was born in Phoenix, fare any better?
The concept already has opened its first location in Scottsdale, with another opening this fall in downtown Tempe.
The Gilbert location – across the street from Oregano’s, north of Joe’s Real BBQ – is scheduled to open in early to mid-2016.
