Square One Concepts, the Scottsdale-based restaurant group behind Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (pictured above), Wasted Grain, Crab & Mermaid, and Bourbon & Bones, is expanding its presence in the East Valley.
Confirming rumors that have been circulating for weeks, the group plans to open two restaurants in Gilbert and another in Tempe before the end of the year.
Square One has finalized deals to take over recently closed World of Beer locations in downtown Tempe and Tucson and convert them into the second and third locations of Wasted Grain.
It also is trying to acquire the only other World of Beer in Arizona – located at San Tan Village in Gilbert – which also would become a Wasted Grain.
Finally, the Valley’s fifth Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers will open in the former Tailgaters Grill on the northwest corner of Higley and Queen Creek in Gilbert.
‘‘Every time we try to remodel a place it takes us six months,’’ says Square One founder and CEO S. Barrett Rinzler. ‘‘But what’s the point of opening a restaurant just in time for summer in the Valley?’’
So, instead, all four restaurants will be opened in two phases. Simple cosmetic changes will happen quickly to get all four open this fall. More extensive renovations to all four will take place next summer.
Wasted Grain
Described as ‘‘a classically styled Prohibition-era bar and restaurant,’’ Wasted Grain made its debut in 2014, replacing the longtime Martini Ranch in Old Town Scottsdale.
The World of Beer spaces are about half its size, forcing some streamlining. The number of beer taps will be reduced from 50 to a more manageable 35, and DJ music will be favored over the live music that’s prevalent at the original.
Rinzler hopes ‘‘a fast remodel’’ gets the Tempe doors back open in time for the ASU-UCLA football game on Oct. 8. He’d like to get Tucson open by the UA-USC football game Oct. 15.
Then, next summer, the Tempe location will close for several weeks for major changes, including a reconfigured kitchen and construction of a two-level patio on the south side of the building.
Meanwhile, WOB Gilbert likely will operate for a short time under a temporary name, pending its sale.
Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers
Likewise, phase one of the makeover of the former Tailgaters will include new paint, new furniture, new TVs, and a new sound system – with a goal of getting the doors open by Thanksgiving.
‘‘We’re going to move as fast as we can get the permit process done,’’ Rinzler says,
Follow-up work next summer will include doubling the length of the bar, increasing the number of beer taps from 20 to 40, and expanding the patio that wraps around the south and east side of the building.
A second patio, wrapping around the north and east side of the building, also will be added.
Since most of next summer’s work will be on the sides of the building, Rinzler hopes the main dining area will be able to remain open during the renovations.
