Just two decades ago, summers were considered a ‘‘dead time’’ for East Valley restaurants. More than a few even went so far as to close on Memorial Day and reopen after Labor Day.
And few if any restaurants would consider launching during the summer. If they couldn’t get their doors before snowbirds flocked back northward, they simply waited until they returned in the fall.
Well, times have changed. The East Valley’s explosive growth has made businesses less reliant on the surge of winter visitors. Here are 10 notable openings to look forward to this summer:
The Sicilian Butcher: Choose your meatballs, choose your sauce, and choose your pasta at the first East Valley location of Joey and Cristina Maggiore’s hip concept opening on the southwest corner of the 101 and Frye near Chandler Fashion Center.
Bece Kitchen: After nine years of operating Beaver Choice, owner Hanna Nilsson is transforming her Polish-Scandinavian-Canadian restaurant in Mesa into a European fast-casual concept on the northwest corner of Dobson and Riggs in Sun Lakes.
Naked BBQ: Oren Hartman, who has wowed diners in Phoenix and Scottsdale with some of the best pulled pork, chopped brisket, and pulled chicken in Arizona, is opening his third location on the southeast corner of I-10 and Ray in Chandler.
Hidden House: The Brickyard Downtown owners Gavin Jacobs and Elliott Hall are turning a 1939 bungalow on Commonwealth, a block behind SanTan Brewing, in downtown Chandler into an upscale steak-and-seafood restaurant with two cocktail bars.
Share Craft Kitchen & Bar: Tipsy Cactus TapRoom owners Sean Hayes and Jo Ann Franko are teaming up with Taste of New Mexico food truck chef Gabe Madrid on a small-plates restaurant on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Southern in Mesa.
Spooky’s Swirls: Pastry chefs Lola Forbes and Chris Szydlowski are collaborating with the Horror & SciFi Prop Preservation Association on a gluten-free bakery on the northeast corner of Alma School and Elliot in Chandler.
Clay Dawgs: Clay Caldwell, founder of Waldo’s BBQ and Caldwell County BBQ, is shifting his attention to hot dogs with this J Dawgs-like concept on the northwest corner of Gilbert and Juniper just north of downtown Gilbert.
Tacos Chiwas: Acclaimed Phoenix taco shop owners Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin are bringing their Chihuahuan-style tacos with cooked-to-order tortillas to the northeast corner of Alma School and Warner in Chandler.
Mr Brew Taphouse: A popular Wisconsin-based chain of burger-and-craft-beer joints is making its Arizona debut in the former Chandler Gourmet Deli strip-mall space on the southwest corner of Alma School and Germann.
Tempe Public Market Cafe: Not really a new restaurant, but this year-old venture on the northeast corner of Rural and Warner in south Tempe closed a month ago for extensive remodeling. It will re-launch with full-service brunch and dinner service.
