Italian-American fast-casual chain Fazoli’s, which announced earlier this year it was returning to the Valley after a 14-year absence, finally has revealed where its first location will open this fall: Sky Harbor Airport. Mesa-based Kind Hospitality has signed a deal to open nine Fazoli’s restaurants by the end of 2024, but no other locations have been identified yet.
Restaurant Scouting
Joey and Cristina Maggiore – owners of Hash Kitchen, The Sicilian Butcher, The Sicilian Baker, and The Mexicano – are planning two new concepts. The Rosticceria, an Italian rotisserie wood-fired grill, will open near the northeast corner of Tatum and Cactus in north Phoenix. The Italiano, a casual elegant Italian restaurant that’s a tribute to Joey’s late father, Tomaso Maggiore, is coming to the southeast corner of Shea and 92nd Street in central Scottsdale. No opening date for either concept has been announced.
Meet Fresh, a Taiwanese dessert shop chain that made its Arizona debut in the 99 Ranch Market in Chandler last October, is preparing to launch its second Valley location next to boba tea shop Miss Dessert on the northeast corner of Dobson and Broadway in west Mesa. No opening date has been announced yet.
Crust Brothers Pizza, a 2-year-old independent pizzeria in central Scottsdale, is opening a second location on the northwest corner of Baseline and McClintock in south Tempe. Crust Brothers makes what its calls ‘‘Midwest-style’’ square-cut pies that are ‘‘crispy on the bottom but soft and fluffy on top.’’ A fall opening is planned.
Salad World, a local fast-casual build-your-own-salad concept, is coming to the Safeway center on the northwest corner of Cactus and 83rd Avenue in Peoria. Diners will be able to choose from among more than 60 ingredients. Salad World also will have wraps and soups. The owners are hoping to open in October.
White Castle, the iconic burger joint and the country’s oldest fast-food chain, is coming to the southeast Valley. The chain announced its second Arizona location will open near the northeast corner of I-10 and Warner in south Tempe (just southeast of Dick’s Sporting Goods and Total Wine) sometime in the first half of 2023. White Castle made its Arizona debut in Scottsdale in 2019, when legions of fans waited in lines up to six hours on opening day before the restaurant was forced to close for five hours to re-stock and clean. Famous for its iconic burgers known as sliders (pictured), White Castle was founded in Wichita, Kan., in 1921.
The Vine Tavern & Eatery, which closed its original Valley location on Apache Boulevard in Tempe last month, is planning to soft-open its new Ahwatukee location Friday – assuming it passes all of its final inspections. It’s taking over the former Angry Crab space on the northwest corner of Ray and 38th Street.
Hanshin Pocha, a California-base chain of quick-casual Korean street food taverns, will make its Arizona debut this fall near the southeast corner of Alma School and Southern in Mesa. It’s taking over the space that formerly was home to Draft Sports Grill, which relocated in 2020. Hanshin Pocha’s menu offers a variety of appetizers and shared plates. An October opening is being targeted.
Ambrogio15, which has been voted the best pizza in San Diego by several publications, is bringing its Milanese-style pies with paper-thin crusts to Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix. Its name refers to Ambrogio, the patron saint of Milan, and the size of its pizzas (15 inches). Besides pizza, the restaurant will offer pasta, steak, and seafood. Ambrogio15, which has three San Diego locations, plans to open in Phoenix in fall 2023.
