The Valley Now archive
746 dated briefs from across the Phoenix Valley. Older stories preserve what was reported at the time; opening details can change.
Phoenix ·
Chef Vivid "Gabby" Chu, who built a following with LeDu Thai, opens Homme Thai Supper Club in Phoenix on Oct. 8, AZ Big Media reports. It's a fine-casual Thai supper club and bar built on her family recipes and Southern Thai cooking, with shareable plates like Kua Kling and Gaeng Khua, natural wines and a cocktail list called Things From Home. Lunch, dinner and bar service.
Source: AZ Big Media
Scottsdale ·
Sam Fox's American brasserie Society Swan landed at No. 14 on Yelp's national list of the 25 best new restaurants, one of just two Arizona spots on it, Phoenix New Times reports. Yelp said it "feels more like a tucked-away supper club than a mall restaurant," and shouted out the oysters, French Quarter salmon, steak fries and lobster carbonara.
Source: Phoenix New Times
Tempe ·
Yelp's annual ranking of the 25 best new restaurants in the country put Filthy Animal on Mill Avenue at No. 1, Phoenix New Times reports. The jungle-themed restaurant from Pretty Decent Concepts took over the former P.F. Chang's space at the bottom of the Mill Avenue district and cooks over an open fire, with a menu that pulls from Asian, Mexican and tropical flavors. Yelp called it a "serious dining destination."
Source: Phoenix New Times
Chandler ·
Chandler Center for the Arts reopens Oct. 17 with its annual gala after a $3 million summer renovation, AZFamily reports. Upgrades include all-new theater seating, updated interior finishes, stage and rigging improvements and new flooring. A free open house on Saturday, Oct. 24, 3 to 6 p.m., lets anyone see the changes up close.
Source: AZFamily
Gilbert ·
California's Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill is bringing its first Arizona location to 2218 E. Williams Field Road at SanTan Village, What Now Phoenix reports. Co-owner Eric Anders says it is expected to open in early fall 2027. The chain is known for smoked brisket, ribs and oak-grilled steaks.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Glendale ·
Historic Downtown Glendale's Sunday Brunch Art Crawl runs the last Sunday of every month, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., per the downtown merchants' events calendar, which puts October's on Oct. 25. The calendar notes dates and times are subject to change, so check before you go.
Source: Historic Downtown Glendale
Scottsdale ·
Diversified Partners broke ground Sept. 29 on The Lakefront at Scottsdale, a roughly 100,000-square-foot redo of the 1978 lakeside center off McCormick Parkway, east of Scottsdale Road, AZ Big Media reports. SUSHISAMBA, V Modern Italian (opening 2027) and La La Land are signed, and plans include a small marina with Duffy boat rentals, waterfront dining and public gathering areas. Demolition starts in early October, with major construction in early 2027.
Source: AZ Big Media
Scottsdale ·
Los Milics Vineyards, the Arizona winery led by winemaker and FnB co-owner Pavle Milic, has opened its expanded tasting room on the southwest corner of Marshall Way and Third Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale, Phoenix New Times reports. The 2,800-square-foot space adds two street-facing patios, a private dining area and triple the seating of the original, plus a kitchen, so the wines now come with food such as hand-pulled mozzarella.
Source: Phoenix New Times
Chandler ·
La Popular Cocina Mexicana, known for Mexico City-inspired dishes like ribeye tacos, ahi tuna tostadas and chicken mole poblano, plans to open at Chandler Fashion Center in fall 2027, KTAR reports. Din Tai Fung and Wagyu House are also opening at the mall in 2027.
Source: KTAR News
Florence ·
Megan Moroney will headline the final night, Sunday, April 11, of Country Thunder Arizona 2027, running April 8 to 11 at AZ Talio Ranch east of Florence, PinalCentral reports. She is the first headliner announced for the four-day festival. Tickets and festival details are at countrythunder.com/az.
Source: PinalCentral
Maricopa ·
More than 100 Z sports cars drove through Maricopa on Saturday, Sept. 26, to Nissan's Arizona Testing Center for ZCON 2026, the international Z-car convention, InMaricopa reports. Clubs from across the country and abroad ran autocross, held a car show and took parade laps on the proving grounds' oval. "It was pretty cool seeing that many Z's come through our community," a Nissan engineer told InMaricopa.
Source: InMaricopa
Mesa ·
Family-owned King Coffee is moving from Tempe to 1620 W. University Drive, Suite 3, in Mesa, What Now Phoenix reports, aiming to finish the move by the end of 2026. The new cafe adds a full kitchen, house-made pastries and breads, nitro cold brew and weekend brunch, with flavors from the owners' Filipino-American and Mexican heritage. The Tempe shop stays open during construction.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Peoria ·
The 2026 Cactus League season drew 1,753,849 visitors across 237 games and added $495.8 million to Arizona's GDP, the highest figures since measurement began more than 20 years ago, according to an ASU Seidman Research Institute study reported by AZ Big Media. It was the fifth straight season of attendance growth across the Valley's 10 ballparks.
Source: AZ Big Media
Phoenix ·
Square One Concepts, the group behind Bourbon & Bones, plans Bistecca & Bones, an Italian chophouse at High Street at City North near 56th Street and Deer Valley Drive, KTAR reports. The signature is a 40-ounce Bistecca Florentina served flaming and sliced tableside, alongside house-made pastas, a 700-square-foot patio and a 100-guest private dining room. Opening is planned for spring 2027.
Source: KTAR News
Phoenix ·
American Airlines will be the primary carrier for Phoenix Sky Harbor's new West Terminal, the airport's first new terminal since Terminal 4 opened in 1990, AZ Big Media reports. Construction could begin in late 2029 with an opening in late 2033, adding room for more wide-body aircraft and new premium spaces. Gate count and design are still being determined, and no local tax dollars will be used.
Source: AZ Big Media
San Tan Valley ·
EoS Fitness opens Wednesday, Sept. 30, at Skyline Ranch Marketplace, the northeast corner of Hunt Highway and Gary Road, according to SanTanValley.com's What's Building tracker (updated Sept. 24). Einstein Bros. Bagels is listed to open the same day in the same center.
Source: SanTanValley.com
Surprise ·
CAVA opens Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 23350 N. 163rd Ave., Suite 120, What Now Phoenix reports, serving Mediterranean bowls, pitas, dips and dressings from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A Community Day event offers free meals, with CAVA matching donations up to $1,000 for St. Mary's Food Bank. The restaurant will employ 25 to 40 local staff.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Tempe ·
Russo's New York Pizzeria is now open at 521 S. College Ave., its second Arizona location, What Now Phoenix reports. Local franchisees Kristina and Christian Alvarez serve giant New York slices, a 28-inch Giant Party Pizza, fresh pasta, chicken parmesan and Italian sandwiches. The dough ferments for 24 hours and the kitchen cooks with no seed oils.
Source: What Now Phoenix
Goodyear ·
The Pumpkin Patch on 303, 16721 W. Indian School Road, lists its 2026 season as Oct. 16 to 31, open 2 to 8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 8 p.m. weekends. Parking and admission are free, and pumpkins run $1 to $50 while supplies last, per the patch.
Source: Pumpkin Patch on 303
Maricopa ·
The Taco Spot opens softly at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at 44600 W. Smith-Enke Road, Suite 101, InMaricopa reports. Birria is the signature. Hours run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Owner Emmanuel Flores told InMaricopa he expects a grand opening in about a month with giveaways and prizes.
Source: InMaricopa
Peoria ·
Peoria's Pumpkin Patch at 7717 W. Thunderbird Road runs Oct. 13 to 31, according to Raising Arizona Kids' 2026 pumpkin patch guide. The Peoria Church of the Nazarene fills the patch with pumpkins through the second half of October, along with fall events.
Source: Raising Arizona KidsPhoenix ·
Harvest Nights at DH Farms, 2209 N. 99th Ave., runs Sept. 30 to Nov. 1, Wednesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. The farm lists a 7.5-acre scarecrow maze, an illuminated pumpkin trail, a pumpkin patch, a kids' straw bale maze, Highland cows and a fall market. Tickets are $25 plus tax, kids under 2 are free, and parking is free, per DH Farms.
Source: DH FarmsPhoenix ·
Durant's, which opened in 1950, made The New York Times' 2026 Restaurant List of its 50 favorite restaurants in the United States, and it was the only Arizona restaurant on the list, KTAR reports.
Source: KTAR
Tempe ·
Living Faith Pumpkin Patch, 1945 E. Guadalupe Road, runs Oct. 21 to 31 and is free, with a scavenger hunt and yard games, according to Raising Arizona Kids' 2026 pumpkin patch guide.
Source: Raising Arizona Kids
