KTAR reports Diversified Partners is developing Destination at Gateway, 163 acres at the State Route 24 interchange at Signal Butte Road in southeast Mesa. The plan pairs a Walmart-anchored power center with 24 Auto Row, about 80 acres split into eight parcels. Named tenants so far include 7 Brew, Taco Bell, Take 5 Oil Change, Zara Nail Bar and PAC Dental. Site work west of Signal Butte was expected to wrap in the third quarter of 2026.
Salt River Tubing lists a tube rental with shuttle at $28, launching from 9200 North Bush Highway in Mesa. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. The company puts the last day of the 2026 season at the end of September and notes it is subject to change, so the next few weekends are the window.
Source: Salt River TubingScarpetta on the Green venue photography from the opening coverage. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Same owners, same kitchen, new name. David and Stefany Pope have rebranded Pizzicata at Painted Mountain Golf Resort, 6210 E. McKellips Rd., as Scarpetta on the Green. The name comes from fare la scarpetta, the Italian habit of mopping up the last of the sauce with bread. The menu keeps the house-made pasta, dough, sauces and desserts, Roman-style pinsa and Neapolitan pizza, breakfast, cocktails and the golf course view. The Carefree and Glendale shops keep the Pizzicata name.
The family-run coffee shop is relocating from inside a Gilbert flower shop to 1134 S. Stapley Dr., Suite 105, in Mesa. Owners Brandy and Brianna Grice have to be out of the Gilbert space by Sept. 15 and say "more updates are coming," with no opening date announced yet. Customers helped the family hunt for the new spot. A second Gilbert location on Chandler Heights Road is still expected by mid-January 2027.
Source: What Now PhoenixDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Japanese Film Festival Arizona 2026 is listed for Friday, Sept. 18 starting at 1 p.m. at the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa. It is the only Japanese film festival in the state and runs out of the MIX Center's screening rooms on Centennial Way.
Source: EventbriteDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The Mesa events calendar lists A.J. Croce's Croce Plays Croce on Sept. 16, Leslie Jones on Sept. 19, My Hero Academia in Concert on Sept. 27 and Ghostbusters in Concert with a live orchestra on Sept. 30, all at Mesa Arts Center. Chris Tomlin is listed at Mesa Amphitheatre on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. with free admission. Confirm at the venue before you go.
Source: Best in MesaKrazy Cajun Seafood & Hibachi brand food photography; the planned storefront is not pictured. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Krazy Cajun Seafood & Hibachi is taking a space at Superstition Springs Center, 6555 E. Southern Ave., Suite B44. It will be the concept's third Arizona location, joining restaurants in Phoenix and Tempe. The menu spans hibachi chicken, steak and shrimp plus Cajun-style seafood. An opening date has not yet been announced.
Source: What Now PhoenixDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Boeing is planning a 267,761 square foot fabrication center on 38 vacant acres north of McDowell Road and east of Greenfield Road, building carbon parts for Apache AH-64E helicopters. It would run 130 workers per shift, two shifts a day, up to 500 employees across both buildings. Mesa's Design Review Board signed off in a study session; the Planning and Zoning Board has final approval.
Source: Queen Creek TribuneExisting brand location photograph; the planned location in this story is not pictured. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Angie's named Alma School Road and Guadalupe Road, plus Crismon Road and Southern Avenue, among nine new Arizona restaurants. The fast-food chain serves salads, warm bowls, burritos, burgers, fried chicken, seafood and breakfast, with chicken, steak, salmon, shrimp or falafel. The company said it hopes to open the first three within six weeks and the rest by the end of the year; it has not said which three.
Source: What Now PhoenixDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream held its grand opening Thursday, Aug. 13 at Medina Station, 1361 S. Signal Butte Road. The 1,400 square foot walk-up scoop shop serves 48 rotating flavors and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The first 100 guests in line were given prizes including free ice cream for a year and free pints for a year.
Source: Handel's press releaseDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Gathering of the Ghouls runs Aug. 22-23 at the Mesa Convention Center with 13 celebrity guests, 100-plus horror vendors, panels, cosplay and HorrorBILLY contests, and a haunted house walkthrough included with admission. Vendor booths are sold out. Tickets are online and prices go up at the door.
Source: Gathering of the GhoulsSite-area photograph from the Medina Station coverage; not a depiction of all completed project phases. Image source: ABC15
Medina Station is a 64-acre mixed-use project at Signal Butte and US 60 that broke ground in spring 2025, anchored by Target and a two-story Dick's Sporting Goods. The tenant list also includes Boot Barn, Five Guys, CAVA, Mission BBQ, Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers and OHSO Brewery, opening in phases.
Source: ABC15Arizona Churn Culture product photography; the store interior is not pictured. Image source: What Now Phoenix
Arizona Churn Culture is opening at 1235 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 12, in late August or early September. Founders Bill and Melissa Prystash will sell grass-fed handcrafted butter in glass jars and host butter-making classes and private tastings.
Source: What Now PhoenixDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The Mesa International Film Festival takes over the Mesa Convention Center and other venues from August 12 to 16. Gathering of the Ghouls follows at the convention center on August 22 and 23.
Source: KTARDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The City of Mesa's July 2026 economic report tracks EastMarket, a new shopping center in east Mesa anchored by a Sprouts Farmers Market. No opening date has been published.
Source: Select MesaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The City of Mesa's July 2026 economic report tracks a 37-acre surf park development taking shape in the city. No opening date, developer or site details have been published in that report.
Source: Select MesaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Mesa's July retail review lists Unscripted by Hyatt at The 233 Suites as newly opened downtown, bringing Crust, Bombolino and the Nightingale Speakeasy with it. Blue Corn Cafe, Twisterz and Mesa Padel Club are also recent downtown additions. Pinnacle Brewing and Main Street Market are described as on the horizon, along with an AC Hotel, the 423-unit Edge on Main and a proposed Culdesac development of roughly 1,000 residential units.
Source: Select MesaAmped Fitness brand photography; not a confirmation that the announced Mesa club has opened. Image source: PR Newswire
Amped Fitness announced a 54,000-square-foot location at 445 N. Stapley Dr in Mesa, which the brand says will be its largest to date. The plan includes recovery facilities with cold plunges and infrared saunas, a women-only training space, a tactical training zone, Pilates, body scanning, personal training and a kids club. The company said the official opening date would be announced later, and no date has been published.
Source: PR NewswireDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Gather Mercantile turns its downtown Mesa shop over to fall on Saturday, August 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 166 W Main St. The free Haunting at Gather Mercantile open house brings out autumn decor, heirloom pumpkins, Halloween finds and seasonal gifts, and doubles as the shop's fifth anniversary. The first 25 visitors receive complimentary gifts, and raffles run throughout the day.
Source: Downtown MesaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The Mesa events calendar lists Art After Dark, a run of extended-hours museum programs at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., from Aug. 14 through Aug. 20. The same calendar has a ribbon cutting for BRKTHROUGH on Aug. 4 from 3 to 4 p.m., and Roger Daltrey's A Great Night Out at the Ikeda Theater on Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Best in MesaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
The Mesa events calendar lists a Handel's Ice Cream ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 3 to 4 p.m., with a second Handel's ribbon cutting listed for Aug. 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. Handel's is known for ice cream made fresh in store.
Source: Best in MesaDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
"Destination at Gateway" is advancing at the State Route 24 interchange at Signal Butte Road, bringing an auto mall and retail center to the area. Site work is expected to wrap by the third quarter of 2026.
The Sichuan hot pot chain is among the new restaurants anticipated at Mekong Plaza's expansion, joining the wave of Asian dining names that have already turned the plaza into one of Mesa's biggest food destinations.
Source: Phoenix New TimesDowntown Mesa. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Ixnayonthetimmay · CC BY 3.0
Snowy Village Dessert Cafe is bringing bingsoo, towering shaved milk ice piled with fresh fruit, to Mekong Plaza's 32,000 sq ft expansion, alongside newcomers Meet Fresh (Taiwanese boba, its 2nd AZ location), ANH Vietnamese, bb.q Chicken and more.
