The Mesa brewery and its pizza sibling finally have a date for their Mill Avenue outpost: Oct. 8, with a soft opening the week before, at 525 S. Mill Ave. in the former Illegal Pete's space. Plans call for 20 taps of Phantom Fox beer next to Goat and Ram's wood-fired pizzas, wings and loaded fries, with room for more than 200 people indoors and out. Co-owner Trent Smith on the move: "We think Tempe is going to be a great spot for us."
This brief records the information reported on Aug 20, 2026. Opening dates and operating details may have changed.
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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 TimesRusso's New York Pizzeria publicity photograph accompanying the opening announcement. Image source: What Now Phoenix
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 PhoenixThe Tempe skyline. Area context photograph; the business or event in this story is not pictured. Photo: Siphonophora · CC BY-SA 4.0
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.
