Downtown Gilbert gets sushi, craft beer, more cool restaurants

At least three more Valley restaurants are expanding in the Gilbert suburbs.

And the town will get another outpost of Gilbert's showpiece brewery, Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.

Sushi Brokers, Clever Koi and Farm + Craft will open in the next phase of Heritage Marketplace, town officials announced via a Periscope broadcast Wednesday afternoon.

The second phase will be near Gilbert Road and Vaughn Avenue, by Barrio Queen, Zinburger, Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles and Pomo Pizzeria, which are part of the first phase of the project.

Phase 2 features more than 30,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and office space divided between two buildings. Construction is expected to continue for at least three months before the restaurants can set target opening dates, said planning manager Linda Edwards. Tuft and Needle, a mattress maker, also will have a space in the complex.

Sushi Brokers is a sushi restaurant in Arcadia; Clever Koi is an Asian-inspired gastropub in central Phoenix; and Farm & Craft is a healthful restaurant from Riot Hospitality Group (El Hefe, Whiskey Row) that will soon open in Scottsdale.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. was announced as the tenant of a rooftop bar at 313 N. Gilbert Road, just north of Bergies Coffee Roast House.

“We like to call (downtown) our community living room,” said Amanda Elliott, spokeswoman with Gilbert's office of economic development. “We like to say it’s a 30-year overnight success.”