Pacific Hospitality Group detailed the food-and-beverage lineup for the new downtown hotel: Sartén Kitchen & Bar, Nidos Rooftop Bar and Blend Café. The hotel is scheduled to open Sept. 16.
A planned Pier 88 Boiling Seafood & Bar surfaced for the former Village Inn at 4040 E. Bell Rd. A new restaurant liquor-license application was listed; no opening date was announced.
Status:Planned location; no opening date announced.
Operator:Pier 88 Boiling Seafood & Bar LLC
People:Xiong Feng Chiu (Owner / LLC member; liquor-application owner of record for the Bell Road site)
Phoenix considered an ownership-and-location transfer of a Series 7 license. Staff reported that La Chona planned to open at this address in September 2026, making this a planned-opening/license-transfer milestone rather than a generic owner change.
Status:Planned September 2026 opening; license-transfer consideration recorded.
Context:Liquor applicant: La Chona Sports Bar LLC.
Scottsdale · 8700 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 115
Scottsdale approved the liquor application Aug. 24 for Alma's incoming location at the former Preston's Steakhouse space. Public reporting had already identified Soul Hospitality's relocation and an expected October opening.
Status:Incoming concept; expected October opening.
Scottsdale approved the liquor application Aug. 24 for Drake's Hollywood at the former Buca di Beppo location. The incoming concept had been publicly announced before the reporting week.
Opened Aug. 24 inside Green New American Vegetarian in Tempe as a dedicated vegan deli concept serving house-made plant-based deli meats and sandwiches.
Status:Open as reported during August 24-30, 2026.
The family-owned Colorado healthy-eatery concept made its Arizona debut near ASU in Tempe. The Aug. 25 report confirmed the Mill Avenue location was operating.
Status:Open as reported during August 24-30, 2026.
Phoenix considered an acquisition-of-control filing Aug. 26. An earlier interim-permit record indicates control paperwork was already active before the reporting week.
Status:Operating impact unverified; a fresh day-to-day operator change was not established.
Context:El Dorado 2026 LLC was named as owner in the related February 2026 transfer packet; the Aug. 26 acquisition-of-control filing did not republish an owner LLC.
Scottsdale approved a new Series 12 application at the existing location with a new owner. A restaurant-sale listing provides address-level context, but it does not prove that Vilvas changed day-to-day operators in the reporting week.
Status:Operating impact unverified; the sale listing does not establish a same-week operator change.
Bottle & Bean has a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license application before the City of Chandler. City comments were due Aug. 31 and state testimony was due Sept. 15.
Status:Application pending; city comments due Aug. 31 and state testimony due Sept. 15.
Mesa published a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license request for Aug. 31 council consideration. The source file says the address did not previously have a liquor license.
Status:Request published for Aug. 31 council consideration.
Mesa published a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license request for Aug. 31 council consideration. The source file says the address did not previously have a liquor license.
Status:Request published for Aug. 31 council consideration.
Context:Liquor applicant: Saboten LLC. The restaurant describes itself as a sister restaurant of Ramen Kagawa in Phoenix.
Mesa published a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license request for Aug. 31 council consideration. The source file says the address did not previously have a liquor license.
Status:Request published for Aug. 31 council consideration.
Mesa published a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license request for Aug. 31 council consideration. The source file says the address did not previously have a liquor license.
Status:Request published for Aug. 31 council consideration.
Mesa published a Series 12 restaurant liquor-license request for Aug. 31 council consideration. The source file says the address did not previously have a liquor license.
Status:Request published for Aug. 31 council consideration.
Phoenix council considered a new Series 12 restaurant liquor license for a location not previously licensed. Staff recommended approval; final minutes were not yet posted in the source file.
Status:Staff recommended approval; final council outcome unconfirmed.
Phoenix council considered a new Series 12 restaurant liquor license for a location not previously licensed. Staff recommended approval; final minutes were not yet posted in the source file.
Status:Staff recommended approval; final council outcome unconfirmed.
Phoenix council considered a new Series 7 beer-and-wine bar license at a location already licensed as a Series 12 restaurant. Staff recommended approval.
Status:Staff recommended approval; location already held a Series 12 license.
Phoenix council considered a new Series 11 hotel liquor license for a location not previously licensed. Staff recommended approval; final minutes were not yet posted in the source file.
Status:Staff recommended approval; final council outcome unconfirmed.
Phoenix council considered a new Series 12 restaurant liquor license for a location not previously licensed. Staff recommended approval; final minutes were not yet posted in the source file.
Status:Staff recommended approval; final council outcome unconfirmed.
Context:Liquor applicant: Sushi and Mariscos Bella Vista LLC. The brand also operates a Cave Creek Road location.
The Aug. 26 inspection roundup reported four violations: bare-hand food contact, raw salmon stored above ready-to-eat imitation crab, improper dishwasher sanitizer and raw shrimp held too warm.
County inspection found cockroach activity as a repeat finding and required a reinspection. The source file lists zero priority violations but flags the recurring pest condition.
Maricopa County recorded a Food Immediate Suspension on Aug. 24. A routine inspection the same day listed two priority violations, and a reinspection was completed that day.
Status:Immediate suspension recorded Aug. 24; same-day reinspection completed. Reinstatement unconfirmed.
The location appeared on the Aug. 26 perfect-score list one week after an Aug. 20 roundup reported three violations. The source does not label the later visit a formal reinspection.
Status:Perfect-score listing reported; later visit not identified as a formal reinspection.
The Aug. 26 inspection roundup reported four violations involving handwashing after raw chicken, raw-chicken storage, dishwasher sanitizer and feta held too warm.
The South Phoenix restaurant, closed since a 2024 kitchen fire, was reported in active reconstruction and targeting an October reopening. New sheetrock, power upgrades, restrooms and parking work were in place.
Status:Active reconstruction; targeting an October reopening.
Project:New sheetrock, power upgrades, restrooms and parking work were in place.
The central Phoenix bakery and charcuterie shop closed permanently beginning Aug. 26. The owners said they were stepping back to focus on their mental health and would refund existing orders.
The Tempe bar closed after owner Charles Marthaler died Aug. 18. Its manager told The Arizona Republic it would most likely remain closed; no successor was announced.
Status:Closed; future status uncertain and no successor announced.
A Mesa liquor ownership-transfer filing followed the 2026 sale of Longbow. Thompson Golf Management remained under a multiyear agreement to continue operations, including foodservice.
Status:On-site operator continues under a multiyear management agreement.
Operator:Thompson Golf Management (continuing on-site operator); WG Longbow LLC / Walden Group (new owner)
People:Ryan Thompson (CEO, Thompson Golf Group / Thompson Golf Management); Steven Schorr (Founder / principal, The Walden Group)
Phoenix considered an acquisition-of-control filing Aug. 26. The sale to the Mastro / Prime Steak Concepts group occurred in February 2025, and Durant's reopened under that ownership in December 2025.
Status:Prior operating change; the August filing is later control paperwork.
Operator:Prime Steak Concepts
People:Jeff Mastro and Mike Mastro (Owners, Prime Steak Concepts)
Ownership / Control - Scottsdale approved a liquor ownership/location transfer. Marketplace Café continued operating as Nordstrom foodservice; the filing may reflect a broader corporate/control transaction.
Status:Café operator continues; fresh local operator turnover not established.
Inspection - An independent Aug. 26 inspection was reported for the café.
Status:Inspection reported as a separate operating signal.