One of Arcadia's most recognizable corners is getting a spicy makeover. Poolhouse Group, the hospitality team behind Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, is swapping out enchiladas for tacos at 40th Street and Camelback, turning the former Gadzooks into a permanent home for its pop-up hit, Poolboy Taco. The counter-service restaurant will lean into its festival-tested signature taco, a salsa bar and a cocktail lineup built for patio hangs.
In a news release shared with ABC15, Poolhouse Group said the standalone spot will cover just over 2,100 square feet and seat about 50 guests. The release highlights the namesake Poolboy Taco, built with roasted tomatillo chicken, sweet and spicy cornbread, honey vinaigrette slaw, jalapeño ranch and cotija. Enchiladas, burritos, rotating cakes and frozen cocktails are also on deck, with co-owner Aaron Pool describing the concept as easy, fun and priced so that, in his words, "the prices just work."
From Pop-Up To Brick And Mortar
Poolboy started life in shipping-container pop-ups and on the festival circuit, including local events and a run at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, where crowds and praise helped convince the team the taco idea could stand on its own. Phoenix New Times reported that the owners shut down the Arcadia Gadzooks after service on Nov. 8, 2025 so they could convert the space to Poolboy, with staff reassigned to other locations in the group during the remodel. The move gives the Pools a single, design-forward home base for the taco project while they tighten up their overall restaurant footprint.
Menu And Design
Local coverage sketches a dining room that feels part retro diner, part pool cabana, with terrazzo floors, red vinyl banquettes, pastel neon and a cabana-style patio tucked behind hedges to encourage guests to linger. Arizona Foothills and other reporting note that the menu will lean on a 50/50 corn-and-flour tortilla, a rotating Taco of the Month feature and a salsa bar stocked with multiple house salsas, plus sweets that include carrot cake. The setup is designed to keep ordering straightforward and wallet-friendly while still delivering a room that begs for photos.
Neighborhood Impact And Price Point
The Pools are positioning Poolboy as a value-focused neighborhood option, aiming to keep a full meal around the 10 dollar mark, a price point they say complements, rather than replaces, the broader Gadzooks brand. ABC15 published the company release outlining menu details and layout plans, and Phoenix New Times has reported that the Pools have closed some other outposts as they consolidate operations around select concepts. For Arcadia residents, that means the same busy corner, but with a fresh look and a taco-centric menu.
When To Expect Updates
Earlier local reporting pointed to a December target for the Arcadia conversion, though the Pools and their team are now steering all timeline and event news through official channels. The Poolboy site invites fans to sign up for build updates, merchandise drops and event invitations, and lists contact information for the project on its homepage. For the latest schedule and the official word on opening day, Poolhouse is directing people to check poolboytaco.com.
