Crust Simply Italian has been busy behind the scenes this spring, sliding into Peoria with a new dining room while finally moving its long-stalled downtown Mesa location toward the finish line. The locally grown Italian brand says more openings are on deck as it rides the wave of mixed-use projects reshaping the West Valley and downtown Mesa.
The company opened its fourth Valley location in March at The Trailhead, on the northeast corner of Happy Valley Road and 83rd Avenue. It is Crust's first West Valley restaurant, adding to full-service Crust Simply Italian spots already operating in Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert. More growth is expected this year, according to the Phoenix Business Journal.
Long-delayed Mesa Project Back On Track
Crust's planned Mesa opening is tied to The GRID, a downtown mixed-use project that hit the brakes after its original developer ran into financial trouble. A U.S. bankruptcy trustee and new developer SolTrust stepped in last year to sort out liens and restart construction, clearing the way for street-level leasing. Plans call for a ground-floor Crust Simply Italian and an adjoining speakeasy at 240 E. Main Street, as reported by Orion Investment Real Estate.
What This Means For Local Diners
The company site and local coverage confirm the Peoria opening and report that the Mesa location is nearing completion, with both sites set to pair a full-service restaurant with a bird-themed speakeasy. The approach fits a broader pattern in the Valley: developers are finishing mixed-use projects that need restaurant anchors on the ground floor, and operators are signing on to tap into those built-in neighborhoods. Company materials spell out the Peoria menu and speakeasy concept, as detailed by Crust Concepts and local reporting from What Now Phoenix.
Mesa council records also show a liquor-license application for Crust Mesa LLC at 233 East Main Street Suite 105, a formal step toward opening that gives the company a clearer regulatory path forward. Taken together with company announcements and a still-tight market for ground-floor retail spots, the Peoria and Mesa moves are the latest signal that Valley restaurants see room to keep expanding through 2026, per City of Mesa council records and industry reporting.
