Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill, the restaurant concept that opened its first Arizona restaurant at Tempe Marketplace in 2011, announced its expansion in metro Phoenix with a third location set to open at SanTan Village in Gilbert. Slated for a March 2016 opening, the SanTan location will be located at 2218 E. Williams Field Rd #235.

With a prime location, Thirsty Lion will be joining SanTan Village’s, open-air, super regional lifestyle mall-center in Gilbert that spans more than a million square feet. SanTan Village offers retail, restaurants, entertainment, office space, residential and hotel uses.

“We feel that Thirsty Lion is moving into this exciting neighborhood at just the right time,” said Thirsty Lion CEO John Plew. “We’ve experienced enormous success with our first two Arizona locations and we think SanTan Village offers similar opportunities for success.”

Since opening in fall of 2011, Thirsty Lion’s Arizona restaurants have quickly become one of the company’s most successful spots, which includes six existing locations across Oregon, Arizona, and Colorado. In addition to Gilbert, openings in Denver and Dallas have also been announced for 2016 and 2017.

Thirsty Lion’s culinary commitment is to provide an eclectic variety of cuisines, with an emphasis on local ingredients and bold flavors. A seasonal fresh sheet will focus on the changing season’s offerings, featuring unique ingredients including fresh seafood, quality meats and local vegetables and fruits. At each location, the bar features a large selection of craft beers on tap, many of which are local to the city, offering a beer on hand for every plate and every palate. The gastropub also features unique craft cocktails that utilize combinations of fresh fruit purees, juices and premium liquors, as well as 25 different wines by the glass.