Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR) added three new retailers at The Mercado at Scottsdale Ranch on East Via Linda and Mountain View Road in Scottsdale: Crave Grounds, Lee’s Martial Arts and Hearing USA.
Additionally, a change in ownership of two established restaurants, The Egg I Am and Violá! French Bistro – as well as menu expansion for Piccolo Family Italian Ice – means even more dining options for visitors.
“Our mission is to be the neighborhood coffee and donut shop, building relationships while providing locally-roasted gourmet coffees with hot and fresh made-to-order mini donuts,” said Crave Grounds Owner James Murphy.
“Little Donuts, Big Coffee” is the motto of Crave Grounds. The shop will offer made-to-order mini cake donuts customers can custom order and watch as they are baked to perfection. Among the specialties are apple pie and s’more toppings. There will be casual, conversational seating available in the 700-square-foot space.
Murphy, who has lived in The Mercado area for years, said he’s thrilled to open shop in the popular shopping center.
“I considered 70 different locations for Crave Donuts,” he said. “But I really like the look and feel of this neighborhood-centric shopping center.”
Lee’s Martial Arts owner Tony Landren also chose The Mercado to open his studio. Martial Arts enthusiasts can find some of the best martial artists in the United States teaching here. Lee’s is the premier provider of karate, taekwondo and martial arts in the Phoenix area. The studio at The Mercado is an approximately 2,200-square-foot space.
Another new retailer, Hearing USA, is dedicated to providing its customers with a lifetime of better hearing by offering first-class care and world-class technology in a 1,200 square-foot-space. Locals and winter visitors can choose from a broad range of hearing enhancement products and accessories including hearing aids, specialty telephone amplifiers, alerting and signaling systems and more.
New owners Sean Anderson and Annette Ruden are serving up more early-morning delights at The Egg I Am. The restaurant prepares delicious omelettes, scrambles, frittatas and sweet indulgences sure to satisfy any diner. The Egg I Am is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
At Violá! French Bistro, new owner Jean Gross provides diners countless choices of mouthwatering mussels, salmon quiche or other French lunch and dinner specialties. Guests can complete their meal with an unforgettable Crème brûlée, vanilla raspberry soufflé, or other indulgent French dessert.
Piccolo Family Italian Ice expanded its menu to include a variety of sandwiches on freshly baked bread and Brooklyn style pizza baked daily. Great for fast casual dining, Piccolo has become a neighborhood favorite with its famous “Slices and Ices for $5.” A Friday night tradition for them in New York, the Piccolo family is happy to share it with their new Scottsdale Ranch neighbors.
Additionally, Whitestone REIT is continuing to invest in The Mercado with property enhancements including fresh paint and exterior aesthetic updates, as well as new exterior Center signage in time for the busy holiday shopping season. New tenants, expanded offerings and property updates further increase the appeal of the Scottsdale Shopping destination.
“We’ll continue investing in property improvements that retain the Mercado’s historic charm and add new retailers and restaurants that meet the distinct needs of Scottsdale Ranch, to remain a go-to destination for this tightly-knit community,” said Daniel Kovacevic, Whitestone REIT Regional Vice President, Southwest Region.
