Entertainment, retail coming to Gilbert
Gilbert's booming downtown Heritage District is proving it's more than just a foodies' paradise by bringing in new options for shopping, live entertainment and more.
The town awarded two new projects to local development company MD Heritage this month. The first will bring a 12,000-square-foot venue north of Hale Centre Theatre that could feature a restaurant, brewery, live entertainment and a "new-age local bowling alley," according to the proposal.
The company also plans to construct an urban market reminiscent of the Union at the Biltmore Fashion Park in the space between Oregano's Pizza Bistro and Snooze Eatery on Gilbert Road. The proposal calls for a "specially selected group of local and accomplished vendors."
"I think there's a demand for small businesses in that market that are not just food related," said David Sellers, the managing member of MD Heritage.
Heritage District turning Gilbert into attraction
Sellers said tenants have not yet been selected for the venues, but he has already seen interest in the entertainment space from multiple companies.
Gilbert's economic development director, Dan Henderson, said the projects will bring "much-needed" retail to the area.
"As we refer to the area as the community living room, we think retail is something that complements the district," Henderson said.
Both sites are currently used as parking lots, but Henderson said the areas were always intended for future development. The Request for Proposals did not specify whether Gilbert will sell or lease the land to MD Heritage, which leaves room for the town to negotiate, he said.
MD Heritage is responsible for other projects in the Heritage District including Heritage Marketplace, which houses Lolo's Chicken and Waffles, Pomo Pizzeria, Zin Burger and Barrio Queen.
Sellers said he believes these projects will build upon the success and synergy that his company has already seen in the district. He said the "beautiful" street design coupled with premiere demographics keep his company coming back.
"It's one of the only places in Arizona ... that has retail and/or commercial development that's also trying to integrate in its heritage," Sellers said.
Sellers said as the district continues to grow, it's important that developers continue offering unique options to consumers.
"Everything we've done out there so far has been successful and what we're trying to do now is not overbuild any particular kind of product," Sellers said. "By delivering small-incubator retail and a more entertainment-base ... it's just trying to bring a different group of uses down there."
The town of Gilbert is the largest landowner in the Heritage District. Much of that land is currently used for free surface-level parking, but the town plans to continue seeking the best uses of that land as the district grows, Henderson said.