Air Guitar, Gilbert innovative convenience store, adds new sandwich shop

Air Guitar, an upscale Gilbert convenience store, is adding a new sandwich shop to its unique array of offerings.

Apr 8, 2025, 4:30 AM Updated: 11:34 am

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PHOENIX — Air Guitar, an upscale Gilbert convenience store is adding a new sandwich shop to its unique array of offerings.

The venue is debuting Backstage Kitchen, which will serve up toasted sandwiches, fresh salads, beer and wine. Another eclectic menu item called croffles will be served, which is a croissant made in a waffle iron.

Air Guitar is located on the corner of Higley and Ray roads and is at the middle of Gilbert’s well-known Agritopia neighborhood.

Air Guitar opened its doors in 2022, the owners aimed to create a different type of convenience store combining a coffee shop, dining place and a community hub all rolled into one. Some of the items Air Guitar sells include groceries, pizza slices, fresh sushi, flowers, beer and wine, skateboards and quirky gifts.

Craig and Kris DeMarco, co-founders of Upward Projects and Eric and Elissa Seitz of Bro Retail Group banded together to create the new concept convenience store.

Details on Gilbert Air Guitar’s new sandwich spot

Backstage Kitchen’s other menu items include:

Gilbert Grinder; a salami, ham, turkey sub-sandwich.
AC Caprese with mozzarella, tomato, basil pesto, and balsamic.
Buttermilk Greens Salad, which includes apples, cheddar, walnuts and buttermilk dressing.
Smoothie options including strawberry-banana, chocolate-nut-butter, super greens with pineapple, banana and honey and tropical dragonfruit.
Bagelfelds bagels and Bad Hambres burritos.

The new sandwich shop will have half-priced sandwiches on Mondays.

Customers can also grab a cup of Joe from Steadfast Coffee bar inside of Air Guitar. The coffee spot was an addition to Steadfast Farm, a 2-acre Mesa market farm in Mesa and expanded to Gilbert.