Air Guitar, a new kind of convenience store, opens in Gilbert

PHOENIX – An eclectic riff on the traditional grab-and-go corner store is now open in the East Valley.

Air Guitar made its debut Thursday at the northwest corner of Higley and Ray roads, next to the Epicenter at Agritopia project in Gilbert.

In addition to typical convenience store staples such as sodas and slushies, Air Guitar turns up the volume with what it calls “life’s little luxuries” — craft beers, a premium coffee bar and a diverse menu of to-go meals.

Gilbert business icon Joe Johnston, whose name adorns Joe’s Real BBQ and Joe’s Farm Grill and who masterminded the farm-centric Agritopia community, teamed with Craig and Kris DeMarco, co-founders of Upward Projects (Postino, Joyride Taco House and more), and Eric and Elissa Seitz of Bro Retail Group to create the new corner store concept.

Air Guitar was developed separately from but parallel with Johnston’s ambitious Epicenter at Agritopia mixed-use project, according to a January Facebook post.

“Craig and Eric bat 1.000 when it comes to real estate selection, concept development and hospitality execution, and their vision to disrupt the staid segment of convenience stores will have far-reaching effects,” Johnston said in the post.

“We couldn’t be happier to have Air Guitar anchor one of the most significant intersection transformations in the state.”

Air Guitar is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

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