Buck &Rider set to be ‘cornerstone’ of lineup at Gilbert’s Epicenter

PHOENIX – Buck &Rider is the latest addition to the lineup of the ambitious Epicenter at Agritopia mixed-used development under construction in Gilbert.

Joe Johnston, president and founder of Epicenter developer Johnston & Co., called Buck &Rider “the cornerstone” of a plan to bring some of Arizona’s top operators together at the northwest corner of Higley and Ray roads.

“At Johnston & Co. we have worked for over a decade to foster relationships with many of them with the goal of collecting them in one place where their collective talents may shine. … Certainly Buck &Rider is the cornerstone in the plan, bringing passion, craft and joy to the community,” he said in a press release.

The Gilbert Buck &Rider, which will have a 6,800-square-foot interior dining area and a 4,000-square-foot patio and bar, brings the brand’s total of existing or planned restaurants to three. LGO Hospitality (Chelsea’s Kitchen, La Grande Orange, Ingo’s Tasty Food) opened the Phoenix original on Camelback Road in Arcadia in 2015, and another is in the works for north Scottsdale.

The purveyor of angus beef and fresh seafood is one of several established metro Phoenix restaurant concepts lined up for Epicenter, including Spinato’s Pizzeria and Family Kitchen, Matt’s Big Breakfast, Belly Kitchen & Bar and Gadzooks.

In addition to a variety of dining, drinking, wellness and retail establishments, a residential section called The Tyler with 320 apartments is being built above the businesses.

Epicenter is adjacent to the existing Agritopia urban farm community’s homes and businesses, including Joe’s Farm Grill and Barnone.

A related project, a convenience store with a twist called Air Guitar, opened earlier this month next to the Epicenter development.

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