After an absence of about five years, Kona Grill is to reopen in Desert Ridge. Initially opened nearby in 2008 in what was then called City North, Kona Grill occupied a site on the far west end of High Street for over a decade but the store struggled through the post recession period, and closed in early 2019. The building is now home to Nori Sushi. Kona Grill now looks to return to the area by opening in Desert Ridge Mall, currently remodeling the building once occupied by Romano’s Macaroni Grill.
Kona Grill launched in Fashion Square in 1998, and for many years was the happy hour hotspot in Old Town. It has grown in two decades to be known as Kona Grill, Inc., an upscale casual restaurant company now based in Denver, Colorado serving American cuisine, sushi, and cocktails. The company owns and operates close to 40 restaurants in 23 U.S. states, as well as three international locations, which operate under franchise agreements.
Phoenix is the last of three new locations for the company, which is also working on opening corporate-owned sites in Riverton, Utah, and Columbus, Ohio, and the Desert Ridge store should be open in the first half of 2023.
Desert Ridge Marketplace has even more eateries coming this year. Spitz Mediterranean will open shortly, followed by Fat Tuesday this summer, and a new concept from the owners of Nori called Jinjia, said to be elevated Chinese cuisine is opening soon.