Heritage Park, the mixed-use destination rising at the northern gateway of Gilbert’s Heritage District, announced the first five tenants set to open at the development — led by Arizona’s first Popup Bagels and three East Valley firsts — as construction continues to advance toward early second-quarter 2027 openings.
Popup Bagels will bring its first Arizona location to Heritage Park, occupying 1,994 square feet. Popup Bagels is known for its unmistakably perfect bagels with no frills, using the essence of simplicity. What started as a local sensation in Westport, CT has quickly grown into a celebrated name. Bagels are served fresh from the oven, hot and whole to grip, rip and dip.
La La Land will mark its first East Valley outpost with a 2,372-square-foot location. The cafe serves coffee, matcha and pastries alongside a stated mission built around kindness and community, including a paid internship program designed to help youth transitioning out of foster care into adulthood.
Hudson House, an elevated neighborhood eatery from Vandelay Companies inspired by New York’s West Village, will bring its East Coast-driven menu to a 7,882-square-foot space with a sit-down raw bar and large wraparound bar. One of two Arizona locations set to open, expect East Coast oysters, approachable plates like fish tacos and chicken parmesan, and a fan-favorite cheeseburger with thin-seared patties and house sauce, alongside a martini program anchored by the “World’s Coldest Martini” in flavors like Bleu & Gold and Stone Fruit.
Salt & Straw, the Portland, Oregon-based ice cream brand founded by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek in 2011, will fill 1,215 square feet with its chef-driven flavors made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients. The menu spans classics like Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Double Fold Vanilla alongside inventive originals such as Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper, plus rotating seasonal series ice cream cakes and innovative treats like The Tacolate, a viral collaboration with Taco Bell that reimagined the nostalgic ice cream taco. This scoop shop will join Salt & Straw’s three existing Arizona locations in the Phoenix-metro area.
[solidcore], the national strength-training studio known for its high-intensity, low-impact workouts on custom-built reformers, will bring its first East Valley location with a 2,483-square-foot studio. [solidcore]’s 50-minute, full-body workout utilizes slow and controlled movements, scientifically designed to break down muscles to failure so that they build back stronger.
“Downtown Gilbert already has a strong base of great restaurants and retail, and this lineup is about layering in something the East Valley hasn’t seen yet,” said Alex Bez, COO of Creation. “The interest we’re getting from groups making their first move into this market speaks to Heritage Park’s ability to weave new, sought-after concepts into the fabric of this community.”
Construction on Heritage Park continues to progress across the site. Led by LGE Design Build, the buildings within the initial phase are now fully enclosed, with site paving and interior tenant improvements expected to begin soon.
“Watching Heritage Park come together, from the tenant lineup to the residences rising alongside it, is proof of what’s possible when a vision this ambitious comes together as planned,” said Sagar Rathie, managing director at Crescent Communities. “We’ve been intentional about creating a place that adds to what residents and visitors already love about downtown Gilbert by bringing together homes, restaurants, retail and public spaces in a way that feels connected and with NOVEL Heritage Park and these first storefronts taking shape side by side, that vision is becoming tangible.”
Heritage Park spans an entire city block at Gilbert Road and Juniper Avenue and is being developed by Creation, the Phoenix-based real estate development firm, in partnership with Crescent Communities, a nationally recognized real estate investor, developer and operator of mixed-use communities. The 10-acre downtown destination’s initial phase includes approximately 47,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space; NOVEL Heritage Park, a 288-residence luxury multifamily community slated to open in spring 2027; more than 300 surface parking spaces; and a public square with water features, mature landscaping, public art and walking and biking paths. Future phases will add a 125-room hotel, office space and additional parking.
