Crust Simply Italian is preparing to open its long-delayed Mesa restaurant at 240 E Main Street, located on the ground floor of The Grid, a mixed-use development on the southwest corner of Main and Pomeroy in Downtown Mesa.
Originally expected to open in 2023, the restaurant has been delayed due to construction and development setbacks at The Grid, as reported by What Now. Work on the $75 million project stalled for over a year, but new developers have recently taken over and resumed progress. Crust Simply Italian now anticipates opening by the end of 2025. The Mesa location will be the fourth full-service restaurant for the Crust brand, joining existing locations in Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert.
Crust also operates two Crust Pizzeria locations in Tempe and Phoenix, a fast-casual spinoff of the main concept. Like the Chandler and Gilbert locations, the Mesa restaurant will include a bird-themed speakeasy cocktail bar. The Mesa bar will be named The Nightingale, following The Ostrich in Chandler and The Blue Heron in Gilbert. In addition to the restaurant and cocktail bar, the Mesa location will include a new dessert shop called Bombolino, focused on gelato and Italian doughnuts.
This is the first time the Crust brand has added a standalone dessert concept. The restaurant will also feature a back patio space on the south side of the building, providing additional seating and outdoor dining options. A fifth Crust Simply Italian, previously announced for The Trailhead development in Peoria, is now expected to open in 2026 rather than this year. Crust Simply Italian first opened in Scottsdale in 2007, founded by Michael Merendino, who modeled the concept after his family’s East Coast Italian recipes and traditions.
