Flagship Restaurant Group is expanding its presence in the East Valley with three of its concepts—Ghost Donkey, Palma, and Blue Sushi Sake Grill—set to open in Downtown Gilbert at Gilbert Road and Juniper Avenue
The restaurants will be part of Heritage Park, a new 10-acre mixed-use development, according to Phoenix New Times. The development recently broke ground at the northwest corner of Gilbert’s Heritage District. Heritage Park will include 47,000 square feet of retail and dining space, 288 residential units, public art installations, and bike paths. Plans also call for a 125-room hotel and office space. The first phase, which includes the Flagship restaurants, is expected to open sometime in 2026.
“Heritage Park will be a signature piece of the Heritage District, offering a unique blend of dining, retail, and residential spaces that will further enrich the area’s vibrant atmosphere,” Gilbert Mayor Scott Anderson said in a news release. “As our northern anchor for now, it sets the stage for future expansion and new possibilities within the district.”
Ghost Donkey, a New York-based agaveria, has eight locations globally, including outposts in Las Vegas, Chicago, and Melbourne, Australia. The bar opened in Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row in 2022 and specializes in agave-based cocktails and snacks like queso and guacamole.
Palma, currently operating next door to Ghost Donkey in downtown Phoenix, has one other location in Dallas. The all-day lounge serves frozen cocktails and sake, with a menu that includes Caesar salads, sushi, Korean fried chicken sandwiches, and birria beef tacos.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill operates in 13 states and currently has two locations in the Valley, in Tempe and Surprise. The concept features a broad sushi menu, including vegan options, and offers drink pairings such as Japanese whiskey highballs and sake flights.
All three concepts are owned by Nebraska-based Flagship Restaurant Group, which also operates Pyro, a Japanese-inspired live-fire restaurant in Arcadia. Flagship was the first dining tenant to sign on to the Heritage Park project, which is being developed by Crescent Communities in partnership with Creation. Crescent Communities also recently broke ground on The Switchyard in Queen Creek.
“Together, we are committed to creating an iconic gateway into Gilbert’s Heritage District – one that enhances quality of life, celebrates local culture and offers an exceptional experience for both residents and visitors,” David Sellers, a co-founder of Creation, said in the release.
