Gilbert Pulse for October 26, 2026: Mendocino Farms plans a summer 2027 opening at Epicenter

Epicenter at Agritopia is getting a sandwich-and-salad restaurant: Mendocino Farms anticipates opening in summer 2027, adding another lunch and dinner option near Higley and Ray.

Key facts

• The restaurant: Mendocino Farms, serving sandwiches and salads.
• The location: Epicenter at Agritopia. Go Gilbert identifies the former Gadzooks space as the planned home.
• The timing: Summer 2027 is the anticipated opening window, according to What Now Phoenix.

What to watch: a firm opening date as the summer window approaches. Read the opening report.

🥗 Salad and Go plans East Valley reopenings. New owners hope to reopen their first East Valley restaurant before the end of 2026, with Gilbert and Mesa in the plans. The supplied report does not identify which location would reopen first. Details.

🥙 CAVA is planned at Val Vista and Baseline. Go Gilbert reports the Mediterranean restaurant will take the former Habit Burger space on the northeast corner, near Dana Park. That puts it on the Mesa side of the border, just across Baseline from Gilbert; no opening date is included. See the location report.

🎨 Art history at Southeast Regional Library. Masterpiece Monday meets at 2:30 PM for an adult art-history discussion. The listing marks registration as required. Registration details.

🎃 Perry Library hosts a Halloween parade. The toddler and preschool program starts at 10:45 AM, with no ticket required. Details.

🌾 Agritopia Farm offers a noon tour. A staff member leads a seasonal look at the land’s history and farming practices. This is the working-farm side of the Johnston family’s Agritopia, where 11 acres remain in urban agriculture. Tour details.

💬 English conversation practice at Southeast Regional Library. The adult ESL Conversation Club meets at 3:45 PM. No ticket is required. Details.

📚 A horror-themed book discussion before Halloween. Southeast Regional Library’s All Books Considered discusses The Raven: Tales and Poems at 6 PM. Registration is required. Registration details.

🎤 A Neil Diamond tribute at Hale Theatre Arizona. DIAMOND plays Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 PM at 50 W. Page Ave. in the Heritage District. Tickets.

🎱 Beer Barn bingo starts at 7 PM. Leslie hosts the weekly Wednesday game. Details.

🎬 Arizona Wilderness hosts movie night. The Gilbert Brewhub’s Wednesday tasting-room screening starts at 7 PM. The supplied listing does not name this week’s film. Event details.

⏰ Highland High School has a schedule change Tuesday. October 27 is a late-start day with PSAT testing for all sophomores. The supplied calendar does not give arrival times by grade, so the school’s schedule is the next stop for families arranging rides. School calendar.

🏫 Gilbert HS welcomes parents to site council Monday. The meeting starts at 3 PM in the Counseling HUB. Parents should check in at the front office. Meeting details.

🏐 Mesquite plays Eastmark in boys’ beach volleyball Tuesday. The varsity match starts at 5 PM at Arizona Athletic Grounds, 6321 S. Ellsworth Road in Mesa. Match details.

🎵 Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry, Tuesday in Mesa. Both acts share the bill at Mesa Amphitheatre on October 27. Two acts, one concert stop. Tickets.

🎤 Chief Keef plays Phoenix tonight. The rapper’s October 26 show starts at 8 PM at Arizona Financial Theatre. A Monday-night option for hip-hop fans. Tickets.

🎃 The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert, Tuesday in Phoenix. The Orpheum Theatre hosts the film-related concert event October 27 at 6:30 PM. A Halloween-week outing built around the movie. Tickets.