GILBERT’S GLOW UP How a sleepy suburb became a popular Valley party district. By Georgann Yara A few yards from the main drag, two dozen people queue above a descending staircase. A glowing red light affixed to the brick building is a beacon for those seeking the speakeasy beneath it. Two blocks north, a much longer line featuring several bachelorette parties spools around a country bar spilling music into the street. A short stroll northeast, 20- and 30-somethings pack an arcade bar, mixing booze and games. Busy sidewalks are filled with pedestrians ducking in and out of establishments along the way. This Saturday scene is the norm in downtown Gilbert on weekend nights, even though it’s barely 9 p.m. Over the last few years, this nook of the southeast Valley known for its family life, agricultural history and landmark water tower has emerged as a bar hotspot. In ride- share drivers circles, this .3-mile stretch of Gilbert Road bounded roughly by Hearne Way on the north and Cullumber Avenue on the south is known as “Mini Old Town.” Among bouncers and bar security staff, it’s thought of as a more behaved and mature Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. Six or seven years ago, declaring any part of Gilbert as a party district would’ve been met with knee-slapping laughter. But today, downtown Gilbert — officially named the Heritage District — has a drink- dance-cavort persona that’s no joke. It serves a demographic that doesn’t want the drive, pricey ride sharing service or attitude they’ve experienced in Scottsdale or Tempe. Outside Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Alexie Malone sports a banner that reads “It’s My Birthday.” She and her bestie Sophia Orthmer are in a line of about 100 people waiting to get into the bar named after the country music star. These Gilbert residents hit downtown every weekend, they say. O.H.S.O. Brewery and Distillery and The Porch are also favorites. They had dinner at Postino earlier. Hands down, the Heritage District is their nightlife spot of choice. “You have to have a super specific aesthetic to get into clubs out in Old Town and here it’s a lot more chill,” Malone says. “Down here is easier, closer, less expensive and has a good vibe. You know you’re not going to have to deal with too much and it’s still going to be a good time, whereas Old Town can be a lot.” Orthmer says she likes the inclusivity and lack of attitude. “Mill [Avenue] is all 21-year-olds fresh out of college. Scottsdale is kind of like a showy crowd. Here, you can be any age and hang out with your friends. When you go into Whiskey, sometimes there’s grandmas boogie-ing down,” Orthmer says. Bachelorette Kayla Murillo was there with her bridal party of five. This was her first venture to downtown Gilbert. Murillo’s love of country music and the reputation of Whiskey Row drew them out. She lives in Surprise and most of her crew is in the West Valley. They rented a nearby AirBnB for a staycation. “Old Town Scottsdale is too much so we wanted to come somewhere a bit more chill,” Murillo said. Their opinion is common among down- town regulars — the collection of more than 30 restaurants and bars offers some- thing for a broader crowd. “We definitely draw a different demo- graphic that’s more reserved and not as rowdy,” says Jeffrey Mosser, who provides security at The White Rabbit Bar, a speakeasy known for its high-end whiskey selection and prohibition-era cocktails. “I think it’s up and coming because people want a different outlook on the nightlife. They come out here where it’s respectable and people are nice and still have a good time.” Filling a sweet spot is apparently Gilbert’s jam. And somehow this sleepy, conservative, suburban town became home to a honky-tonking, bass-pumping, wine-sipping party district. It hasn’t always been this way. Joey Quatmann VI, general manager of The White Rabbit, recalled what it was like when he moved to Gilbert 15 years ago. “Back then, they rolled up the streets at 8 or 9 o’clock. There was nothing out here. Only a few bars,” he says. When The White Rabbit opened in 2018, there was a learning curve for both his team and guests, many of whom were introduced to craft cocktails at his bar. Quatmann credits the population growth of Gilbert to the city’s reputation as safe and conducive for family living. In recent years, savvy business owners saw the few blocks of the Heritage District transforming into an entertainment area and leaned into the revenue potential. At 8:45 p.m., Mosser stood at the top of the stairs of The White Rabbit. By day, its home in the Heritage Court building has offices and shops. At night, there’s a buzz below ground level. Co-workers inside notify Mosser when guests may head down. A password obtained through the bar’s website changes monthly and is required to enter. Mosser estimates the speakeasy serves 300 to 500 people a night on Fridays and Saturdays, compared to 80 to 100 on the other days. The selection of sophisticated spirits and what their bartenders do with them draws a crowd that ranges in age that might be celebrating birthdays, Georgann Yara >> p 14 Officially known as the Heritage District, downtown Gilbert has developed into a hopping restaurant and bar hub on the weekends.
