On Thursday, The Orchard PHX will open its doors for the first time.
It's the latest project from Ken and Lucia Schnitzer, the owners behind Luci's Marketplace, and partner Jerry Mansoor.
The Orchard is a two-acre venue that will be home to Pomelo, a restaurant with American fare; Splurge, an ice cream and candy shop; and Luci's At The Orchard, a specialty store and coffee shop.
There will also be a splash pad for the little ones, a dog-friendly patio and a large grass area where you can relax during the winter and spring months.
It is located at 7100 N. 12th Street, which is 12th Street just north of Glendale Avenue.
During the 1900s the property was owned by the Wasser Family. In 1949, it was sold to Ralph Cortez who turned the property into a citrus nursery.
You can still see evidence of that history.
"The Orchard PHX is a celebration of Phoenix history and recognizing how agriculture has really shaped our state," Lucia said in a media release.
The Wasser Family's original homestead now houses Pomelo, the 179-seat restaurant. It's divided into various rooms, one of which includes a wooden table cut from a 100-year-old eucalyptus tree that had to be removed during construction.
The restaurant will serve American fare, as well as meat-and-cheese boards, pizza and salads. The pizza oven is said to have been imported from Italy.
Luci's At The Orchard is housed within what was Cortez's ranch home.
Pomelo will open to guests on Thursday, May 5. Splurge and Luci's are expected to open later in the month.
