GILBERT, AZ — It's time! Thursday marks the day eegee's, a Tucson-based restaurant chain with a cult following, makes its return to the Valley with the opening of its first restaurant in Gilbert.
Located at Baseline Road and Val Vista Drive, the restaurant opens July 15 for dine-in and takeout, while also offering online ordering and contactless pick-up.
“We're fortunate to have such loyal fans across Arizona and we're humbled by the support and warm welcome we've received in the Valley so far," said Ron Petty, CEO of eegee's, in a statement. "We can't wait to celebrate our first opening in Phoenix, meet our new neighbors in Gilbert and continue to grow across the Valley in the coming months."
Eegee's is known for its frozen fruit-flavored drinks, called eegee's, but also sells sandwiches, grinders, salads, and fries.
ABC15 broke the news in October 2020 that eegee's planned to open at least five restaurants in the Valley, a return to Phoenix rather than a debut. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there were some eegee's restaurants in the Valley, but all of them ultimately closed, said Petty.
In an interview on Tuesday afternoon, Petty said he has at least 12 restaurants planned across the Valley, including Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, and that all are expected to open before the end of 2022.
So far, five locations have been announced.
Confirmed eegee's locations opening in the Valley:
- Gilbert: Val Vista and Baseline (opens July 15)
- Gilbert: Val Vista and Loop 202
- Mesa: US 60 and Crismon
- Phoenix: Interstate 17 and Bell Road
- Scottsdale: Loop 101 at 90th Street, next to Dutch Bros. (2022)
Eegee's was founded in 1971 in Tucson by Ed Irving and Bob Greenberg. The name was created by combining their initials -- E for Ed and G for Greenberg -- to form "EGs," or eegee's," said Petty.
The restaurant chain was sold in 2006 to CEO Foods, a restaurant group based in Southern California, and sold again in 2018 to 39 North Capital and Kitchen Fund.
There are 26 restaurants in Tucson, plus one in Casa Grande.
