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Salad and Go opening 5th Mesa location Wednesday

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Mesa is getting another healthy eating option as an East Valley drivethru chain continues to grow. Salad and Go is opening its fifth Mesa location at 10025 E. Southern Ave. on Wednesday, Oct. 27, and anyone who buys a $2.99 breakfast burrito between 6:3010:30 a.m. that day only will get a free salad or wrap. The Mesa location brings to nearly 50 the number drive-thru restaurant chain has opened since former Gilbert teacher Roushan Christofellis opened her first Salad and Go in 2013. She felt the world was ready for a drivethru restaurant that made healthy food convenient and affordable for everyone. And she opted for the drive-thru concept because her target market comprised people who “lead busy, dedicated lives” and wanted “better, healthier fast food.” “We want people to know, when they’re looking for a quick, healthy, great-tasting meal on-the-go, that they have an alternative,” Christofellis explained several years ago. “We really believe that we can’t change the health of America with one location.” Salad and Go serves both breakfast and lunch, with the former being five different burrito options. It also serves several protein extras, such as tofu, chicken and shrimp. “We felt like we’re not really providing a true, alternative drive-thru fast food if we’re missing that huge part,” Christofellis said when she added breakfast to her lineup. Christofellis in various interviews over the years said she was inspired not only after hearing people complain about how hard it was to find healthy food to eat when they’re in a hurry but also by the health issues her parents and in-laws struggled with – a “combination of genetics and bad diet,” she said. She chose salads, then limited the number of ingredients so menu items could be prepared quickly and limited the size of her outlets to under 700 square feet. Both strategies also kept costs down and enabled her to pay the higher costs that come with healthy food. On her company website, she also noted that she and her husband “noticed you could get food on-the-go that was cheap and convenient, but it wasn’t good for you; and you could get good-for-you food at a sit-down restaurant or even some fast-casual places, but it wasn’t cheap or convenient.” So, with the help of Executive Chef Daniel Patino, they said, they “reengineered the restaurant model to create a microfootprint and focused menu that would help balance their high food costs.” “Chef designed a flavor-forward, proteinrich menu that would appeal to carnivores and vegans alike, and loaded with items that could easily be ordered gluten-free, dairyfree, or further customized,” they said. “I always knew I wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives,” Christofellis says on her company website. “What has surprised me the most is how much my teaching experience has transferred over.”

“We started Salad and Go to solve a problem. What I didn’t realize is how much the community would let us in on their struggle and share with us how Salad and Go has provided a solution in their lives,” she says. “I didn’t expect to have people reach through the drive-thru window, touch my arm and say, ‘I just want you to know you saved my life.’ You truly can’t work a shift without someone coming through the drive-thru and expressing how excited they are to have this in their neighborhood. “From those battling cancer and needing more organic fruits and veggies in their diets, to the person who just learned of food allergies and now needs to learn a completely new way of eating, to the parent looking for a healthier option for themselves and their kids. We believe in removing the barriers to eating great tasting, good-for-you food.” ■

Healthy farmers market slated

Fellowship Square Historic Mesa is holding a Get Fresh Farmers Market and Fair noon-2 p.m. Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 along the Fountain Faraway Center side of the community on 35 W. Brown Road, Mesa.

Information: fellowshipsquareseniorliving.org.

Gila Community starts 4th casino project

TRIBUNE NEWS STAFF

Construction is about to begin on the fourth casino on Gila River Indian Community land. Named Santan Mountain Casino and located on a 160-acre site on the southeast corner of Gilbert Road and Hunt Highway 160-acre, the $150-million project will feature more than 850 slots and table games, a BetMGM Sportsbook and dining. It also will create and will create more than 650 new jobs, according to Gila River Hotels & Casinos, which described the new development as a “modern, inviting desert oasis” that “was cultivated to bring a desired entertainment destination and convenient location to the growing Southeast Valley.” The Gila River Indian Community operates Gila River Hotels & Casinos – which include Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte and Vee Quiva. “The development will boast lush décor, breathtaking mountain views and stateof-the-art amenities set against the backdrop of the pristine, picturesque desert,” the release stated. “Not only will Santan Mountain bring additional revenue, sustainability and critical services to our community members, it will elevate our prestige in the gaming and hospitality industry as we continue to craft an entertainment dynasty,” Gila River Indian Community Governor Roe Lewis said. Gila River Hotels & Casinos hired inter- The new Santan Mountain Casino is similar in design to the Vee Quiva farther west on the Gila River Indian Community just off the South Mountain Freeway. (Courtesy Gila River Hotels seeCASINO page 19 & Casinos)

national architectural and interior design firm, Steelman Partners, and The PENTA Building Group to design and construct the casino, which is expected to take 18 to 24 months. Steelman is a designer of global entertainment, hospitality, and gaming architecture and was the lead architect for the new Resorts World Las Vegas. It has designed buildings for gaming industry leaders like including Kirk Kerkorian, Steve Wynn, Sheldon Adelson and Stanley Ho. Gila River Hotels & Casinos CEO Kenneth Manuel praised Steelman Partners for their innovative design concepts. “We are thrilled with the architectural renderings and design components that Paul and Steve have presented to us – they are ensuring that Santan Mountain will be a premier gaming destination for years to come,” he said. Steelman said a key focus of the project is to bring the texture, light and elements of the outdoors inside. The main casino will feature lush, blooming saguaro carpeting, natural light cascading from circular skylights, custom bubble glass and colors inspired by the rising and setting sun that bring unique serenity to the casino floor. The PENTA Building Group, a general contractor with extensive gaming and hospitality experience in Arizona and across the U.S., is also part of the project team along with the Casino Expansion Owners Team and Tynan Group. “Large-scale casino/entertainment projects like this are a core competency for PENTA, and we look forward to delivering a world class property we will all take pride in,” said John Cannito, president of PENTA. As project lead, the Tynan Group has been involved in projects on the Gila River Indian Community’s land for more than two decades. “The comfort of Gila River’s guests is a top priority. Whether a guest is playing the slots during the day or playing at a high-energy, live table at night, Santan Mountain design elements will provide a striking, serene backdrop for memorable entertainment,” Steelman said. When complete, Santan Mountain will include more than 850 slots and table games including mini baccarat, craps and roulette as well as an exclusive High Limit Gaming Salon. The BetMGM sportsbook will extend

the casino floor and offer plush seating, multiple large-screen TVs for viewing live games and sports betting. The new property will also provide multiple dining options and a lively bar in the center of the casino floor featuring entertainment. A hotel may be added in the future. The project also calls for road and other infrastructure improvements in the surrounding area. Gila River’s Casino Expansion Owner’s Team \Chairman and tribal Councilman Anthony Villareal, Sr., called last week’s groundbreaking for the casino an “historic moment.: The casino will include a BetMGM sportsbook and restaurants. (Courtesy Gila River Hotels & Casinos) “We will have many exciting milestones ahead with Santan Mountain, and all of them will be beneficial to our community,” he said. The gaming enterprise is also slated to open a $143 million expansion project at Wild Horse Pass later this year —bringing 205 additional guest rooms, new meeting space, two pools and a rooftop restaurant and lounge to the Chandler property. The project marks the first expansion since Wild Horse Pass opened in 2009.

Information: PlayAtGila.com. ■