Popular build-your-own enchilada restaurant opens second Phoenix location

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

When Aaron Pool started Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in 2013, he had never worked at a restaurant, let alone run one. "I was really naive going into it,” he says. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup follows a fast-casual, build-your-own Mexican-inspired model. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

During the avocado shortage of 2016, Aaron Pool refused to settle for less than fresh avocados for Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup's hand-smashed guacamole and scoured Valley supermarkets for them, even if it cost the business $2 per avocado. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

Anthony Hooks prepares enchiladas for customers at Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

By early July, owner Aaron Pool expects to open his second Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup location in the Arcadia area of Phoenix, joining his original central Phoenix location he launched in 2013. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

Ingredients at Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup, including the hand-pressed tortillas made with homemade masa, are prepared in-house, says owner Aaron Pool. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

With the exception of the spicy potato corn chowder and Crazy Cornbread, the current menu at Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup hasn’t changed since opening day. Recipes come from owner Aaron Pool’s mother with his personal tweaking. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

Unlike the repurposed 1,800-square-foot building that houses Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in central Phoenix, the new restaurant in the Arcadia neighborhood is slightly larger — 2,100 square feet — and its oven is twice as large. Customers will also be able to sip on a draft beer as they walk down the line watching their orders customized behind the counter. Nick Oza/The Republic

Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

“That’s the coolest thing about entrepreneurship," says Aaron Pool. "You have this vision and try to explain it to people, but they don’t know what you’re talking about until you open the doors. When you do and they see it, that’s a really satisfying part about it.” Nick Oza/The Republic

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Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in Phoenix

When Aaron Pool started Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup in 2013, he had never worked at a restaurant, let alone run one. "I was really naive going into it,” he says.

Kellie Hwang, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 6:00 a.m. MT Dec. 29, 2017

The long-awaited Arcadia branch of a popular fast-casual restaurant is now up and running.

Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup quietly opened for friends and family last week, and as of Tuesday, the restaurant has been officially in business.

"We just unlocked the doors and people started coming in," owner Aaron Pool said of his second Phoenix location, at Camelback Road and 40th Street.

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The 2,100-square-foot shop is a new building on what Pool calls a "pizza slice" space. He said it's been a dirt lot for many years. The search for a second site started three years ago, and Pool really liked the spot, which is right next to the Arizona Canal, a popular trail for bikers and pedestrians.

"The amount of traffic that comes down Camelback (Road) is crazy," he said. "Gadzooks is a unique concept and we wanted to do things differently, so we built a building on a parcel. We have condos to our east, the canal to our southwest. It's a really interesting and unique little patch of land."

The customizable menu offers a variety of options starting with a main dish of enchiladas, tacos, chopped salad, tortilla soup, spicy potato corn chowder, nachos or stuffed poblano. Then diners can pick their fillings and toppings, which includes roasted tomatillo chicken, smashed Jack potato, enchilada sauce, cheeses, salsas, slaw and dressings. Tortillas are pressed in-house.

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The menu in Arcadia is the same as the one at the central Phoenix location, at Seventh Street and Osborn Road. But Pool added cold brew on tap and a Wren House Brewing Company Hefeweizen beer on draft.

Both restaurants now serve breakfast, featuring build-your-own breakfast enchiladas, tacos and nachos with scrambled eggs and hash, with the addition of any fillings and toppings.

Details: 4031 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-279-5080, gadzooksaz.com. Also, 3313 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

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