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THE FEATURE
7 Brew beat out Dutch Bros. How much small talk are we in for?
Dutch Bros looked set to inherit most of the old Salad and Go locations. Then, 7 Brew seemingly came out of nowhere and won the bid, covering 63 former locations across four states, including 36 in Arizona. We looked into the 7 Brew deal, what first-timers can order and why you might want to be ready for a little conversation before that first sip.
There’s another twist: Salad & Go’s founding chef and his partners are trying to revive the name and recipes, but no local restaurant reopening dates have been confirmed. We explain what’s known and what remains unanswered.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Jacksons is open again at Tatum and Cactus. Remember Danny’s?
The old Danny’s/Jacksons car wash near Tatum and Cactus is back, too. But the version many longtime neighbors remember did not come back with it.
The new gas station and express car wash near Tatum and Cactus has reopened after the property was largely torn down and rebuilt. It’s a clean, modern-looking property, with a drive-through wash and a long row of self-service vacuum stations.
JACKSONS CAR WASH REBUILD
EXPRESS WASH, NOT FULL-SERVICE
Jacksons lists the reopened location as an Express wash rather than one of its Full Service + Express sites.
Remember when going to the car wash was actually fun?
For some of us who grew up around here, this was Danny’s Family Car Wash, and it was one of those errands you didn’t mind tagging along for.
We remember the big windows where you could watch your car travel along the conveyor, the fish tanks and TVs inside, and the water features as the freshly washed cars came around. Then a crew would finish the job by hand.
It felt special, especially when you were a kid.
Jacksons acquired Danny’s car washes in 2014, and the familiar name eventually changed. The older property was showing its age by the time this latest rebuild began. Still, once everything was demolished and leveled, we wondered whether something with that same personality might take its place.
Now, the new Jacksons looks like your standard modern car wash. No rock water features, no cool fish tanks, no big windows to watch your car get colorful and soapy.
For those of us who grew up here, it's a little disappointing knowing our kids won't get the same charming experience of the old Danny's… Even if it was just a car wash. With that said, we are super excited to have a new, clean, efficient option back in the neighborhood.
Leslie’s closed its Cactus Road store. What about the others?
Another familiar stop for locals is gone. Leslie’s in Paradise Plaza (at 4848 E. Cactus Road), has closed. It was one of three Arizona locations identified in the first round of closures after Phoenix-based Leslie’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 30.
GOOD TO KNOW
32nd Street and Shea location not among initial closures.
Leslie’s reassures the entire chain isn’t shutting down. The longtime Phoenix-based pool supply company says its remaining stores are staying open during the restructuring.
The shops our readers likely visit (10633 N. 32nd Street and 4601 E. Bell Road) weren't on the initial Arizona closure list. If you usually stop in for a water test or a replacement part, check the company's current store locator and inventory before making the trip. We'll watch for any additional changes close to home.
Scottsdale’s Flock cameras are staying—for now.
The license-plate cameras under debate in Scottsdale are part of Flock Safety—the same company facing scrutiny in other Valley communities and around the country.
On October 6, the City Council voted 7–0 to pursue tougher rules for automated license-plate readers (ALPRs), including possible penalties for misuse, and to review the city’s Flock contract.
The vote did not shut the cameras off.
Scottsdale has a total of 85 Flock readers. As vehicles pass, they can capture plates, locations, times and limited vehicle details. Police say the tools assist investigations and help locate missing people; the department says they do not use facial recognition.
Plate photos and data are normally kept for 185 days, although evidence associated with investigations can follow different retention rules. Among the new rules, the City Council requested additional audits, training, reviews of who can access the records and alternative vendors.
WHAT’S STILL UNDECIDED:
Whether Scottsdale will keep Flock, switch providers or change its data safeguards. Switching vendors would not necessarily mean ending license-plate readers.
WHERE TO EAT THIS WEEK
Andreoli: 20 years of doing Italian food its own way
You could drive past Andreoli on Via Linda without appreciating their two-decade effort to bring award-winning, authentic Italian foods to Scottsdale. Chef Giovanni Scorzo, originally from Calabria, opened the family-run restaurant and Italian market in 2006.
Since then, it has earned plenty of local recognition, including Phoenix New Times’ Best Italian Restaurant honors in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
But the reason to visit isn’t just its awards: you can come for dinner, pick up lunch or shop for the ingredients to make something at home.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Try the porchetta sandwich with garlic and fennel, or the grilled calamari with lemon and olive oil. They’re stocked with pastries, desserts and fresh deli meats. We grabbed their house-made breads and a variety of cheeses. You can also spot some hard-to-find imported Italian goods.
WAIT, YOU CAN DO THAT AROUND SHEA?
Take a beginner polo lesson in Scottsdale…yes, on a horse!
You don’t have to own a horse, know the rules or have riding experience to try polo. Scottsdale Polo Academy offers introductory sessions where newcomers learn the basics, get on a horse and try swinging a mallet.
When: Wednesday, October 28. Check clinic for exact start time.
Cost: $85 for “My First Polo Experience.”
Before booking: Confirm location, available spots and any age restrictions with the academy.
Give pottery a spin at Sol City Clay
Ever wanted to try your hand at a pottery wheel? Sol City Clay, just north of Shea on Scottsdale Road, offers beginner-friendly workshops where you can learn to shape clay without buying a single piece of equipment. You can try the pottery wheel, learn hand-building techniques or get seasonal with projects like clay pumpkins and ghosts. No experience required, and the instructor-led workshops include the materials you need.
When: Workshop dates vary. Check the Scottsdale studio's current schedule.
Where: 10869 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 101, Scottsdale.
Cost: Introduction to Wheel Throwing is listed at $59. The Pumpkins & Ghosts workshop is listed at $29.
Booking: Check upcoming class dates, available seats and age requirements before reserving.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
AZ Taco Fest is back at Salt River Fields
Taco Fest packs food from taco makers, live cooking demonstrations, judging, music and family activities into one weekend. This year’s event also has celebrity-chef appearances and a kids zone. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of alcohol available to wash the tacos down.
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Where: Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale.
Cost: Adult tickets required; children 12 and under admitted free. Food and drinks sold separately.
Parking: Free. But be prepared for a bit of a walk over to the event.
FREE Saturday evening at Scottsdale Fall Festival
The city’s Fall Festival returns to Scottsdale Civic Center with trick-or-treating, carnival games, crafts, music and booths where you can meet city teams. Costumes are welcome, but you can just show up and enjoy the activities. Food trucks and a cocktail garden will be on-site.
When: Saturday, October 17, 5–9 p.m.
Where: Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Boulevard.
Cost: Admission and listed activities are free; food and drinks cost extra.
Getting there: Scottsdale says trolley service is available for the festival; confirm pickup locations before leaving.
Kick-off the hiking season at Lost Dog Wash
You don't have to drive deep into North Scottsdale for a good desert walk. Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, just north of Shea at 124th Street, offers access to the southern McDowell Sonoran Preserve, with trails ranging from easy nature walks to longer desert hikes. For something approachable, try the half-mile Kovach Family Nature Trail, an accessible route with interpretive signs about the surrounding desert. October is also Scottsdale's Preserve Month, with Exploration Journals for kids and commemorative stickers available at trailheads.
When: This weekend or another October morning. Start early and check the weather.
Where: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale.
Trail: Kovach Family Nature Trail, approximately 0.5 mile, easy and accessible. Longer routes are available.
SCOTTSDALE AIRPORT HAS A RUNWAY CLOSURE COMING
The airport says its runway and taxiways will close overnight October 18–23, from 9pm to 6am. A full closure starts October 24 at 9pm, with reopening scheduled for noon October 31. If you use the airport, check arrangements before traveling.
FIRE STATION 606 HAS A TEMPORARY HOME
Fire Station 606 at Via Linda and 108th Street is undergoing a major renovation. The city says its four-person engine crew has moved about half a mile to a temporary station in the former Noah building near Cholla Park. Emergency coverage will continue while the original building is rebuilt. The project began in January and was already expected to take about a year.
COMING 10/20: THE SHEA VINTAGE CRAWL - pt. 1
There are more places to hunt for vintage and secondhand finds around Shea than you might expect. Our north route drops next Tuesday, with a south route following the next week.
ASK YOUR NEIGHBORS
Which of these Around Shea finds would you most like to check out?
Have a neighborhood tip, question or curious little discovery?
Just reply to this email. We read the replies.