The Local Donut gets a sweet rescue

Good morning, Scottsdale. You’re reading Scottsdale Scoop, your insider pass to what’s fun, fresh, and worth checking out around town. Every issue features hand-picked events, local business spotlights, and hidden gems that make our city great.

I’m teaming up with my good buddy, Shawn and throwing a private dinner for other local business leaders. If you want to learn more here’s the link. Should be a good time!

Outside of that, lots of fun things happening this week. Let’s dive in.

After three decades of margaritas, house-made tortillas, and memories, Old Town Tortilla Factory permanently closed its doors this past Saturday. The historic adobe building at 6910 E. Main St. has been a fixture in the Valley dining scene since the mid-1990s, known for its shaded patio, extensive tequila selection, and those signature house-made tortillas served with flavored butter.

The restaurant thanked loyal customers who made it a gathering place for celebrations, special occasions, family dinners, and date nights over the years. But this might not be the end of the story as they hinted something new could be on the horizon with a cryptic "stay tuned for what is next" message. I'm curious to see what takes its place!

Summer's slow season hit The Local Donut in Scottsdale hard this year. Owner Daniel Tes, who's been running the shop for about 10 years, faced his worst week recently when he couldn't make payroll. Instead of closing quietly, he humbled himself and turned to social media to share the shop's financial challenges and ask for help.

The community showed up big time, packing the place the next day. Other small businesses even pre-paid for unassuming customers! "There's a lot of selfless people out there, a lot of generous people," Tes said. The doors are staying open and Daniel's ready to keep serving donuts while paying it forward. Love seeing the community rally around local businesses like this.

Kasai Fire & Fairways 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament is happening Monday, September 21st at Kierland Golf Club. All donations go directly to Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers, which does amazing work for Valley youth. Figure I'd share. I love finding charity events to highlight! PS it’s on my bday!

Arizona Chef's Week runs through this Sunday, August 9th, featuring 60+ chef-driven restaurants across the Valley with exclusive three-course prix-fixe menus at $55 or $66 per person. If you've been meaning to try somewhere new, this is your chance to experience some of Arizona's best culinary talent before these limited-time menus disappear.

Fall's coming faster than you think and Arizona's monsoon season puts exteriors through the wringer. Now's the time to address any sun damage, cracked stucco, or peeling paint before the cooler weather hits.

ACP Painting has been fixing up Scottsdale homes since 2005 and they know exactly what our climate does to exteriors. Their team specializes in weather-resistant coatings designed specifically for Arizona's intense sun. Whether you need a full exterior refresh or just want to protect what you've got, they handle it all with the same attention to detail.

Scottsdale Scoop subscribers get an exclusive 15% discount. Beat the holiday rush when everyone suddenly remembers their house needs to look good for guests.

Claim your 15% discount here.

Want to get your business in front of 15k+ locals? Click the button below and let’s talk!

I stopped into Grimaldi's Pizzeria this weekend and I've been sleeping on this place. The coal-fired brick oven pizza was incredible. My buddy visiting from Chicago even said it's the best pizza he's had in Arizona so far which is saying something!

What I love most is how much they give back locally. Since 2012, Grimaldi's has raised over $1.1 million for No Kid Hungry to help combat childhood hunger. They also donate to children's hospitals, animal shelters, local food banks, and schools near their locations. Their headquarters is right here in the Valley, so this is a true Arizona success story with Brooklyn roots.

This one's personal for me. Some of my earliest memories are sitting on the couch with my grandma, watching Giada De Laurentiis on Food Network. We'd spend hours together watching her cook, and those moments stuck with me. So when Luna by Giada opened at Caesars Republic Scottsdale, I knew I had to check it out.

The restaurant lives up to the hype. It's sophisticated but still has that warm, high-energy vibe that makes you want to settle in for a while. The menu pulls from Giada's Roman heritage with California influences throughout and you can taste the passion in every dish.

Worth checking out for your next date night!

Summer's winding down, but there's still time to catch Hotel Adeline's Liquid Sunshine pool party series running every Saturday through September. It's become one of Old Town's go-to spots for locals looking to make the most of the season.

The vibe is exactly what you'd want: resident DJs spinning all afternoon, the Freestyle Pool Bar slinging cocktails and poolside bites, and lawn games like cornhole when you need a break from the water. You can reserve a private cabana with bottle service for your crew, or just grab a day pass and post up by the pool.

No hotel stay required. Snag a day pass through ResortPass and turn your Saturday into a proper staycation without leaving town.

Book your spot here.

Spotlight

🍽️ Arizona Chef's Week | through Sunday, August 9 | $55 three-course menus

Two standouts still taking reservations:

🍝 Marino's Italian Kitchen & Bar | tuna tartare, seared scallops & risotto, braised short rib, limoncello tiramisu

🥂 Ella on the Park | 4:00 PM | signature bourbon cake or deluxe banana split

Thursday, August 6

💐 Petals for Paws | The Esplanade Conference Center | 5:30 PM

🎧 Music Bingo | Pinnacle Brewing Company | 6:30 PM

Friday, August 7

🫒 Gourmet Class: Mediterranean Summer | Classic Cooking Academy | 6:30 PM

🎬 Havana Nights: Classic Movies | The Canal Club at The Scott | Evening

🎤 An Evening with Reba and Dolly | Casino Arizona Showroom | 7:30 PM

Saturday, August 8

🍯 Making Medicine with Raw Honey | Desert Sage Herbs | 1:30 PM

🎛️ Celebrate Electronic Music | Musical Instrument Museum | 9:00 AM

🍷 Saturday Wine Dinner | Classic Cooking Academy | 6:00 PM

Sunday, August 9

🖍️ Kids Day | Phoenix Art Museum | 12:00 PM

For a full list of events check out our Scottsdale Event Calendar here.

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $9M! I can't find a lot of pics on this, but it does look very nice from what I see.

Here’s the link if you want to check it out.