Article originally posted on Phoenix Business Journal on Oct 23 2026

Roka Akor, one of the Valley’s most celebrated elevated Japanese restaurants, is preparing to open its second location in Gilbert.

The restaurant, which has operated in Scottsdale near Indian Bend and Scottsdale roads for nearly two decades, has signed a lease to open at Northside at SanTan Village, the high-end retail and restaurant component of Okland Capital and San Tan Development Group’s Northside mixed-use development in Gilbert.

Roka Akor, which offers a menu cooked on an authentic Japanese robata grill as well as a celebrate sushi program, agreed to open in Gilbert in a 4,336-square-foot restaurant that has a 1,000-square-foot patio.

“We were immediately drawn to the energy of this development and the way its shared spaces and caliber of brands come together to create a truly unique experience,” said Dario Dell’Anno, Roka Akor’s chief operating officer. “Our Gilbert location will bring everything that has defined our Scottsdale flagship for 18 years into easy reach of the Southeast Valley — a community that has proven its love of great food enjoyed in great settings.”

Roka Akor, which also has locations in San Francisco and Chicago, takes expansion very seriously; Dell’Anno said growth only works if “every new Roka feels like Roka.” The new restaurant is slated to open in mid-2027.

Roka Akor is one of several new tenants recently signed at Northside at SanTan Village, which is located between Williams Field and Ray roads and south of TopGolf in Gilbert. Bryan Babits and Alberto Caballero of Western Retail Advisors⁠ serve as the project’s exclusive leasing brokers. Babits and Caballero recently worked on deal to bring luxury nail salon Aria Nail Bar to the property, as well as virtual reality entertainment concept Sandbox VR⁠.

The new development is already home to Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, which entered the Arizona market in mid-2026 with an 11,000-square-foot restaurant.

“Northside has attracted highly credible, in-demand brands, and its two remaining spaces are a great opportunity for future tenants to share in that success,” Caballero said. “Both availabilities include patios, making them ideal for a fast-casual breakfast or lunch concept.”

Northside at SanTan Village has two retail spaces remaining for lease — a 2,832-square-foot unit fronting San Tan Village Parkway on the northwest corner of the center and a 1,487-square-foot unit on the northeast corner of the center. Both units include patio space and border a planned 134-room hotel.

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