Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club recently rebranded their dining establishment to the Arroyo Grille. Located in Maricopa, the Arroyo Grille is open to the public and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located a few miles from downtown Maricopa and a 40 minute drive south from Phoenix the club sits on the border of where the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Gila River Indian Community meet.
“We looked at the restaurant and it was named Grille 109 but it didn’t have an identity that tied it to the Community,” said Brady Wilson, general manager.
After working with the Ak-Chin Indian Community language department, Wilson and his team found their name in one of the translations for the Community’s name “Ak-Chin” – the mouth of the Arroyo.
“We felt this made for a perfect name of our restaurant and we wanted to have a more direct connection back to the Community culture and traditions. The name literally translates to “where the water loses itself into the sand,” Wilson referenced.
In addition, the definition and logo design is incorporated into the menu design as part of the “story” they want to tell. The turquoise color was chosen because “Turquoise stands for water and for sky, for bountiful harvests, health and protection,” according to Maxine McBrinn, Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The green color of the Sun Basket and tagline below the logo is the same shade of green used in the grass of the regular Ak-Chin Southern Dunes flag logo, tying the grille to the overall property brand.
The Ak-Chin Indian Community purchased the Southern Dunes Golf Course in 2010. The facility underwent a remodel during the summer of 2013 and this time provided ample time for a rebrand.
The rebrand process included meeting with the Ak-Chin Indian Community elders and the basket makers. Several handmade baskets were designed by elders and are featured in framed displays throughout the restaurant.
The menu also features a couple of Native American items including Indian fry bread and Indian tacos. “In every component we’ve tried to tie the restaurant back to the Ak-Chin Indian Community,” Wilson further explained.
Arroyo Grille also features its own in-house smoker where guests can order freshly smoked meats. The menu also offers very affordable pricing with sandwiches, including the local favorite the walleye, starting at $8 and is a family-friendly atmosphere with a kids menu. When placing your order make sure to save room for dessert. Wilson admitted the dessert options are wonderful and personally recommends the homemade cookie in a skillet.
On a Saturday or Sunday the Arroyo Grille could feel like a sports bar with eight televisions and eight draft beer specials running.
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club is located at 48456 West Highway 238, Maricopa, AZ. For more information visit http://www.golfsoutherndunes.com/
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