Poolhouse Group
Audio By Carbonatix
Nearly four years ago, on the heels of opening The Green Woodpecker in midtown Phoenix, Aaron Pool was mapping out plans to launch Poolboy Taco.
Pool, who also owns the fast-casual Mexican chain Gadzooks with his brother Jared, hoped to open this “passion project” taco shop in 2022. Over the years, they’ve showcased Poolboy’s tacos at pop-ups and festivals, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Long lines and patrons’ reactions told them they were onto something.
Initially, Pool intended for the taco shop to be located across the Park Central parking lot from Green Woodpecker, a do-it-all spot where you can pick up a bottle of wine and a bouquet or saddle up to the bar for a pint and a bean-and-cheese burrito. When bids to build out the space came in around $1 million, Pool and his brother decided to hit pause on Poolboy again.
“We’re trying to sell $4 tacos here,” Pool says. “Even if this thing is crushing it, you’re not going to sell enough tacos.”
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The brothers then targeted Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. It’s an area they are familiar with, having operated a Gadzooks location at 40th Street and Camelback Road since 2017. Instead of finding a new building, they’re closing one door to open another.
After service on Saturday, Nov. 8, they’ll shutter that location, shuffle staff to their remaining two Gadzooks and revamp the space into Poolboy. The new taco shop is planned to open in December.
Though it’s taken a while to find a permanent home, “it’s the perfect time for Poolboy,” Pool says.
Poolhouse Group
An affordable, unique taco shop
In the face of rising costs and inflation, the Pools’ restaurant will be a place where people can get a meal for around $10.
“I think people are looking for value more than ever,” Pool says.
Tacos take center stage on the Poolboy menu, which will also include an enchilada plate, salad, nachos and a rotation of cakes.
The restaurant’s eponymous signature taco starts with the Pools’ 50-50 tortillas, made with a split of corn and flour and available crunchy or soft. That tortilla is then stuffed with roasted tomatillo chicken, sweet-and-spicy cornbread, a slaw dressed with honey vinaigrette, jalapeno ranch and cotija cheese.
“Great restaurants have something that’s craveable,” Pool says. “You need one thing on the menu you can’t get anywhere else.”
Beef and breakfast tacos are among other options, which can be jazzed up at Poolboy’s salsa bar. The bar will feature housemade arbol, habanero, avocado and verde salsas as well as pico de gallo.
Pool also plans to partner with local chefs, athletes and other notable figures around town to craft a monthly taco special. He isn’t trying to create a traditional taqueria.
“We’re just trying to make really good, interesting food,” he says.
Poolboy will serve signature tacos and a rotating special crafted by a chef, athlete or other notable figure. 
Poolboy Taco’s kids menu includes pickle-brined chicken tenders. 
Poolboy’s tortillas are made with half corn and half flour, and available soft or crunchy. 
The Pools’ mom, Linda, will bake treats for Poolboy, including carrot cake.
In homage to Gadzooks, the menu will include Aaron’s Enchiladas, “the enchiladas I’ve eaten since we opened,” Pool says. The plate features one shredded beef and one chicken enchilada, with Chihuahua cheese, smothered “Christmas-style” and topped with Chihuahua cheese, pico de gallo, slaw and jalapeno ranch.
Pool, a father of two, promises a kids’ menu that will include pickle-brined chicken tenders. Adults can also “hack” menu items and swap in tendies, too. The Pools’ mom, Linda, will bake her signature carrot cake and other sweets.
Poolboy’s bar will be stocked with beers, frozen cocktails and a selection of margaritas.
Though it’s a casual, counter-service spot, the team is adding touches to entice people to hang out. The former Gadzooks will get a dose of vintage diner and cabana charm with cushy red vinyl booths, terrazzo flooring, as well as pastel neon and brass accents, including a sculpture of Poolboy’s seal mascot. The patio will be filled with striped seats and lined with lush hedges.
“It’s just fun, bright, lively, energetic,” Pool says.
The opening of Poolboy marks the realization of one long-term dream and the end of a chapter for Gadzooks. This closure comes after the Pools shuttered locations in Chandler and Tempe in February.
“The market, in general, it just changed,” Pool says.
Gadzooks has two remaining locations in Phoenix and Gilbert.
“They’re performing,” Pool says. “People can be happy to know that (those Gadzooks locations) will just be there and Poolboy will be its own thing.”
Poolboy Taco
Opens in December
4031 E. Camelback Road
