BUSINESS
and golfers who come in regularly.” Groups from Casa Grande, Ahwatukee, Chandler and Peoria are among the regular visitors. Few Maricopa restaurants can say they attract out-of-towners. Mandy’s outdoor patio has only become more popular with the recent addition of live music every other Sunday (and a few other pop-up performances) increasing the sense of community. Atler described it as a “really cool environment” with more offerings on the way. Just the beginning The road to Mandy’s Wine Bar was a long and thoughtful one. The initial period of business, from August until now, has been both a sprint and a marathon. “I oftentimes feel it’s already been four to five months,” Atler admits, “but then later in the day I think it’s only been four to five months. I took a leap in betting on myself, and it’s been such a wonderful experience.” But the best is yet to come. Atler said she intends to host more private events and incorporate more educational aspects through culinary classes, wine dinners with industry experts and more. An additional license to sell bottles on a retail basis is in the works, which will supplement other gift items and lead to the establishment of a Wine Club. “We will slowly introduce more and more fun things. Not everything can happen all at once. We have to do things in a quality way,” Atler said. Mandy’s was recently named the 2024 New Member of the Year by the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce. Atler credited her staff, currently numbering 20, for their professionalism and passion. Patti Coutré, a longtime member of the Maricopa Unified School District Governing Board, is one of the employees who greeted reporters for dinner Jan. 31. She said working as a hostess at the wine room is a great way to keep busy and engage with the community. That evening, the Governing Board President Robert Downey was dining there, giving similar praise from the other side of the menu. “We have an amazing team here. It makes my heart so happy,” Atler concluded. “They believe in what we are trying to do. They come in on their day off, they stay after their shift and have a meal or a drink with their friends. They love it here and are proud of the wine bar.”
The dough and sauce are produced in-house on a daily basis. The variety is paying off, Atler reported. “Being such a unique, new restaurant to Maricopa, we’re appealing to a wide range of ages. There’s an earlier crowd, then it shifts a little a bit later,” Atler shared. “We have hosted 21st birthday parties to 80th birthday parties, as well as anniversaries. We have books clubs
dressings, sauces and more made from scratch. Mandy’s Family Lasagna is among the best sellers. The recipe was passed down by Atler’s mother, who works occasionally as a taste tester for the novel restaurant to “make sure the customer favorite it still hitting the mark.” Vegetable lasagna with roasted poblano peppers and wild mushroom cauliflower orzo are also popular, along with homemade pizzas.
Our dedicated administration and highly- qualified teachers provide excellent education in Maricopa, Arizona. Our teachers and students enjoy: • Full-day kindergarten • Small class sizes • Quality programs • Spanish, PE, and culinary classes
Amanda Atler
POURING A GLASS OF BUSINESS IN MARICOPA Amanda Atler was born to be an entrepreneur, it seems. But it took a few experiences along the way to lead her entrepreneurial spirit to the wine bar concept. A native of the Seattle area — “wine tasting rooms are on almost every corner,” she says — Atler enjoyed the wine culture while she worked 17 years in sales and marketing for the aerospace giant Boeing. “My work at Boeing was all customer relations based. It was identifying issues or inefficiencies and helping make things better; finding solutions,” she said. “In business, wine and food bring people together. As people, we have so much more in common than our differences.” Some of Atler’s work involved international travel. Often, she would remain in new cities for a few extra days, doing some exploring on her own. Her already strong interest in wine was only enhanced. “I just fell in love
As the Mobile Elementary District Superintendent, I’m proud of the great people and the excellent education we provide.We work hard to offer the guidance and support our children need to succeed.
with the geography of vineyards. Are they located next to mountains that hold the clouds back and affect the taste of the wine?” she offered as an example. Atler’s parents moved to Maricopa in 2017, resulting in her occasional visits here from the Pacific Northwest. “We always wanted a place to go for a glass of wine or small bites but there wasn’t one,” Atler reiterated. The thought process that became Mandy’s started in 2019 when she began wondering what she would do if she left the corporate world. When the coronavirus pandemic hit a year later, she completed a full market study on Maricopa and how a wine bar could help solve a shortcoming for the city.
She said she was struck by the projected growth rates and the demographics that revealed a median age of 33 — a Millennial age that’s younger than 153 Arizona cities and towns. And, if the New York Times is to be believed, the perfect age for wine-bar customers. Atler bought her house in Rancho El Dorado in late 2021. She worked with local architects and designers for several years, finding the right location at the Maricopa Grand Professional Village on the north side of town. And the rest is history. “The city of Maricopa had a need,” Atler said. “To fulfill that, and to maintain and continue what we are doing, we had to be very thoughtful from the beginning.”
Teri Romero-Dominguez M.Ed. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR
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InMaricopa.com | March 2025
March 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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