I’ve been waiting for a better update on Lenny’s Craft Burger at Cannon Beach because this one isn’t going to be a normal Lenny’s.

And we’re getting pretty close.

They’re still aiming for a mid-October opening, and there’s been quite a bit of progress lately. I wouldn’t plan lunch there for October 15 quite yet because restaurant openings move around all the time, but this one is definitely getting closer.

This isn’t supposed to be a regular Lenny’s

If you’ve lived in Arizona for a while, you probably know Lenny’s.

They’ve been doing burgers here since the 1980s. Burgers, fries, pastrami, shakes. Pretty straightforward.

The Cannon Beach location is being called Lenny’s Craft Burger, and they’re trying something a little different with it.

This version is supposed to have a full bar and a slightly more elevated menu, while still keeping the burgers and some of what people already know Lenny’s for.

There’s also an outdoor patio overlooking Revel Surf, which might be my favorite part of this location. Lenny’s has been showing it during construction, and you’ll be able to sit outside, eat or have a cocktail and watch the surfers. 

I actually think Cannon Beach is one of the few places where changing Lenny’s this much makes sense.

People aren’t necessarily coming here to eat for 30 minutes and leave. You’ve got the surf park, KTR Cannon Beach, restaurants and more businesses filling in around them. If you’re already spending a few hours here, a Lenny’s where you can sit outside with a burger and drink while watching people surf fits pretty well.

My only request is don’t get too fancy with it. 

I still want Lenny’s to feel like Lenny’s.

I went to their First Friday kickoff, and I really liked what I saw

This is another part of Cannon Beach I’ve been curious about.

They started experimenting with First Fridays this year, with vendors, live music and DJs around the development. The idea is to make it something people come back to every month and also get more people walking around Cannon Beach who may have never had a reason to visit the surf park. 

I went out for the September 4 kickoff, and I was actually pretty impressed by how many people showed up.

There were people walking around, checking out vendors, eating, listening to music and seeing parts of Cannon Beach they probably wouldn't have otherwise.

I really like what the people behind it are trying to do.

Because I still think there are plenty of people around the East Valley who hear Cannon Beach and basically think, Oh yeah, that surf place.

But there’s quite a bit more being built around it.

You don't have to surf. You don't even have to care about surfing.

Come over on a Friday night, walk around, eat somewhere, listen to music, check out the vendors, bring the kids and see what else has opened since the last time you were here.

If First Friday keeps pulling people out like that first big one did, I could see it becoming a really good monthly event for this side of Mesa.

And every new restaurant that opens makes it a little better.

There’s still a lot more Cannon Beach coming

Cannon Beach AZ Shopping, Dining, Entertainment Center is open, but it definitely isn’t finished.

That's something I'd keep in mind if you went early and weren't super impressed.

The restaurant portion is still filling in. Mesa has recently highlighted J.L. Hot Pot, George’s Sports Bar and Lenny’s among the next wave of Restaurant Row businesses, and additional restaurant space has been under construction. (LinkedIn)

Lenny’s should be one of the more noticeable openings this fall.

Then there’s something much bigger planned farther out.

The hotel could change Cannon Beach quite a bit

A five-story, 148-room hotel from Hilton’s Tapestry Collection is currently planned at Cannon Beach.

The latest plans are for roughly 110,000 square feet, with a signature restaurant, outdoor pool, meeting and event space and other amenities. The project has continued moving through Mesa this year, including a proposed development agreement that was still pending in the city's process as of the latest update. (KTAR.com)

I'm not spending too much time on that one yet because it's obviously farther out.

But I do think the hotel changes Cannon Beach if they pull it off.

Right now, most people still drive here, do whatever they came to do and head home.

A hotel introduces people who are actually staying at Cannon Beach.

Someone comes into town to surf. A family visits for the weekend. People do a staycation. There’s an event happening here.

Now restaurants aren't just feeding people for lunch after a surf session. You've potentially got hotel guests walking around looking for dinner, somewhere to have a drink or something to do at night.

That makes the restaurant lineup, First Fridays and all the other stuff they're building around Revel more important.

I’m curious how this version of Lenny’s does here

I probably wouldn’t be paying nearly as much attention if this were just another regular Lenny’s opening.

But I like that they're trying something different.

Give me the old-school Lenny’s burger, a drink and a patio where I can sit outside and watch people surf in the middle of Mesa.

That sounds pretty good to me. 

And I think it fits what Cannon Beach is slowly becoming.

The surf park gets you to notice the place. But restaurants, events like First Friday, KTR and eventually the hotel are what could get people who don't surf to actually spend time here.

Mid-October is still what Lenny’s is aiming for. (Instagram)

I’ll be watching for the actual opening day, because this is probably the next Cannon Beach opening I want to try.