The latest addition to the Sand Springs RiverWest development is counting down the days till its grand opening. Chili’s Grill & Bar is scheduled to open to the public on Monday, December 18th at 11:00 a.m.

The City of Sand Springs announced the addition of Chili’s in October of 2022 as one of the final pieces in a 16-year-long development project on the former site of an impoverished mostly-residential community in the Keystone Expressway corridor.

“Brinker (International) selecting Sand Springs for its only current new Chili’s unit in the metro Tulsa area is a reflection of Sand Springs continuing to be recognized as the anchor for west of the River new metro growth, and our Sand Springs Council and City staff have an aggressive approach to economic development,” said City Manager Mike Carter last year.

“The City has been very selective in the brands we have been working with, and Chili's was one of our top choices. This Chili's will be the newest prototype building design, and it will feature all the usual Chili's menu favorites. We are going to have high quality Brinker International offerings for our community and regional customers to enjoy."

The new restaurant will also operate as It’s Just Wings, an online chicken wing delivery service.

Chili’s will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 10:45 a.m. hosted by the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce and Sand Springs City Council. They will begin serving food at 11:00 a.m.

With Chili’s across the finish line, the last remaining development project in RiverWest is a Planet Fitness location announced in May. The 20,000 square foot, $8 million investment will be located at 100 W. Morrow Rd. and will complete the district.

The blighted 30-acre area that became RiverWest was acquired through a series of buyouts beginning in 2007 thanks to $14.5 million in Vision 2025 funding.

The redevelopment project has led to the construction of an IHOP, CVS, Starbucks, Schlotzsky’s, Holiday Inn Express, ALDI, Colton’s Steak House, and TTCU Federal Credit Union. A recently constructed strip center currently houses Stanton Optical, Great Clips, and Sand Springs Dentistry & Braces.

Additionally, an O’Reilly Auto Parts was relocated within the neighborhood, El Maguey Mexican restaurant was able to relocate to a new construction building from its previous site in a strip center on Adams Road, and Warren Clinic Urgent Care was able to relocate from an older building on Charles Page Boulevard.

With the RiverWest development nearing completion, the City of Sand Springs will shift its focus to the Sheffield Crossing development on Highway 97.