Desert Companion, the magazine of Nevada Public Radio, published a feature by Heidi Knapp Rinella asking whether Henderson's restaurant scene, which has grown over the past two decades, is reaching critical mass. The piece drew on residents and operators, including Water Street developer Windom Kimsey, restaurateur Juan Vazquez and Makers & Finders owner Josh Molina, and reported that the City of Henderson issued 107 new restaurant and food-service licenses in the past year. Several sources described a scene that depends heavily on the neighborhood, with independents gaining ground on Water Street, at Paseo Verde Plaza and elsewhere.
The Cliff came up through Claudine Branchaud West, a Green Valley resident, who told the magazine she knew The Cliff would be opening and that it would bring restaurants within walking distance of her house. The article identified the project only as a retail development and gave no further detail on it.