Although just about as many restaurants opened as the ones that closed last month, the good news is that of the places that shuttered, many have plans to reopen as new concepts in the coming months. So, although it hurts to see some local mainstays shutter, it's nice to know there's something new and exciting on the horizon. How's that for a silver lining?
See also: Eating Locally in Phoenix: We're Not Perfect, But We've Come a Long Way
Openings:
- First Draft Book Bar in Changing Hands, Phoenix "The First Draft Book Bar is pouring coffee and beer and wine on tap and offers a menu of small bites and snacks, as well as happy hour deals Monday through Friday."
- The Vig McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale "On the design front the newest Vig location will offer a "modern-territorial feel" with touches that will include bare wood posts and amber-brown paint."
- Grand Avenue Pizza Company, Phoenix "For now Grand Avenue Pizza Company is really counting on customers who like to eat late with hours from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday only."
- The Oatmeal Cafe, Mesa "The cafe is, of course, serving all of Webb's oatmeal creations. Flavor varieties range from the familiar -- original, blueberry vanilla almond, and pumpkin spice -- to the more unexpected, including root beer float, Chocolate Cherry Rapture, and Jewels of India."
- SumoMaya, Scottsdale "Not every dish on the restaurant's lengthy menu is a perfect 10, but overall it does an excellent job of proving that fusion food doesn't have to be the sort of clunky fare with which we've become all too familiar."
- Salt & Lime Modern Mexican Grill, Scottsdale "The restaurant serves a menu of modern Mexican fare -- think, five kinds of salsa, empanadas, and pork belly tacos."
- Freak'N Brewing Company, Peoria "If the name sounds familiar, it's because Freak'N Brewing Company has been around for several years already and has made appearances at events and local competitions including the 2013 Great AZ Home Brew Competition and Arizona Beer Week."
- Oven + Vine, Phoenix "As far as food, the menu will be "oven-driven" featuring slow-roasted brick oven fare. There also will be about a dozen beers available on tap and about that many wines available by the glass."
Closings:
- Mucho Gusto, Tempe "Mucho Gusto was once a star in the Tempe dining scene, filling a niche with its modern, slightly upscale Mexican fare. But in recent years, it's been largely overlooked by Valley food enthusiasts. The Revival will aim to return the restaurant to the list of must-eat Valley restaurants."
- Bill Johnson's Big Apple, Mesa "As of last week only one location -- the original restaurant at 3757 East Van Buren -- remains of what was once a five restaurant mini-chain of Bill Johnson's Big Apple restaurants."
- The Western, Scottsdale "The Western will be turned into a "barcade" called The King that will combine "classic arcade game play with cool tunes, low-cost beverages and comfort food."
- Corbin's Bar and Grill, Sunnyslope "Owner Kevin McNeill opened Corbin's at 8729 N. Central Avenue almost a decade ago and for a short while also operated a second location at 19420 N. 59th Avenue in Glendale."
- Sacks, Tempe "Sacks, on the southwest corner of University and Mill, is being ousted to make way for a mixed-use development project that will include a 30,000-square-foot conference center, a 4,500-seat exhibition arena, a 330-room luxury hotel, a 500-unit apartment complex, and retail and office space."
- IHOP, Tempe "College students will be sad to hear the 24-hour IHOP on Apache Boulevard will soon close..."
- Fuego Del Mar, Phoenix
