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Phoenix doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to preserving its own history, but some folks here really do care about our past.
How about saving a business that goes back to 1929? In this city of tear-downs and makeovers, that’s epic.
As of last week, the Bidwill family, owners of the Arizona Cardinals, are the new owners of downtown institution Tom’s Tavern, and plan to run the eatery via the same division of their company that handles food services at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
The restaurant went on the market last year when previous owner Michael Ratner couldn’t maintain operations due to his battle with cancer, to which he eventually succumbed in November.
Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, a longtime supporter of Tom’s Tavern and acquaintance of Ratner, says he didn’t want to see the place close. “It’s a downtown tradition.”
Indeed, the restaurant has long been a favorite place for the city’s movers and shakers to pow-wow over a hearty breakfast and coffee. Once it reopens (as early as today), who knows? Tom’s could go another 70 years.
