It's hard not to miss the Urban Grocery and Wine Bar when we stare into the empty windows and lifeless building on Saturday morning runs to the Public Market. And after the flurry of news that followed the closing last spring, including our report that St. Francis chef/owner Aaron Chamberlin was looking into the space, our interest was piqued.
See also: Downtown Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery and Wine Bar to Close May 12; Wednesday/Saturday Market and Food Truck Friday Will Continue See also: Aaron Chamberlin Will Open Farm-Focused Cafe in Urban Grocery Space
Royal at the Market shuttered its doors in July and with this semester's influx of college students to the downtown campus, we're wondering just how much longer we'll have to wait.
According to Chamberlin, who's determined to keep things hush-hush until he's got it all nailed down, we can expect the "farm focused café" soon...but not too soon.
Details after the jump.
Chamberlin has quite a few things in the works for the restaurant, which he says will be a casual spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He hopes to attract the crowds of students from the nearby ASU Downtown campus with affordable pricing ($10-15) and healthy dining options.
For now, he's still working on the design for the space and expects to begin demolition and construction within the next few weeks. Potential plans include a "healthy bar," commissary and - farther down the line - an "R+D kitchen."
If all goes well, he hopes to open doors in January.
As we reported in May, Chamberlin is considering using the former name but still hasn't hashed out details of a deal. After the media storm that surrounded the opening of his first restaurant, Chamberlin says he's hesitant to speak too soon before dotting and crossing his proverbial i's and t's.
Stay tuned.
