Beloved ASU bar to close after 15 years in Tempe

The Tempe staple is set to be replaced by luxury apartments.

December 18, 2024

Image: Devil's Advocate is a Tempe staple. The bar has served ASU students and fans for 15 years.

Devil's Advocate is a Tempe staple. The bar has served ASU students and fans for 15 years. Phoenix New Times

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Devil's Advocate Sports Grill, a popular Tempe bar, announced its upcoming closure on Tuesday.

The bar, located on University Drive just east of Rural Road, is a popular hangout for Arizona State University students and Sun Devil sports fans. It has served students and the Tempe community for 15 years.

The owners of the bar posted the news to social media, thanking fans, customers and staff.

"We've loved every moment we've had here in Tempe," owner Jarred Stetser said in the post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Devil's Advocate 🔱 Sports Bar & Grill (@devilsaz)

The announcement explained that the bar "made the difficult decision to sell its long term leasehold back to the property owners," and that the bar "will cease operations to make way for an exciting new development project in the area."

Scottsdale developer Aspirant Development, part of the Empire Group, has purchased a parcel that includes the bar, The Arizona Republic reported. The developer has plans to build a luxury apartment complex on the land.

Devil's Advocate will serve its final customers on Dec. 28.

Devil's Advocate

955 E. University Drive, Tempe

Tirion Boan is the Food Editor of Phoenix New Times where she’s worked since May 2022. Tirion keeps a close eye on restaurant openings and closings, offers dining recommendations and reports on metro Phoenix food news and trends. She also publishes major annual lists like Top 100 Bars and Top 100 Restaurants, and contributes to the Best of Phoenix project. Tirion previously worked for publications including The Arizona Republic and The Tucson Weekly. She holds a bachelor’s of arts in journalism from the University of Arizona.

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