Scottsdale's Sharpe Haus helps chefs, home cooks find the perfect edge

In November 2024, Sharpe Haus opened on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard.

At the family-owned business, chefs and amateur cooks alike can find professional-grade cutlery, knife blocks, smallwares, aprons, chefs' coats and nearly any other item to round out their cooking arsenal. Customers can also bring in their knives for sharpening.

Sharpe Hause is owned and operated by Joe Roybal — who goes by the moniker Joe Sharpe — and his wife, Heather Roybal.

The couple is originally from North Carolina. Though he worked in restaurants growing up, Roybal's professional background is not as a chef, but in mergers and acquisitions. He was hired to sell a knife-sharpening business. After evaluating the business and feeling that he could successfully operate it, the Roybals purchased the company. It was their first foray into mobile knife sharpening.

To hone his experience, Roybal began studying knife sharpening with renowned knife expert Mike Solaegui in San Francisco. He studied for eight years, eventually putting that knowledge and experience to use to design his own custom knife sharpening system.

After starting their first mobile sharpening business in North Carolina, the Roybals expanded to Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. However, having lived in the Valley for a stint, the couple felt the desert calling and decided to move back. They wanted to open a storefront to provide their services to the public.

They chose Scottsdale, as it is centrally located and near many restaurants and resorts, and opened Sharpe Haus on Nov. 20, the week before Thanksgiving.

"Every month we get a little bit busier and busier," Roybal says.

At the shop, Robal has implemented his proprietary system, which uses polyester, sponges and muslin, among other materials. Compared with using sharpening stones, this custom method removes less metal, creates a sharper edge and takes a fraction of the time, Roybal says.

Using his unique technique, Roybal can sharpen straight-edge and serrated knives to an extremely acute edge. He can even re-serrate or put the "teeth" back on bread and steak knives.

"We put the best edge in the Valley," Roybal says.

Sharpe Haus also has a mobile unit that travels to a rapidly growing list of commercial clients. Sharpe Haus provides mobile knife sharpening and restaurant supplies to over 90 commercial clients, including private chefs, the Arizona Biltmore, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and The Phoenician.

During the cooler months, Sharpe Haus also provides sharpening services to the public on Wednesdays at the Uptown Farmer's Market.

For customers interested in purchasing knives, Sharpe Hause carries options from Japan, Germany, the U.S. and China. The selection also includes knives by Kikuichi, the oldest knife manufacturer in the world. Roybal explains that Kikuichi's origins go back to a bladesmith hired to make Samurai swords in the 13th century. When it later became illegal to carry swords, Kikuichi transitioned to making cutlery. Their beautiful handles are made of buffalo horn and maple and the knives are surprisingly lightweight.

Sharpe Haus is also the exclusive carrier of local bladesmith Corey Dunlap's stainless steel chef's knife.

Although Sharpe Haus carries many well-known brands, Roybal feels it's essential for customers to feel comfortable using their knives. He encourages customers to take their time looking so they find the knife that is the most comfortable for them to use.

"We don't sell off of brand. We want you to find the most comfortable knife because that's the best for you to buy," Roybal says. "If it doesn't feel good, if you don't like the balance of it, you're not going to use it and you've wasted your money."

Sharpe Haus

7126 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale