Less than a year after making its debut as a food hall with eight dining options, Tempe Eats will end its run on Tuesday. The space is set to become an events venue.
“We are leaning into what we do well, which is events and large groups,” says owner Teresa Nguyen.
The food hall's concepts offered a wide range of options, including burgers, wings, pasta, New Orleans-inspired barbecue, tapas, sushi, salads and tacos, as well as a pour-your-own-beer wall and a full-service bar.
Nguyen opened Tempe Eats in February 2024 after working for four years to transform the building near Southern and Mill avenues that previously housed pet supply and auto parts stores.
The owner was attracted to a food hall concept as a space where people with varying tastes could find meals to suit their palates. But, Tempe Eats was different than the typical food hall model. Each spot was operated by Nguyen. And, Tempe Eats employed an online system where guests ordered food and drinks from across the space in one place. This was an effort to streamline the process, Nguyen explained last year, where people wait in line to order at each restaurant.
“That solves the problem of having to separate from your friends,” she shared in 2024.
“What we found is we’re a really good fit for large groups,” Nguyen says. “When people come in they’re really impressed by the space.”
Tempe Eats will host public events, too. The owner says she wants to build on successful dance and cultural happenings held at the food hall during its 11-month tenure. Upcoming events in the works include a ticketed wine pairing dinner and a free-to-attend food truck meetup that will bring some vendors into the kitchen kiosks and invite others to park outside.
Although Tempe Eats will look different, the aim to be a community gathering place is the same, Nguyen said in an announcement last month.
