^Right on! I have been wondering when that place was going to open. They have been working on it for several months. Its in a good location too...right across the street from the transit center, and not too far from the stadium.

man, that place has been several bars and restaurants over the years. My favorite was Devil's Annex, which had $1 drafts every night from 8-12.

hmm, open up a "small" brewery near Four Peaks, good luck to them.

Four Peaks is actually helping them with a lot of things. With what exactly I don't know. Hopefully they will open on time, I will post more details when I know them.

Here is some great news about Mill and Downtown Tempe. Hopefully this is the beginning to a revitalized Mill and Downtown Tempe.

Woooo - more places for me to stumble home from. Whip lounge just didn't cut it last weekend. I'll be at that new Irish place for sure. Speaking of Irish - for all who are interested, The Pogues are playing in October and they are fantastic. I hope one day the Ash/Farmer blocks will get filled in and really create a "district" feel moreso than just one great street. Places like Sail Inn are awesome, but are cut off from downtown by that barren space in between Farmer and Mill. Wootah, that's one heavily caffeinated post!

Holy hell, we are getting a five guys! It is everywhere on the east coast and there burgers are freaking gigantic and fries are to die for. It will be interesting to see what time they are open until because the ones I know close relatively early (midnight at the latest) and this type of food is made to be for drunks (although fat burger is also on Mill so the competition is going to be off the charts).

Five Guys will be occupying the space formerly occupied by the old Coffee Plantation. It's being renovated right now.

For a fast food hamburger, Five Guys is one of the best.

It LIVES!!!!! The DOME OF THE DEAD RISES:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7587/dsc0165g.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6126/dsc0166wq.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/4827/dsc0168fz.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4425/dsc0170a.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/6150/dsc0172r.jpg

Great pics hoover - thanks. It is good to see some new businesses come in. There is way to many vacant spaces. In addition there is a lot of new buildings coming online with vacancies (eg Gateway/garage on 5th by the transit center etc) so it is good to see businesses moving in. It sounds like MADCAP is helping with the Centerpoint area. Hopefully something will happen with the towers for goodness sakes.


http://www.abc15.com/content/financi...8YFfZPiWQ.cspx

TEMPE, AZ – Despite tough economic times, over a dozen businesses are launching in the Mill Avenue area and all are holding a special sneak peek on Thursday to show off what they will be offering customers.

The sneak peek will start at 2 p.m. and will include all of the new businesses showcasing their products and offering samples or additional information.

Spark Magazine will display their latest issue, while Suckerpunch Sally’s will exhibit one of their custom motorcycles and speak about their 24-hour café with a donut buffet.

According to a City of Tempe news release, the launches are a combination of businesses that have chosen Tempe as their new location and winners of the Mill Avenue Retail Competition, in which the winners received a year of free rent with three-year lease and a free one-year-membership from the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.

"We are excited about all of our new businesses that are adding to the great destination that is the Mill Avenue District,” said Nancy Hormann, the Downtown Tempe Community Executive Director. “Both those that won our contest and those who independently chose to make Tempe their business home."

Tempe has been named one of the top ten places in the country to start a new business by Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek magazines, according to city officials.

The new businesses include:

The Irish Pub
Five Guys
Jimmy Johns
Bright Horizons Daycare
Smashburger
Dave's Electric Brew
Suckerpunch Sally's Cafe
Spark Magazine
Sea Life
Regions
Total Wine & More
Vanity on Mill
Pancheros

Thanks for the pics Hoover. I knew that dome would rise from the dead eventually. Where is it exactly? From your pics, I would guess it is somewhere around the Vista Del Sol apartments/dorms on Apache?

I'd bet the area between Mill & College gets filled in first. I'm sure Centerpoint will get finished at some point, but aside from that, there's already a lot more existing foot traffic on the east side of Mill (even between the dirt lots around 7th and Myrtle), and less railroad noise to deal with.

I half agree. There's already plenty of stuff between Mill and Ash and I think that area will continue to develop, but you're right, I just don't see that development extending across the railroad tracks anytime soon. I think the whole area between Ash and College is going to see some major development sooner than later. A lot of the mega projects like University Square may have fallen through, but they did succeed in clearing a lot of area and assembling some very large land parcels that are now relatively cheap due to the market. Mill may be slumping for now, but ASU students and football games combined with Tempe's central location in the valley and emphasis on transit connectivity are just too big an economic draw for Mill to stay down.

Great find Hoover. Where has the dome landed? it looks like Gamera.

^its at the Vista Del Sol apartment complex which is on the South side of Apache, just West of Rural. Sadly you can't see it from the street, its hidden by the buildings, but if you go into the visitor parking area you can check it out. The shade area that it will be a part of is under construction as you can see, but it should be cool.

I noticed that dome when I was riding my bike through the area checking out the new freshm- er, buildings. I, too, am disappointed it is not in a more visible location.

While the dome is pretty cool, I'm glad to see the building it used to sit atop is gone.

Rural/Apache now has a nice urban feel to it.

^The area around Rural and Apache, and Apache between Rural and Mill Ave., has really changed for the better in the past few years.

edit: Now, if we can get all of the new retail spaces filled along that stretch, that would be sweet.

and its not the only one, there is another brewery setting up near mcclintock and university, called Sleepy Dog Brewery.

What building are they going into? It's not the big red barn, can't remember what that was before?

The big red barn at University and McClintock was Minder-Binders. It was a cool place to hangout.

YES, thats it. I remember hearing some place that it is so far out of code now, that it would be cheaper to raze it and build something new rather than repair it? Do you know if this is true?

Can't say for sure. It wouldn't surprise me though if that old place is way out of code.

There is a strip mall at the SE corner of McClintock and University. I used to buy my liquor there at AAA, the guys who worked there would smoke me up once in a while.

Wouldn't surprise me if they moved in there somewhere, there also is an empty lot immediately to the W of the McDonalds there.

Can we say finally?


Centerpoint developer seeking Chapter 7

A photo tour of the Centerpoint towers:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryno/se...7604008534166/

I was at ASU today and noticed that they finally put up some meters for those parallel parking spaces along Apache. Does anyone know the story on those? Have they been in for a while and I'm just dense? There are hours on them, but I saw a cop drive by and ignore that fact that every one of the meters was timed out, so I'm assuming they're not enforcing those yet? Any idea when they're going to start?

As a motorcycle rider who always gets a free space right next to campus I vote boo, but as a general citizen it's probably a good thing.

Speaking of motorcycles in those spaces. Is it common in other cities for motorcycles to double park with cars in parallel parking spots like they do in those along Apache? Is that actually legal, or do the cops just ignore it? If they do that in other cities (or even if they don't, if you know), what happens once the meters go in? Does the double parking have to stop or do the motorcycles just get a free spot as long as the car driver paid the meter already?

I don't know the story behind the meters or when enforcement is to take effect. What I can say is that they have only been installed for about 3 weeks. I live just off Apache, and pass by them every day. I was quite surprised that the city installed meters along there. I guess it is a sign of the times, and it's an attempt to collect more revenue.

I don't know if I forgot to press submit on my last post or if it got deleted.

I park my bike on sidewalks in tempe and downtown and have never had an issue. I also share parking spots with strangers cars. Just one of the perks of having a bike. Enjoy it.

The city has full-time parking enforcement personnel. You probably won't ever see a cop get out of a squad car to write parking tickets in Tempe.

Not surprised to read this...
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoen...28/story2.html

At least Dave's Dog House didn't get razed.

That area from Mill to College and University to 5th/Veterans Way could be such a cool little pocket of dense, urban living. Tempe will continue to screw up that area though by tearing it all down and building nothing.

I remember being angry at the owner of Dave's when he put up a fight and wouldn't leave (when I had visions of high rises being built there.) Now I just want to go thank him for standing his ground.

^
I can't say that I'm upset about a convention center not being there. There's already quite a few places of various size on campus if some school-related functions were in need of a venue, whether it's related to recruitment or maybe research being done on campus, and no matter what building they put there, I don't think the present site of Dave's Doghouse could realistically ever be in the mix when it comes time for the plumber's union to decide where they're next convention will be held.

I am actually upset at the owner of Dave's Dog house. Not to mention they are over priced, and not that good hot dogs. I would much rather go to Ted's. But his refusal to come to an agreement almost single handily killed that entire block. If he agreed like everybody else, construction would be done by now with tenants moving in long ago. He came across as a money hungry SOB. I can't find it in my self to side with him.

Casey moores sucks

I used to think the same thing, now I don't. Had he agreed to being bullied by the city, they would have torn down the entire block, and the project would never have gone forward anyways. Then we'd just have a big empty dirt lot.
That Dave's has high prices isn't the point. (although I do agree.) It's about having value and reasons to be in town. All that vacant, unused land is depressing.

I think the point is that that land wouldn't be vacant now if Dave's had left. He sat there for years holding up a project that would have been a major benefit to the city. If he had left with everyone else that project could have been built before the economy crashed.

Yes, that is exactly where I am coming from.

On a side note, does anyone know the status of the hotel that was scheduled to go across from the Transit Station? They built the parking garage but nothing since then.

.

Last I heard is that it is on hold until financing can be secured.

they (sleepy dog brewery) are on university a little ways east of mcclintock, its in one of those light-industry/office style strips along the street.

It appears as though Tempe now has a daily farmers market:

http://www.urbanrealtyaz.com/Blog/Do...empe_YES!.html

Sweeeeet.

Also seems like a good Pizza coupon special under the coupon section. I have not been to Tessios but it seems like a good deal. XLarge for 6.99 takeout. Anybody been there?

I went to that farmer's market this afternoon. I guess it wasn't too bad, but the produce selection was lacking. Until they can get it dialed in a little more, I don't think it's a place where one would depend on it for everyday needs. But it's a good place to go and check out and see what they have.

I think their rye bread I bought was damn good and pretty cheap, like half what you'd pay for an Orowheat loaf at the supermarket. But they have like 20 different kinds of local salsa and they're all $5+ for a small bottle. They also have some locally-sourced meats (all of it seemed pork-based), but I didn't buy any of it. It was all in a freezer and kind of pricy.

It's worth a visit if you're in the area, probably not something to drive across town for.

Dave's Electric is now open. The micro brew located at 5th and College if your going to the ASU game tomorrow you should check it out.

^
Did they finish it today?

I literally walked past Dave's this afternoon to get to that light rail station and it definitely wasn't open yet. Some of the contractors were drinking some Cokes and smoking cigarettes on their patio, and they had the TVs on, but it wasn't quite finished inside and it looked like they still needed a few days.

Hmmmm....I was on the Orbit when I drove by and saw people at the bar with TVs on and a bartender. I just assumed it was open. I will have to talk to Christina (the owner) today at the tailgate. If she is there, she might be running the place. Either way I'll figure it out and report back.

Was anyone aware that redevelopment of the Mill has begun? At last! I was beginning to wonder if I would even see it redeveloped in my lifetime or even my children's (if I had any) lifetime. :yes:

Click on the link for the full article.

I personally think this is very poor reporting by State Press. The developer Avenue Communities, the development arm of tempe land co., is in deep shit and tethering on the brink of complete bankruptcy.

This project isnt on the table at this point.

Yeah. I am thinking the same. The owners are in deep financial trouble, and I really haven't seen anything going on around the mill. So, I am wondering why the State Press even ran this story, as it is not really any new earth shattering news. I was just wondering if something is really going on, as in are they ready to move forward, or if this is simply a fluff piece.

yeah - I'm not holding my breath on that one. Nor much of anything these days. There is an in depth article on the Centerpoint condos in New Times this week. It is an interesting in depth read. Kinda depressing really. It is nice they are redeveloping some of Mill ave. buildings. That is nice to see.

I went there after the game last night, yesterday was their first full opening. So we just saw employees sitting around that day. Their beer is good. The Electric and the IPA is what I had last night. Check it out.