Cool Places

Downtown Non-Traditional Office Space Available

Looking for a small, affordable, hip, non-corporate office, design/art studio space or urban crash-pad near downtown and the First Friday Art Destinations? Check out THE CARRIAGE HOUSE @ 9th & Pierce (Orange Building), conveniently located near downtown Phoenix in the Triangle Neighborhood adjacent to the Grand Avenue Arts District and the I-10/7th Avenue on/off ramps.

The Carriage House is a 180 SF free standing, 1920’s red brick structure is ideal for 1 maybe 2 person businesses, creatives, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs looking for an affordable, fun, edgy, off the beaten-path, urban space. The micro-loft interior finish includes exposed red brick walls, stained concrete flooring, floor to ceiling glass, art hanging rails, track lighting, air-conditioning/heating, modern restroom cabinetry & hardware, and is prewired for hi-speed internet (Cat 5 Cable), telephone and security.

The space is part of a 1920’s corner grocery store, creative compound, that was completely redeveloped in 2006. It shares a private fenced yard with two small businesses in the adjacent (Purple) building, a small architecture firm and creative real estate redevelopment & construction practice. The price includes Water & Electric. The unit is currently occupied by a Graphic Designer, but will be available for move-in on June 1.

If you’re interested in a Live/Work arrangement there is also a very unique, 500SF free standing One Bed/One Bath Vintage Cottage next store on 9^th Ave, that is equally hip, renovated, and available for rent at $750/month. To scope the Carriage House or Cottage out, drive by 748 W. Pierce (North east corner of 9th Avenue and Pierce Street) and look for Suite C (Orange Building) in the rear.

If you’re interested in touring it or need more information, contact Owner /Agent, Lorenzo G. Perez at (602) 689-0194.

Gold’s Gym opening at CityScape in May

For those of you seeking a Gym in Downtown Phoenix to stay fit, the Gold’s Gym location at CityScape is now open for Phase 1 Pre-Sales.  Their Pre-Sales Office is in a trailer in the parking lot across from the CityScape Tower at 1st St & Washington.  

Gold’s Gym has a pretty interesting history starting more than 40 years ago.  The original Gold’s Gym started by Joe Gold opened in Venice, California and was really the mecca of body-building.  The company has since grown to over 600 locations worldwide.

 http://www.goldsgym.com/gyms/index.php?gymID=1156

City Scape Adds New Tenants To Make Downtown More Fun

RED Development has announced additions to their already noteworthy list of tenants at City Scape in downtown Phoenix, AZ. The latest accords include a comedy club, bank and restaurant.

Stand-up Live will bring live comedy to downtown Phoenix in a 600 seat club that combines theater, restaurant and martini lounge. Stand Up Live is the brain child of Dan Mer of Tempe Improv fame. He is a noted leader in the comedy industry and says he is excited to bring his favorite entertainment art form to the urban core. In addition to shows, Mer says the club will offer comedy classes for kids and adults to help nurture local comedy talent.

Second up on the City Scape scene is LGO Public House a new restaurant concept by LGO Hospitality. LGO Hospitality is best known for their core store line, La Grande Orange. The Public House is described as an urban gastro-pub and will feature updated American fare served indoors and on an outside patio.

Bob Lynn says about his restaurants, “We are not about conformity. We create restaurants for the neighborhoods they’re located.” You’ll have to wait a while to enjoy their food though as the scheduled opening isn’t until this coming December.

Lastly in our City Scape update is the addition of Alliance Bank of Arizona. Alliance is our State’s 13th largest bank and a strong lender for the City Scape project with 40.2 million in loans extended to build the retail space and parking garage. Nice to see someone with skin in the game make an even deeper commitment to the neighborhood.

To wrap things up, lets give you the rest of the current City Scape tenant list and some projected opening dates to look forward to:

• Oakville Grocery – opening in September
• LGO Public House – opening in December
• Urban Outfitters– opening in July
• Fox Restaurant Concepts – opening in November or December
• The Breakfast Club – opening in November or December
• Blu Burger Grille – early 2011
• CVS/pharmacy – opening in July
• Fidelity National Title – TBA
• Kimpton Palomar Hotel – opening in late 2011
• Gust Rosenfeld – TBA
• Polsinelli Shughart PC – TBA
• Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge – opening in July
• Designer District – opening in July
• Gold’s Gym – opening in May
• Press Coffee – opening in July
• Republic of Couture – opening in July
• Squire, Sanders and Dempsey – moving in June
• Ballard, Spahr, Andrews and Ingersoll – TBA
• Jennings, Strouss and Salmon – TBA
• Alliance Bank of Arizona – TBA
• Aaron May (2 restaurants) – opening in November & December
• RED Development – TBA

I don’t know about you, but I am impressed with what RED Development is doing in downtown Phoenix. At a time when most commercial players are sitting on the sidelines licking their wounds, RED is on the field scoring big goals. The added vitality, job base and hope they’re bringing to our core is important and inspiring.

Primal Fitness Training comes to Downtown Phoenix

The Downtown Phoenix Warehouse District is now home to an innovative Fitness Training Studio.  The AmenZone is now open for business at 106 E Buchanan St.  The idea behind owner/trainer Amen Iseghohi’s training approach is to be “totally natural”.  Shunning the weight room, Amen’s unique approach uses recycled tires and one’s own body strength and movement to stay fit.

The fitness studio is in a very cool, renovated warehouse space with gated parking in the rear of the building. 

 

Check out the class schedule                                                     

Urban Beans

A new, locally owned Coffee Bar opened in Midtown Phoenix recently.  Urban Beans, is the creation of 2 local Architects, who also own the entire complex where the business has opened.  Kim Kristoff and Virginia Senior purchased and rehabbed the 1954 Mercury Building warehouse at 3508 N. Seventh St. two years ago as part of a venture with their firm, Phoenix-based Senior Rae Kristoff Architects.  The company improved the property and signed a handful of independent retail tenants.

Still, one suite remained empty, so the duo decided it was time for them to open a community coffeehouse.   The space opened in late September of 2009 and has a “great vibe”.  The menu looks good, they have Free wi-fi and they are bringing in local artists and local musicians to provide some inspiration.  On my first visit to Urban Beans, I noticed they have Scrabble on Monday nights, which I will definitely have to check out.

Drip is Toast

Well not really, but the same great people that brought you the Drip Coffee Lounge have re-tooled and now opened the Toast Breakfast Boutique.   Using all local and mostly organic products, Toast is a one-of-a-kind breakfast boutique in downtown Phoenix.  It’s small, intimate modern atmosphere provides a place to relax, eat & have a conversation.

The menu changes frequently, but you will always be able to order the fabulous NYC egg sandwich.  So stop in – eat, relax and leave your laptop at the office!

Toast Breakfast Boutique is located at 2327 N. 7th Street

For business hours and contact info, visit the Toast website

Bowling is coming to Downtown Phoenix

A 12-lane bowling alley is coming to Downtown Phoenix in 2010 in what would seem to be an unlikely spot.

The Phoenix Business Journal reported on Friday that RED Development, the developer for CityScape has struck a deal with the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge, a Hollywood-based entertainment concept, to bring a high-energy operation to the high-rise project. Inspired by the iconic Hollywood Star Lanes, the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge operation has grown from its initial Hollywood location to 21 locations in 13 states.

Although the Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge is not open yet, it definitely makes the “Cool Places” list for Downtown Phoenix.

More press about Lucky Strike Lanes

Drip Coffee Lounge

The Drip definitely qualifies as one of Downtown Phoenix’s cool places.  Headquartered on 7th St in the Sheridan Square complex, in the Coronado Historic District, the Drip serves up a great menu of organic meals and brews for breakfast and lunch.  The interior is modern and minimalist and the atmosphere is friendly, with Gina Madrid delivering smiles and your order to your table.   The multi-talented Vine’ Saccento will probably be preparing your food in the kitchen, but he is known to circulate from table to table to check on you.

The Drip is located at 2325 N 7th St. www.dripcoffeelounge.com

Tuck Shop

The name of this establishment is very unusual, actually when reading some of the Yelp reviews, I thought it was pretty funny that one person doing google searches for the place was looking for Truck Stop.  Anyway, in the heart of the Coronado Historic District at the circle intersection, 12th St & Oak, has arisen a new restaurant whose offerings, the owners have dubbed “neighborhood comfort food”.  The space was originally, a local branch of a Credit Union or Bank with vault still intact.  The building has been transformed by it’s owner DJ, also a Construction guy into a mid-century modern looking hangout.   Sounds like people are liking the citrus brined fried chicken with white cheddar waffles and the gin and tonic with homemade gin and a cucumber twist.                                      

                                                                                                 

Yelp Reviews of Tuck Shop

Tuck Shop website

Royal Coffee Bar

Definitely in the category of one of downtown’s cool places, the Royal Coffee Bar is located at the corner of 2nd Ave & Jackson St in SoDo Phoenix.  This is a great space, designed by owner/Architect Hayes McNeil.  With large windows and modern furniture inside, you get that loft-like feel to the space. 

The RCB is easy to like and is very popular, earning New Times Best Coffeehouse south of the ballpark 2008 and New Times Best downtown phoenix coffeehouse 2007.

 

Yelp Reviews of RCB

RCB Website

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