Downtown Phoenix Public Market Just Keeps Gettin' Better

All of us downtowners love walking to the Public Market every Saturday morning. Fresh produce, live entertainment, yummy things to eat and buy. But it's getting even better! By October, the market plans to open a shop in the building next door at 14 E. Pierce. They will sell fresh produce and other locally grown items 6 days a week. It's also rumored that the outdoor Public Market will be open on Wednesday nights starting this fall.

Hanny's to Be A Trendy Restaurant

The Hanny's Building at First Street and Adams was built in 1947 by Vic Hanny, a local businessman. This "Distinquished Store for Men and Woman," a clothing store, brought the International/Moderate Style influence to Phoenix and sparked a major face lift in the downtown area. Now it is getting its own much needed face lift. Boarded up since 1983, this historic building is being renovated by Karl Knopp, the businessman behind Scottsdale hotspot AZ88, as well as restaurants in New York's Soho neighbhorhood. Hanny's will reopen its doors as a trendy restaurant, hopefully by December 2007. Can't wait...

Trees in the Heart of Downtown Phoenix!

Last week, the master plan for the Civic Space at Fillmore and Central Ave was approved. We will have green spaces, trees, water features, and artwork. They will break ground in August and it should be completed by November 2008. Check it out! ftp://www.phoenix.gov/pub/PARKS/weave2.pdf

Chez Nous is Moving Downtown

Chez Nous, a popular nightspot at 7th Avenue and Indian School Road, will be moving downtown to an undisclosed location (Central Aveue and Roosevelt?). The bar opened in 1963 and was a popular venue for jazz and blues artists. Featured in such publications as Rolling Stone, Details, Chicago Tribune and Elle, this cocktail lounge, with a distinct Rat-Pack ambience, also was the Hollywood set of the new movie, The Kingdom. The owner plans to recreate the bar, down to the red velvet wallpaper.