By Laurie Bender, Eva Coleman, Elizabeth Granger and Jessica Nassau
Downtown Phoenix
has a new restaurant that isn’t fazed by the decreased foot traffic summer
brings.
Phoenix Public
Market Café opened May 8 as college students were leaving for summer break. While
Arizona State University students visit local restaurants daily, campus life
slows way down when the school year ends.
“It’s a lot
quieter than it usually is,” junior Michael Rader said.
He said places like Subway, the Corner Bakery
and Hsin Cafe down the street attract students. Junior Miranda
Dains added Starbucks to that list.
When students
return in the fall, they will have another restaurant to frequent. Phoenix Public
Market Café executive chef Paul Steele said the location was chosen because of
the farmer’s market next door every Wednesday and Saturday. He buys fresh
ingredients there.
“Yesterday
I got some awesome tomatoes,” he said. “It’s for a new dish we’re trying
tonight—charred tomato salsa.”
Steele brings 18
years of experience with a signature dish of green chili potpie and other
homegrown dishes. Other dishes include wood-fired rotisserie chicken, fresh
vegetables and 63 house-made pastries.
Workers are
hoping to see students adopt the restaurant for casual dining, drinking or even
hanging out with a coffee while doing schoolwork.
“A lot of the
local businesses count on that,” Steele said.
Customers seem
to enjoy the open atmosphere of the new restaurant. They also appreciate that
they can use it as a place to hang out and work on their computers.
“I like that
they have outlets,” customer Jacob Shaver said. “A lot of cafes don’t have
adequate outlets.”
Both Steele and
restaurant manager Corey Dunlap acknowledged that business is slow in
summertime Arizona, but they’re heartened by the number of customers they’ve seen
so far. They look forward to increased business in the fall.
“We’re hoping
we’ll be a lot busier,” Steele said. “We know we’ll be a lot busier.”
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Executive chef Paul Steele prepares fresh herbs.
(Photo by Elizabeth Granger) |
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Phoenix Public Market Café opened its doors May 8.
The restaurant serves fresh takes on classic comfort foods.
(Photo by Elizabeth Granger)
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