Old Town Scottsdale gets a facelift

Okay, it’s actually less like a facelift and more like…whatever Joan Rivers did to her face. If you’ve wandered in the area around The W and Axis-Radius, in the past couple of weeks, you probably (hopefully) noticed a massive crater in the ground.  The entire cluster of buildings, including Suede and Myst were completely leveled, leaving a huge dirt lot right in front of El Hefe.

The decision to demolish such an expanse of property in the Old Town area was a pretty gutsy move, especially since the developers were yet to be approved on their building and zoning plans. Gutsy or crazy, I’m not too sure actually.  Either way, their initial plans are now officially approved by Scottsdale City Council and are quickly on its way to being your next weekend home.

The permit approval process revealed a sneak peak at what we should be seeing upon completion; and let me tell you, it sounds amazing! Their permits sited requests for three brand new bars.  The new complex is to be designed in a self-containing fashion to appease the angry, and extremely noise sensitive neighbors; with a colossal pool featured at the center.  Here’s what we know about the three concepts now equipped with a permit to build:

• A Beach Club – Triyar Entertainment, which runs the W pool parties, Axis-Radius, and previously Suede and Myst, are looking to build a beach club that will make Spanish Fly look less like a pool party, and more like a puddle party. There are plans for a massive pool area and bar, as well as a healthy sized indoor bar.
• Whiskey Row – already has an up and running website listing that empty dirt lot as their address; these guys are on it! Their concept of a country themed, gastro-pub is pretty interesting and I’m guessing will thrive there in Old Town.  Their website boasts some awesome new technology called the “Personal Table Tap”, which does just as the name describes; with both beer and liquor.  Owned by the same geniuses that opened El Hefe, I think we can expect to see a big new hotspot out of Whiskey Row.
• Munchbar – This concept is much more elusive, sorry I can’t offer more information.  Word is, is that it will be a sports bar, which seems odd since Majerle’s is just right across the street.  We’ll have to see!

There are also three spaces yet to be filled in the new complex, so who knows what else we may see come along.  I don’t know about you, but I’m getting pretty excited about Scottsdale’s upcoming new look.  Fingers crossed that these plans actually pan out and they resemble absolutely nothing like Joan Rivers.