A favorite food truck often seen at the Phoenix Public Market will open a permanent downtown location at the end of the month.
Jamburritos, which serves Cajun fare, hopes to open the semi-permanent restaurant, Jamburritos Café and Grille, on the corner of McKinley and Fourth streets. The space will be a joint venture with local flower shop Absolute Flower Studio, and will feature outdoor seating.
Jamburritos owner Michael Brown said he is excited for the opening, which is tentatively scheduled for April 24.
“The original plan was to open up a small restaurant, with the food truck being designed to test the market and the demand for the food,” he said. “Since demand is up, our main purpose is to see if we can stand alone without touring with other food trucks.”
The restaurant will be attached to the back of Absolute Flower Studio and will have a garden area provided by the flower shop.
Ray Pleasant, one of Brown’s cooks, is just as excited about the new opening as his boss. Pleasant believes the restaurant will do well on its own because it appeals to everyone.
“I think the main thing about opening a main eating space is that there’s so many different types of people in downtown,” Pleasant said. “There’s business people, students, a lot of different cultures and our restaurant can cater to them.”
The restaurant is not expected to replace the food truck. Brown said that he hopes to have the cafe open to customers for lunch between Tuesdays and Thursdays, while the truck will operate at the Phoenix Public Market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Brown said that added business is not the only reason he wants to open the restaurant.
“I am not interested in just food,” Brown said. “I am interested in how people are treated and I like that old-school style of service.”
Absolute Flower Studio owner Daniela Baca shares the same sentiments as Brown and hopes the business venture will change the landscape of the downtown area.
“I want to create awareness that downtown is alive and I want the city to grow,” Baca said. “I don’t want people to have the idea that there’s nothing to do downtown. The city needs more of an urban environment.”
Brown said he would also like his restaurant to draw in ASU student customers. The business is still researching some special services, including discount options, a possible delivery service and text-in order options.
“I just want to offer people Southern-style hospitality and a jazzy New Orleans atmosphere in a peaceful garden setting and give them food that will make their taste buds go crazy,” Brown said.
Marcus Jones, a public service and public policy junior, said he was thrilled to hear about the new space for Jamburritos.
“I’m excited for the opening of the restaurant because their food reminds me of home and it reminds of me of Southern cooking,” Jones said. “I can’t wait to eat their famous catfish plate there once the space opens.”
Brown said he hopes the venture will be as successful as his original food truck has been.
“I don’t want to have a business that appears like it is cookie-cutter,” he added. “I want to make a space that is festive of its location and is representative of its locale or neighborhood.”
Contact the reporter at djescob1@asu.edu
