LUX Coffee Bar will soon move from its current location to a bigger locale next door and offer customers new menu items, such as cocktails and appetizers.
Currently located on North Central Avenue near Indian School Road in midtown Phoenix, LUX has become a popular hangout for businesspeople, college students and local residents over the past few years. The new location — which used to be a clothing shop, according to an article on azcentral.com — will give LUX a different atmosphere as it transforms from a simple coffee shop into a laid-back pub.
David Bickford, creator of the restaurant-review blog PHX Rail Food, found out through Twitter about LUX’s plans to move, and he said he assumes that “a coffeehouse with a lot of competition” wants to differentiate itself.
“LUX is crowded all the time,” said Bickford, who used various media outlets to learn more details about the coffee shop’s expansion. “The downside is that sometimes it’s hard to find a seat, so it makes sense to expand and move next door where they wouldn’t lose any local costumers.”
According to Bickford, LUX has spent years earning its loyal costumers, since it was among the first coffeehouses in the area.
“It’s just a popular place with good food, coffee and baked goods,” Bickford said.
Though restaurants such as Verde and Pasta Bar have recently gone out of business in the downtown area, Bickford said he doesn’t think the closings are a trend that LUX needs to worry about.
“As long as they have a good financial plan behind what they are doing, they shouldn’t be worried,” he said. “I would compare LUX more to The Breadfruit (Authentic Jamaican Grill) — a place that’s been successful and just decided to grow up.”
Janessa Hilliard, a print journalism junior, said she has been a loyal costumer to LUX since she was in high school. Hilliard said LUX is doing the right thing, because they are always busy.
She said the increased space brought by the expansion will be beneficial.
“It would be nice for customers to be able to stay and sit instead of having to go outside,” she said.
But she noted that the expansion probably isn’t completely necessary for the coffee shop’s success.
“I feel like they could survive without moving,” she said. “People are really used to the long wait times, but from what I’ve been hearing, everyone seems pretty excited about the expansion. I’ll definitely have to go see what it’s all about.”
Owner Jeff Fischer confirmed that LUX plans to move sometime in May.
Contact the reporter at katie.kunkel@asu.edu
