In the heart of downtown Phoenix’s arts district Roosevelt Row, diversity of small businesses brings character to the area.
The latest addition Milk and Honey is currently under renovation to be a general store. Located on Roosevelt and 3rd streets, where hair salon Public Image used to be, under one of Row’s apartment complexes, Roosevelt Point. It’s aimed to open by Jan. 15.
“We are going to provide [a larger] variety of groceries, drinks, grab-n-go, anything that has to do with a market,” said co-owner of Milk and Honey, Ilir Pasho. The store itself is estimated to be 2,900 square feet.
Products range from beverages, like soft drinks and liquor, to fruit, Boar’s Head products and various snacks. Hours of operation range from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, meaning late-night bites will always be available on Row for the night owls and last-minute crammers.
This particular expansion of their brand was chosen due to the area’s high concentration of students and young adults.
“Roosevelt Point is currently 100% occupied for the third straight year,” said resident services manager Gilbert Bujandahe. The apartment complex houses 609 residents, according to Bujandahe.
With only one Circle K near Roosevelt Point, Milk and Honey will put emphasis on convenience for locals on the go.
Third-year ASU student and resident at Roosevelt Theo Ash said he currently drives to Safeway for groceries. The closest grocery store within walking distance for Ash would be Fry’s, which is about a 15-minute walk.
“I utilized the P.O.D. which was in [Taylor Place] freshman year, and that doesn’t really exist at Roosevelt Point. So having that access right below me in the building at nearly all hours of the day is going to improve life. It’s just easier access, and it’s just healthier,” Ash said.
The close proximity would also keep people from having to walk alone/at night for basic groceries.
Milk and Honey co-owner Ismail Pellumbi said that it’s tough for small businesses to thrive in the digital age of ordering online but benefit from the consumer commute between home and their store.
That, combined with the area being home to other non-competitive small businesses, makes Roosevelt Row a prime location to open up. Milk and Honey will be a corner store between coffee shop Jobot and sandwich shop Ike’s.
“People will come home from work and have a couple of foods like cucumbers, lettuce and olive oil and go make a salad upstairs [in their apartment],” Pellumbi said.
What other sources of Milk and Honey can those on campus source from? Well, near Mill Avenue in Tempe, resides the only other Milk and Honey location as part of the West 6th apartments.
Pasho said that students make up about 50% of the clientele in the Tempe location.
“We try to give the best customer service,” Pasho said. “It’s not just about the business side [of things], it’s about customer relations as well.”
You can keep up with Milk and Honey via their Facebook page and their new store website, http://milkandhoneyphx.com/ for further updates and events.
Contact the reporter sdanie18@asu.edu.
