On April 11 last year at the intersection of Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue, a community-driven space was created for eating, socializing and engaging culturally.
Originally built in 1928 as the C.P. Stephens DeSoto Six Motorcars building for automotive sales and services, what is now DeSoto Central Market has undergone many constructive changes and vacant stages.
Last spring, Desoto became home to a multitude of local restaurants and weekly events. The market celebrated its one-year anniversary last night with a Crawfish Boil featuring in-house chefs’ creations.
Lucky Lowman, manager and barista at Tea & Toast Co., has been working there since the market opened and has witnessed firsthand its growth during the last year.
“I definitely have seen a change, and I always think that everyone can always continue growing,” Lowman said. “There was a lot of things that we had to find out like what the best momentum was.”
Tea & Toast Co. offer their unique teaspressa product that is “tea inspired by coffee,” which has brought a variety of coffee and tea options.
“We definitely have come a long way from the beginning to now and I am just excited to see us keep pushing forward and grow,” Lowman said.
Lowman described DeSoto Central Market as an incubation system that provides a space for new restaurants and concepts to be able to eventually open their own full-length restaurant.
Jeremy Armstrong, line cook at The larder + the delta, shared an appreciation for the way in which DeSoto represents the culture of the downtown Phoenix community.
“I love the environment, the feel here and the downtown scene,” Armstrong said.
Gloria Hernandez, front-of-house worker at Radish, a restaurant specializing in salad and juice, has worked at DeSoto since September 2015 and loves the work environment that the market provides for the family-owned businesses.
“It’s a really neat place that is really appealing to people,” Hernandez said. “It’s cool to see it grow and get busier and busier.”
Aside from being a contemporary spot for a multitude of community events, DeSoto also provides an optimum scene for studying and socialization.
ASU Downtown Phoenix campus student Brian Schneider shared the cozy nature of DeSoto as a free space where thoughts can flow.
“I come here three to four times a week,” Schneider said. “It’s a really great spot to come up and kind of tuck away to study because it’s so open that it never feels too crowded.”
Contact the reporter at Brianna.Bradley@asu.edu
