Planters containing an assortment of garden vegetables surround the future location of an urban cafe in downtown Phoenix that is slated to open in July.
Squash Blossom, near McKinley and First streets, will open around July 4 and serve food from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., said co-owner Carrie Lester. It will fill the space previously occupied by Pasta Bar, which closed its doors in January 2011.
This venture will be a first for downtown owners Carrie and Brian Lester, who ran a successful catering business for almost 15 years.
The cafe will offer a coffee and espresso bar. An outside seating area and bike racks are also in the works. The owners plan to offer a take-out option in addition to the cafe’s sit-down service.
The Lesters will work with Press Coffee Roasters and MJ’s Bakery, both located downtown, to diversify the menu.
The owners also encourage patrons to bring their pets the animal-friendly restaurant.
“You’ll get items here you won’t get anywhere else,” Brian Lester said.
As the restaurant develops, so will many other aspects of Squash Blossom, the owners said, such as artwork, changes in hours and charity events. A display wall will be dedicated for local artists to showcase their work, Carrie Lester said.
“We are going to have a local artist,” she said. “Coordinating with First Friday, each month we will rotate and switch them out. They’re welcome to price their artwork and leave business cards.”
Once they receive a liquor license for the cafe, the owners plan to establish a wine bar and happy hour, Brian Lester said.
The Lesters plan to be actively involved in the Roosevelt Row Merchants Association and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership. They also plan to become a part of Local First Arizona, a nonprofit organization that supports local business and products.
Erica Pederson, membership and communication coordinator for Local First Arizona, said the organization brings a lot of benefits to the nearly 2,000 businesses already involved.
“(It offers) benefits such as monthly member mixers, which are great for businesses to get together and share ideas,” said Pederson. “There are monthly seminars that talk about different topics such as last week’s: utilizing social media.”
The Lesters want to concentrate on bringing locals and bicyclists into their cafe. To attract ASU students, they are considering implementing student-discount cards, Brian Lester said.
Brian Lester also noted that they have a totally different concept than Pasta Bar, the previous tenant.
“The main thing we are doing differently than the Pasta Bar is utilizing space,” said Carrie Lester.
She also added that Squash Blossom will push to cater to locals and make its environment more friendly and accessible.
The couple is excited to have made the move to the downtown area after starting in Tempe and moving around as their catering business grew.
“We will buy anything locally that we can,” said Carrie Lester. “We are going to work with local farmers’ markets and local growers. We will get as much seasonal produce from them as we can.”
Contact the reporter at kjherzog@asu.edu
