Nestled in a lot on the corner of Grand and Eleventh avenues, ThirdSpace is a part of a collection of brightly painted, historic cottages where collaborative small businesses offer local food and drink, shopping and other services.
The businesses in the space include vintage eyewear shop Grand Ol’ Optics, Kustumz Hairshop, Muse Gallery Boutique, Red House Pub and Morning Bell Coffee Roasters. One hut is currently vacant.
Owners Neil Hounchell, Nate Champion and Patricia Madsen opened ThirdSpace in early June. They said the concept behind ThirdSpace is simple: People generally have three spaces they live in. The first space is home, the second space is work and the third space is a place to relax and feel comfortable. Thus, the community of ThirdSpace was born.
The owners said they created ThirdSpace because they would hang out and drink wine and beers in the back of the building. Red House Pub was the only drinking venue available in the space prior to ThirdSpace, they said. When the owners got hungry, they said they had to leave and find food somewhere else, so they took it upon themselves to bring the food to the space.
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“It was already set up for a community with the way the buildings were set up with the courtyard,” Champion said. “It creates a comfort zone for people to feel free to hang out. It doesn’t really matter your walk of life. When you’re sitting down across the fire from somebody sipping on a glass of wine, you have an easier time getting to know (them).”
The restaurant of ThirdSpace is housed in a historic part of the building that was previously home to the Paisley Violin Cafe. A barbershop, veterinary clinic and liquor store also used to exist in the space where ThirdSpace is now.
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Audio and photography by Chloe Ranshaw. Interactive design by Annika Cline and Jayson Chesler.
The smaller shops hide behind ThirdSpace in casitas originally constructed for prisoner of war housing. The unused small houses were moved onto the lot three years ago.
Although ThirdSpace is off the grid for typical First Friday events, Hounchell, Champion and Madsen host a number of events on their own. They had an opening event that brought Phoenix Comicon fans down by pedicabs to see the space. They have hosted a number of events since then, including live music every weekend, a jazz trio midweek and live comedy.
“A lot of venues have closed down recently like Hollywood Alley and Long Wong’s,” Hounchell said. “There just seems to be a dwindling amount of live music venues in the area.”
Madsen said they try to stay as local as possible with their food, offering a variety of sandwiches and salads. In addition, they partner with businesses right on the lot to preserve the effort, such as Morning Bell Coffee Roasters.
“We love what’s going on with ThirdSpace,” Morning Bell owner Nadav Mere said. “It’s an amazing good vibe that they’re selling our stuff and that we’re involved with it.”
The space also has a large patio that transforms into a stage for live entertainment. The owners said they are currently in the process of upgrading their PA system to accommodate both local and national bands.
ThirdSpace is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Contact the reporter at kaci.demarest@gmail.com
