After closing its second Phoenix location in 2012, Royal Coffee Bar is making its way back to the downtown community.
As soon as next week, Royal will be making its new home in the historic Heritage Square Park carriage house.
“Our intention was to always be in downtown Phoenix,” owner Hayes McNeil said.
Royal opened its first location in 2006 on Second Avenue and Jackson Street, but after plans to revitalize the area fell through, the store took the chance to move to the Phoenix Public Market.
When the Public Market closed in May 2012 because of financial hardship, Royal, which was subleasing its location, was forced to close.
Since then, Royal has been operating its two other shops at the Biltmore Fashion Park, one of which is located in Union Biltmore — a grouping of 18 vendors in one small marketplace.
Even though Royal left the downtown area, their loyal customers followed, said Leah Newsom, current employee and team leader for the new Phoenix location.
“We get a lot of customers that drive out of their way to the Biltmore now that the Public Market has been closed,” Newsom said. “I get asked about the Heritage Square location almost every day I work.”
McNeil said that the new Heritage Square Park location, a carriage house dating back to the late 19th century that served as a gift shop, has unique appeal.
When the Public Market location opened again in May 2013, McNeil said he considered moving back, but jumped on the opportunity to have his own lease and location.
Though McNeil said his current customer base is mostly workers or shoppers, he is trying to approach the student audience and believes this shop will be more conveniently located. Newsom said she believes the store’s demographics will shift to students due to proximity to ASU’s Downtown campus.
McNeil said he expects Royal will see heavy traffic due to its proximity to attractions such as the Arizona Science Center and the historic Rosson House, as well as it being the only coffee shop in Heritage Square Park.
“Just the times that we’ve been down there we have a handful of people daily coming to get coffee even though we haven’t advertised it,” McNeil said.
David Shields, who lives downtown, comes to Heritage Square Park nearly every day to sit and read. Shields said he is looking forward to a convenient cup of coffee.
“There really isn’t much around here for coffee around here,” Shields said. “It saves me from having to go to McDonald’s or Starbucks.”
Though Royal will be the only coffee shop in Heritage Square Park, the location is in close proximity to other shops including Greater Than Coffee, Cartel Coffee Lab and a Starbucks.
“It’s a place to get a good cup of coffee. It’s not trying to be anything pretentious or overdone,” Newsom said. “It’s just well-designed, minimalistic, simple coffee.”
Tanya Moushi, owner of Greater Than Coffee on Washington and 11th streets, said she is looking forward to another shop opening in the area.
“We love them actually,” Moushi said. “Honestly we have a really different mentality when it comes to competition.”
Greater Than Coffee is located within the Co+Hoots creative workspace, and Moushi said she believes much of their customer base is focused on workers in the business district, rather than students. She said she believes that Royal will be bringing something positive to the downtown community.
“Phoenix is really making a name for itself in coffee and I think that the people who are involved in it right now are doing a really great job,” Moushi said. “I think it’s the more (coffee shops) the better right now.”
When Royal opens this month, McNeil said the new store will be open from at least 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. but that hours will be extended depending on demand.
In addition to the Phoenix shop, Royal plans to open Tempe and North Scottsdale locations in early to mid-2014.
Contact the reporter at clongbons@asu.edu
