20 Jan 4th–Jan 10th, 2024 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | El Charro Hipster Bar and Cafe El Charro Hipster, a lively hangout on Grand Avenue, closed late this summer after five years. In late July, the owners announced the news, citing a rent hike as the reason. Throughout August, they hosted events and made the most of their last month in business. El Charro Hipster had a unique concept that evolved throughout the day. It served coffee and breakfast in the morning, Mexican and Spanish-inspired foods for lunch and dinner and mezcal cocktails at night. It was a popular spot for live music, open mic nights and local artist events. Sin Muerte Located in a refurbished funeral home, Sin Muerte was one of the more unusual restaurants in the Roosevelt Row area of downtown Phoenix. The menu was entirely vegetarian with many vegan options and took inspiration from places on the same latitude as Phoenix. The catchphrase was “from Maricopa to Morocco” and the concept came from Instrumental Hospitality, the team known for the Asian-inspired restaurant Belly. One of the group’s founding members, culinary director Michael Babcock, stepped down in July to spend more time with his family. The restaurant’s closing came about a month later. In the announcement, the owners shared that the concept “just didn’t work.” Flying Basset Brewing In mid-September, Flying Basset Brewing took home a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. It was the first time the Gilbert brewery won an award at the country’s top brewing contest. In a bittersweet turn of timing, about a week later, the brewery closed. It opened in 2018 and grew a loyal following of clientele who enjoyed its craft beer and brewpub food. Khla When Khla opened in downtown Phoenix, it created a buzz. It was down an alleyway and a little hard to find, giving it an in-the-know appeal. It featured edgy murals and string lanterns overhead, and it served a menu of cocktails inspired by Asian ingredients and flavors. But its popularity took a hit following a scandal last November. The bar team worked hard to recover, but inevitably, less than two years after it opened, Khla perma- nently closed. Owners told Phoenix New Times the decision to shutter was financial. the Larder + the Delta Award-winning chef Stephen Jones closed his downtown Phoenix restaurant the Larder + the Delta after five years. The restaurant concept began as part of the DeSoto Central Market food hall before moving a few blocks to its own brick-and- mortar location on Portland Street. It was known for its interesting and creative takes on Southern food and for individual dishes like its famous fried cauliflower. Fuego Bistro Fuego Bistro served the Valley for 18 years before announcing its closure this December. The restaurant, formerly located near Seventh Street and Bethany Home Road, relocated to The Clarendon Hotel & Spa in 2020. There, it continued serving its Latin fusion menu to hotel guests and the public. It permanently closed on Dec. 16. Piccolo Virtù Piccolo Virtù, the third restaurant from chef Gio Osso, closed after less than one year in business. It opened in Old Town Scottsdale, joining sister restaurants Virtù Honest Craft and Pizzeria Virtù. Piccolo Virtù served a menu of carefully crafted Italian dishes paired with wines and cock- tails. We named it the Valley’s Best New Restaurant in our 2023 Best of Phoenix awards. However, after receiving an offer he couldn’t pass up, Osso closed his cele- brated new restaurant in December. Flying Basset Brewing closed about a week after winning a Great American Beer Festival gold medal. (Photo by Allison Trebacz) Major Closures from p 19
