▼ Café Avenue. But the process has been slow going. The original eatery, which opened in 2014, closed earlier this year due to a kitchen fire that damaged the building and its equipment. It reopened in mid-August. Just a few blocks west, on Seventh Avenue, the new restaurant ran into issues of its own, causing further delays. The building, complete with a colorful mural that swirls around the exterior walls, has yet to welcome customers inside. El Chullo’s website, however, promises that it’s “coming soon!” Rocco Designs & Maura Gonzalez Modern Melrose Melrose is growing. Here’s everything new to eat and drink in the District. BY TIRION MORRIS T he district officially starts with a large metal sign that cascades over Seventh Avenue. Large block letters read “Melrose.” Businesses on either side of the busy street display rainbow-striped flags outside their storefronts. Often, these flags also can be found on lampposts announcing events. Colorful murals complete the picture and welcome visitors to an area known as Phoenix’s gayborhood. Here, one can find a selection of gay and lesbian bars including The Rock, Stacy’s @ Melrose, Boycott Bar, Pat O’s Bunkhouse Saloon, and Charlie’s Phoenix. There’s a sprinkling of antique stores and a few auto garages from the neighborhood’s past, but as the area evolves, a host of new restaurants and businesses are moving in, hoping to shape the district’s future. The Melrose District plays an important role in the Valley’s history. It got its name from the Woodlea Melrose neighborhood in which it sits, and as more restaurants, along with more residents, move in, the district remains a destination within the Valley. Construction barriers continue to pop up between the pride flags, bringing new food and drink offerings to the community. Here’s what has recently opened and is coming soon to the Melrose District. Restaurant Progress and The Montecito Merge 702 West Montecito Avenue 602-441-0553 progressphx.com In 2017, Restaurant Progress opened and quickly became a neighborhood draw for visitors and locals alike. A few years later, The Montecito wine shop opened next door, selling a selection of natural wines from Restaurant Progress’ menu and beyond. Then, in late June, both concepts closed for remodeling and rebranding. The two businesses have reopened as a single larger and more casual space, collec- tively known as Progress. Sandfish Sushi to Open Soon 4232 North Seventh Avenue sandfishphx.com Sandfish Sushi, located next to the pet shop Bark If You’re Dirty, is under construction as the original building trans- forms into a modern Scandinavian- inspired wood-paneled space. Chef Engin Onural, who operates another location of Sandfish in Palm Springs, California, plans to bring his menu of fresh sushi and Architect and interior designer Rocco Menaguale hopes to create a midcentury modern look for The Royale. Japanese whiskey to Melrose. The restaurant has yet to announce an opening date any more specific than “Arriving 2022,” but it has teased on social media that its launch is getting close. El Chullo Peruvian Is Under Construction 4414 North Seventh Avenue elchullorestaurant.com The owners of El Chullo Peruvian Restaurant set out with a plan to dominate two central Phoenix corridors, opening restaurants on Seventh Street and Seventh The Royale Brings Multiple Businesses Together 635 West Glenrosa Avenue royalephx.com A new consortium called The Royale is coming soon to an old auto garage complex in the Melrose District. The space currently is undergoing a large renovation as an adaptive reuse project and is planned to open in phases. The first businesses are expected to debut this winter. Among the tenants presently slated to move in are Window Coffee Bar, Cult Hair Salon & Spa, Stem Swag florist, and Lix Ice Cream. The complex also will house a yet-to-be-deter- mined restaurant and bar from The Royale’s co-owner Mark Howard, who also owns FEZ Restaurant & Bar in downtown Phoenix. Mika’s Kitchen is Now Open For Lunch 648 West Pierson Street 480-250-9049 Tacked onto the side of one of the district’s auto shops, Mika’s Kitchen opened for business on September 19. The little patio space is like a lean-to, pitched against the building and filled with umbrellas and tables. Wander to the back of the space, which is decorated with colorful murals and eye-catching geometric tiles, and you’ll find a stainless steel mobile kitchenette from which fresh and delicious “Mediterranean street food,” as the business’s Instagram account says, is dished up. Slow-cooked beef and grilled chicken are served in fluffy pita pockets or on a platter with rice >> p 34 Lauren Cusimano Restaurant Progress has now merged with its neighbor, The Montecito. 33 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES OCT 13TH–OCT 19TH, 2022
