A year after opening at 635 W. Glenrosa Avenue in Phoenix, YumBar’s owners have announced that it will rebrand as Royale Kitchen + Cocktails.
Owners Mark Howard and Rocco Menaguale opened YumBar around this time last year in the former home of an old auto body shop on Seventh Avenue. Now, the business owners have decided to change the name to Royale Kitchen + Cocktails, designed to convey the concept’s food focus and is paired with the unveiling of new dishes, according to Phoenix New Times. These changes will be celebrated at The Royale’s first-anniversary party on Feb. 8. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will include live performances, art exhibits, food and drink specials, and giveaways.
“The new name better reflects our focus as a neighborhood restaurant serving a large variety of metropolitan cuisine from our culinary team led by Chef Jeff Blake,” Howard said in a news release. “New selections and reimagined favorites, along with our expanded martini, wine, and craft cocktail menus, offer our guests an exceptional dining experience seven days a week.”
While the name change and menu adjustment might surprise some, fans of the brand will be relieved to know that the colorful interior will remain intact. Some menu staples featured at YumBar, such as the Jalapeno Popper Sandwich and the Mark Daddy martini, will still be found at Royale Kitchen + Cocktails. New to the menu will be the Peachy Keen Chicken Sandwich, Thai Shrimp Coconut Curry, and, at brunch, a BLT Eggs Benedict.
“Our vision for The Royale was to blend midcentury modern style with an inclusive atmosphere, transforming what was once dilapidated autobody garages surrounding a junkyard into a vibrant center for connection, creativity, and joy,” Menaguale said in the release. “We wanted to create a space that reflects the Melrose neighborhood’s character and brings people together.”
