The owners of Arizona Distilling Co. have decided to close its doors in Tempe to focus on a new concept in Mesa called Sonoran Rows, opening at 18 W. Main St.
Co-owners Jon Eagan and Jason Grossmiller decided to close Arizona Distilling Co. over the weekend for many reasons. The first is that the company opened a new location in downtown Mesa last year, allowing it to move all its production equipment from Tempe into the Mesa facility. As a result, all of Arizona Distilling Co.’s production will be at the Mesa facility, leaving the Tempe site as a small bar in a large space. Financially, it didn’t make sense for the owners.
Another factor that recently happened that is contributing to this transition is that earlier this month, pop-up pizzeria &Juliet Neapolitana closed its site within Arizona Distilling Co. after five months, which was directly related to this transition. These factors have led Eagan and Grossmiller to dedicate the space to a new concept in Mesa called Sonoran Rows, according to the Phoenix New Times. The new concept will be a malt house that will produce locally-grown malted grain for breweries, with Grossmiller serving as both co-owner and lead distiller. There’s no exact timeline for this opening. Still, considering construction on the space has recently started, it’s likely this site won’t open until next year, moving into the former home of Monsterland.
When it does, customers can expect a restaurant and bar in a 16,000-square-foot building, offering food and ingredients from Arizona farms and other local merchants. There will be plenty of space for customers to relax and hang out, especially with a 4,000-square-foot patio. Back at the Mesa Arizona Distilling Co., the owners plan to introduce some food options soon, as the space features a sunken, horseshoe-shaped copper-topped bar amid a low-lit setting. Considering the Mesa site is 10,000 square feet, nearly double the Tempe site, Eagan and Grossmiller should have no problems managing both sites when Sonoran Rows opens next year, especially since it will be about a five-minute walk from each other.
